Arturo Jaimes exemplifies coming full circle at ACC.

“I bleed purple,” Jaimes says.

A Bastrop high school alumnus, he decided to attend ACC because of its affordability. He stayed because of its impact.

Jaimes was studying business administration at ACC’s Riverside Campus when his truck broke down in the parking lot in front of the Heating, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration Technology department building.

“My truck was smoking, so I removed the radiator to see if anyone in the auto shop could help me. I walked directly into the building and met an ACC employee who fixed my radiator. He then showed me some fascinating equipment and explained how a compressor and electricity systems work,” Jaimes says.

Inspired by this conversation, Jaimes’ career path took a turn. He went on to earn two associate degrees – one in business administration and another in air conditioning & refrigeration. He then earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in finance from Texas State University, and started a business, Air Star Mechanical Services, Inc., while also teaching at ACC as an adjunct professor.

“I wanted to start my own company, and found that the air conditioning industry was the area that brought the most meaning and a greater opportunity to help people,” he says.

Now he is a successful business owner and full time faculty member.

“I teach because I like to give back to ACC. ACC gave me the opportunity to support my family,” he says. “My students keep me in the classroom. I want to help others and provide opportunities like the instructors who helped me while I was a student.”

Jaimes started his air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration business over 10 years ago. He now has eight employees. All of them are previous ACC students.

“He not only still owns a full time business, but he is one of our stellar full time faculty members and contributes to the program’s success in a number of different ways beyond just the classroom,” says Brandon Whatley, Design, Manufacturing, Construction & Applied Tech dean.

Read more about his teaching philosophy.

Tags: air conditioning, arturo jaimes, business administration, business owner, heating, refrigeration, riverside