Bryan Arlaud: Customer-Focused
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
CONCORD — From the early days of his HVAC career, Bryan Arlaud stood out among his professional peers thanks to a singular focus. “I’ve always been the best in whatever department I worked in, and that’s because I was always focused on the customer experience and building relationships,” he explains. “There were a couple of companies I worked for where the owners didn’t really care—it was all about the money. That was a big motivator for me to start my own company, because I’d be able to treat customers as well as I thought they should be.”
Bryan’s involvement in the HVAC industry started early. “My grandpa was in HVAC and so was my father, so that’s pretty much how I got into it,” he says. “My first job was working for a friend of my dad who owned a sheet metal shop. I started at the bottom of the ladder, sweeping floors and cleaning toilets, and worked my way up from there.” Over the next 20 years, Bryan gained further experience working for several different HVAC companies before he started his own business in 2016.
Today, as owner of Certified Heating and Air Conditioning, Bryan says his favorite part of his job is cultivating his team. “I like watching my employees grow, set goals and achieve new milestones. I have one who’s getting ready to buy his first house—he’s never been in a position to do so, but from working here and learning the trade, he’s been able to grow to a point where he can provide a home for his family. It’s very rewarding to be a part of that.”
A resident of Brentwood (where he lives with his wife, Kristina, and their two children), Bryan spends his time outside of work on a variety of active pastimes. “We’re a very outdoorsy family,” he says. “We do a lot of hunting, camping and boating, and my oldest is really into competitive trap shooting.” Bryan also devotes time to being involved in youth sports. “I coach youth football, which is a lot of fun. I love working with kids and being a positive influence for them at a young age.”
In his life and career, Bryan espouses the value of setting goals. “I’m very goal-oriented, both in my personal and professional life,” he explains. “I tell my kids, ‘If there’s something you want to achieve, set a goal for yourself and find a way to achieve it.’ I encourage my employees in the same way. I find that setting goals is powerful because it helps you change your mindset and envision your future differently. The mind is more powerful than most people realize, and eventually, if you put in the work, the future you envision will become reality.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Bryan says he’d get into public speaking. “I’d like to help other people by sharing my story and the things I’ve been able to achieve. The path I started on as a young man wasn’t a very good one, and I was fortunate to have a number of mentors in my life who helped me get to where I am today. There are a lot of people who are in similar situations and need guidance to find a better path, and I would love to be the person who helps them get there.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s your favorite book?
A: “The Slight Edge” by Jeff Olson.
Q: Are you a dog person or a cat person?
A: Definitely a dog person.
Q: What was your first pet?
A: A white German shepherd named Shay.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Bora Bora. Ever since I saw a picture of those little huts out on the water, I’ve wanted to go there.
Q: Who’s your favorite superhero?
A: Batman.
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