(BOP) - Former inmate Hector Gomez is now the proud owner of his own heating and air company thanks to the certification he earned during his incarceration at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Texarkana, Texas. Mr. Gomez was certified for automotive and residential air conditioning through the HVAC vocational training program, and was released in 2001. He spent the next 15 years becoming an expert in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems industry.
Mr. Gomez had no experience with HVAC prior to his incarceration, and he received his first HVAC job during his time at a Residential Reentry Center. During the first few years after his incarceration, he worked at various companies gaining experience in HVAC. In 2009, Mr. Gomez received his refrigeration and air conditioning license--the highest level of licensure in the state of Texas. In December 2010, Mr. Gomez registered his business, and officially became owner and operator of his own business. Mr. Gomez has continued to grow his business and currently employs ten people.