Chris

President/Owner

Why did you enter this field?
As a child I displayed mechanical aptitude, I had a desire to tinker, work on bikes and just about any mechanical moving item. That desire allowed me to enter the workforce as an automotive mechanic. In 1997, I was offered a job in the HVAC industry and haven’t looked back since.

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
After watching how my previous employers ran their businesses, I determined that starting my own business would be the best option for me. I gained experience, knowledge, and made notes of how not to run my own business someday. I started Kustom back in October 2000.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
My number one priority, and most enjoyable part of my day, is taking care of our customers and knowing that they have been well serviced and have had a great experience with Kustom. When I started this company in 2000, I had a vision of what I thought it could become someday. Nearly 20 years later, it is pretty amazing to see that vision becoming a reality; we have and we continue to grow. We have expanded our team of employees, built a new facility from the ground up, and maintained our loyal customer base!

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy taking weekend trips to Wisconsin with my family, spending time with my children, and working on cars. You might even find me on the local golf courses.

Todd

GM/Sales Manager

Why did you enter this field?
I have always enjoyed helping people in need. I enjoy the problem solving that comes with every job and being able to improve the operation of systems for our customers.

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
I have been in the HVAC industry since 2000. I started out as a shop hand when I was a junior in high school. I gradually worked my way to lead service technician, and now GM/Sales manager.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy interacting and educating our customers, and also helping them when they find themselves in need of our services.

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy playing competitive softball and playing with my 3 children.

Carl

Installation Sales Manager

Why did you enter this field?
From early on, I discovered that I enjoy working with my hands. Finding a career that allowed me to work with my hands and problem solve gives me a great sense of accomplishment.

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
At 19 years old, I started working for an HVAC company taking deliveries and helping around the shop. Eventually I was able to shadow a lead technician. After some time, I moved to the distribution side of the business pulling orders, working behind the counter, and inside sales. For the last 15 years I was the branch manager at that distribution center. I joined the team at Kustom in the summer of 2019.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
The everyday interactions with fellow employees and customers.

What are your hobbies?
I love to spend time with my family. My children keep me very busy when I’m not at work, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Jeff

Lead Installer

Why did you enter this field?
I was provided a new opportunity and discovered that I liked to work on and install HVAC systems. I enjoy that not one job is the same as the next.

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
In 2012 started as an install helper and have been the Lead Installer since 2014.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy completing a job on time and to our customer’s satisfaction. I like seeing our end result and that the customer is happy with our work.

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy racing cars, playing baseball and going fishing with my family.

Jorge

Service Technician

Why did you enter this field?
I grew up in home without central air conditioning and always thought it would be nice to be able to put my own in someday! I also love to be outside.

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
I have been in the industry since 2018 on both the service and install side.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I get a great sense of accomplishment when I see the work I have done and how much our customers love their new systems!

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy learning new recipes to try, am an avid gamer, and working around my yard at home.

Alex

Service Manager

Why did you enter this field?
My family has always been a part of the trades. Whether it be roofing, carpentry, or new construction. After a few years of working in manufacturing, I had an opportunity to join the HVAC field and have never been happier since.

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
In 2012, I started working as a draftsman for a global manufacturing company. Then, in 2016, I was offered a position as an adjunct faculty member at a local college, and shortly after I ended up changing fields entirely. I spent the next 5 years learning HVAC by working the counter at a local distributorship, then on to managing one of the busiest branches of the company.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy being challenged and every day here has brought something new and challenging. I also love to help people whether it be solving a service related problem or just by bringing them more comfort to their home.

What are your hobbies?
I love spending weekends with my wife and cats, curled up on the couch watching a good or bad scary movie. If I’m not doing that, you can find me either gaming with friends on my PC, or in the kitchen trying a new recipe I saw online.

Jake

Service & Maintenance Technician

Why did you enter this field?
I wanted to learn how to do something worthwhile, handy and useful.

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
After attending technical school, I started with Kustom in 2017 as a maintenance technician and have since been promoted to a service technician.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy coming to work and my coworkers because it feels like a family here.

What are your hobbies?
I like to work out, play sports, and spend time with friends.

Brandon

Service & Maintenance Technician

Why did you enter this field?
I like to work with my hands and one day I was invited to the shop to check it out and I have been at Kustom ever since.

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
I have a degree in HVAC and have been with Kustom since 2014. I started out as the shop helper, have helped on many installs, and most recently, moved into maintenance and service.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
My coworkers- they are fun people to work with!

What are your hobbies?
I love playing golf and videogaming.

Eric

Service & Maintenance Technician

Why did you enter this field?
I enjoy problem solving and helping others! I also like to tinker with mechanical things and figure out how they function.

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
I have been in the field since 2015.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
It is always fun meeting our customers and also helping them when they need it or finding new solutions for their areas of concern.

What are your hobbies?
In my spare time I enjoy hiking with my dog.

Daniel

Service & Maintenance Technician

Why did you enter this field?
My uncle offered me a hands-on experience when I was only 15. Ever since then, I have been intrigued and loved this field! I enjoy working with my hands and solving problems for our customers.

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
I have been in the industry since I was 15.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy working on my own and always learning new things every day and I am always glad when I know I have helped our customers.

What are your hobbies?
I love to watch sports, go fishing with my friends, and listen to music.

Drew

Service & Maintenance Technician

Why did you enter this field?
I really enjoy hands on work and I have family in the field who encouraged me to check it out. Turns out, I love it!

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
I took classes at our local community college and also did job shadowing with Kustom during that time. I have been with Kustom since 2022.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I like what our company stands for, the outstanding customer service we provide, and the customers I get to interact with everyday.

Martin

Service & Maintenance Technician

Why did you enter this field?
After earning an Associates Degree, I went to career counseling at my college and discovered that I really enjoy and was interested trade work.

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
I have been in the field since 2020.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy and take pride in problem solving and making customers happy. Every job is like a puzzle and one day is never the same as the next.

What are your hobbies?
Outside of work I like to play instruments, cook, and woodwork.

Josh

Warehouse/Shop Helper

Why did you enter this field?
I entered this field to expand my skills within the trade and make a career for myself.

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
I have been with Kustom since the Spring of 2020 and have learned so much in the time that I have been here.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
There is always something to do, whether its making metal, working around the shop, or assisting on jobs.

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy fishing, skateboarding, and art.

Amanda

Business Development

Why did you enter this field?
I entered this field because of a previous family business.

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
I have 20 years experience in dispatch, accounting, warranty, ordering parts, and management.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love to organize! I also enjoy problem solving with customers and employees while also helping them.

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy watching TV, reading and traveling!

Liz

Accounting Administrator & Marketing Development Coordinator

Why did you enter this field?
I have known about Kustom and watched it grow exponentially since its inception. I have always had a desire to work here and I am eager to show our community why Kustom is the best in the industry!

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
I have a Business Administration degree and have been engaging in different marketing capacities since 2007 including a local publishing house and for a non-profit in Northern Illinois. I started with Kustom in the spring of 2018.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I find that learning about the industry in general is very interesting and that discovering new ways to connect to our customers and our community is very exciting. No day is ever the same and that is exciting and challenging.

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy spending time with my family, watching my young children discover the world, cooking, and spending time outside.

Christine

Customer Support Representative

Why did you enter this field?
I enjoy helping people in need, problem solve. I always like to look for the positive!

State your experience and how long you have been working in the field.
I have been in customer service for a number of years, but have been with Kustom since the Spring of 2020.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy talking with our customers everyday. Each day and each call is different!

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy camping, knitting, and playing with my granddaughter. I raise chickens and have a vegetable garden each summer.