ANDY CHEN

 HVAC Contractor – Cooling Portland & Contractor Development Program Participant

I came from Dalian, in the Northeastern part of China. In 2015, I made the big decision to move to the United States so my two kids could have a better education and future. When we first moved to California, it was tough — I barely spoke English, just simple words like “hello” and “thank you.” I could find work in warehouses or doing labor, and that would have been the easy choice. But deep down, I wanted more. Back in China, I had a degree in Computer Science and worked in the clothing industry. I wanted to build something meaningful for myself and my family, not just take any job to get by.

I started working for a remodeling company owned by a fellow Chinese immigrant. I stayed for a couple of years, but every time I asked to learn more and take on bigger responsibilities, the owner said no. I didn’t want to stay stuck in the same place forever, so when housing costs got too high in California, I packed up my family and moved to Oregon, where it was more affordable and I saw a chance to start fresh.

In Oregon, I focused on improving myself. I enrolled in ESL classes at PCC, worked hard, and passed Level 8. I also completed an air conditioning course. I found a local company and worked on A/C installations for a year, but again, when I asked to learn more, I was told no. That’s when I made the decision to quit and start my own business. I got my CCB license, started from scratch, and slowly began taking on small residential projects.

Then APANO found me. They saw a post I made on WeChat about my A/C repair and installation work and reached out. They asked if I wanted to deliver portable cooling and heating units for the Cooling Portland program, and I said yes. Over the past five months, I’ve delivered almost 100 units to families across the city. It’s been low stress, good pay, and meaningful work — knowing I’m helping people stay safe and comfortable during extreme heat.

APANO didn’t just stop there — they connected me with their contractor development program and introduced me to more HVAC project opportunities. They even referred me to the BPI (Building Performance Institute) training, which will open doors for me to work on PCEF and other large projects. I don’t fully know what to expect from the training yet, but I’m eager, excited, and ready to learn.

I’m so grateful for the chance to grow, to gain new skills, and to build the future I’ve dreamed of for my family. This is exactly what I wanted when I came to America — the opportunity to work hard, keep learning, and create something of my own. APANO is helping me make that happen, and I can’t thank them enough.