In this episode of Commercial Grade, host RC Victorino sits down with Martin King—HVAC veteran, entrepreneur, and founder of Legacy Chiller Systems, J&M Fluidics, and Skilled Trades Rescue—to unpack decades of experience building, scaling, and evolving in the trades.

Martin shares how he entered the HVAC industry through technical training and a union apprenticeship, eventually growing his own company from a single van into a 30+ truck operation before selling. He opens up about the realities of business ownership—from early hiring mistakes to the “cold sweats” of making payroll—and how growth introduces new layers of complexity that many owners underestimate.

A turning point in Martin’s career came from a single customer request that led him into process chillers and ultimately the creation of Legacy Chiller Systems. From there, the conversation expands into today’s biggest challenges in the trades, including labor shortages, rising wages, technician mobility, and the shifting expectations of the modern workforce.

Martin also discusses his mission through Skilled Trades Rescue, where he supports professionals, business owners, career explorers, and parents by providing guidance on financial literacy, career pathways, and starting a business in the trades.

Finally, RC and Martin explore the growing role of AI in the industry—why it will enhance productivity rather than replace skilled labor in the near term, and what tradespeople should be doing now to stay ahead.

In this episode you’ll hear:
• How Martin scaled an HVAC business from 1 van to 30+ trucks
• The biggest mistakes new trade business owners make
• Why growth creates operational chaos (and how to manage it)
• The real reason behind today’s labor shortages
• How rising wages and technician mobility are reshaping the industry
• What Skilled Trades Rescue is doing to support the workforce
• Why financial literacy is critical for tradespeople
• How AI will impact (but not replace) skilled labor

Episode Timestamps:

(00:00) Cold Sweats Mindset: Grit and Resilience in the Trades

(00:14) Meet Martin King: HVAC Entrepreneur and Founder of King Air

(01:38) From Tech School to the Union: Entering the Skilled Trades

(02:26) Starting King Air: Building an HVAC Business from Scratch

(03:00) The Accidental Chiller Breakthrough That Changed Everything

(06:54) Lessons From Dad: Work Ethic, Leadership, and Early Influence

(09:29) Hiring Challenges and Backlog Cycles in HVAC

(12:36) Growth Tiers: Scaling a Business Without Chaos

(14:09) Labor Market Shifts: Why Hiring in the Trades Is Changing

(18:03) The Skilled Trades Talent Shortage—and How to Fix It

(20:13) Money, Margins, and Business Coaching for Contractors

(23:54) College vs. Trades: What Parents Should Know

(26:02) AI and the Future of Skilled Trades

(29:18) What Makes a Superstar HVAC Technician

(34:28) How to Attract and Retain Top Trade Talent

(37:28) Lightning Round: Quick Takes and Advice

(39:08) Wrap-Up and Where to Connect

About the Guest:

Martin King is an HVAC veteran, entrepreneur, and industry advocate with decades of experience in the skilled trades. He is the founder of Legacy Chiller Systems, J&M Fluidics, and Skilled Trades Rescue. After starting his career through technical training and a union apprenticeship, Martin built and scaled a successful HVAC company from a single van to a 30+ truck operation before exiting. Today, he focuses on supporting the next generation of tradespeople through coaching, workforce development, and education initiatives aimed at improving retention, financial literacy, and career pathways in the trades.

Links & Resources:

• Martin King on LinkedIn

• Skilled Trades Rescue

• Legacy Chiller Systems

• Learn more at BuildOps.com

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