Getting to know our current and future leaders.
We are proud of the many success stories we have helped to write. Our development program graduates and trainees are some of our most valuable resources and they deserve to be recognized. Hear more about the Hajoca development program from some of our teammates. These are more than jobs, these are unmatched career opportunities.
Theron Alcazar, Management Trainee, Texas Tech Graduate
Hajoca has an amazing culture, and one of the perfect ways of showing that is through the trips I’ve gone on throughout the MDP program. I have had the pleasure of visiting several different locations in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin to gain knowledge and experience from established managers with my teammates. Each and every one of those visits allowed me to build individual relationships with teammates across the entire state!
Every location we visited gave us knowledge from different perspectives on how to become a successful leader and what it takes to build an amazing team and Profit Center. On those visits we also had the pleasure of being able to go out and experience the town and get to know one another on a personal level while building a working relationship as well. After every trip, I didn’t just leave with new experiences and knowledge; I left knowing that I always had a connection in that area when I came back. Today, I’m able to connect with multiple teammates in virtually every metroplex in Texas. Hajoca didn’t just introduce me to new co-workers on these trips, they enabled me to make lifelong friends and a connection where we can reach out to one another any time we need it!
Nick Beckman, Management Trainee, Texas A&M Graduate
During my program, I have spent most of my time calling on and servicing mechanical/industrial contractors in the PVF segment of our business. With these types of contractors and selling in that space, we get to be a part of some pretty cool jobs. Some of those projects include the new Texas Ranger Ball Park in Arlington, Winstar Casino, and the new Tesla factory in Austin. One of the coolest jobs I got to see firsthand was a data center in Dallas called the Info Mart. The Info Mart is a data warehouse center where companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook rent servers to hold their data in the cloud. One of our account managers had just finished building out a new server room in the Info Mart. He was about to do the job’s last walk through and invited me to tag along to see the finished data center. It was just like you see in the movies. Servers lined out the whole room, stacked all the way to the ceiling with wires running everywhere. The customer showed us where they had run all their coolant lines to keep the servers from overheating. He even showed us the entire emergency piping system on the roof in case the system was to ever go down. It was by far the coolest day on the job for me seeing the cloud in real life!
Chris Greene, Management Trainee, Oklahoma State Graduate
Moving from college into the professional world may be one of the toughest transitions individuals have to make. From no longer having summers and month-long Christmas breaks off while also being separated from many friends, life can seem significantly less exciting than it did just a few short months or years ago when you were back in college.
At Hajoca, I was promised that the people are what make the business and industry special. In the few short months I’ve been here, my teammates in Tomball have already become friends that I spend time with outside of work. Throughout the 4-year program, Hajoca also provides trainees opportunities to keep in touch with each other through sales training workshops, summer retreats, vendor trips, and week-long visits to other profit centers. Even though my fellow trainees are spread across the state and the southern region, we keep in touch with these visits and calling each other weekly.
When traveling, both for business and personal reasons, I always try to a grab a bite to eat when in town with other trainees. I have noticed that many profit center managers (PCM’s) have built personal relationships with other PCM’s that transcend Hajoca. But, it’s not just trainees and teammates that become close friends through the journey with Hajoca. The foundation of the plumbing industry is personal relationships. Many plumbers and contractors are second, third, or even fourth generation in their trade. These individuals grow up at the supply house as an apprentice in their teens and if treated right, come back for decades. Spending so much time daily with customers, you learn their sons’, daughters’, and spouse’s names, their hobbies, and their passion for the business. Some even become friends with personal relationships; for example, I am coaching a basketball team with one of our customers.
Nobody grows up and wants to be in the plumbing industry. Nobody especially enters college and expects to be in the plumbing industry when they graduate. But, I can assure you that the industry is not what matters. What matters the most are the people inside the business and industry that you work in, and the plumbing industry is defined by down-to-earth individuals willing to invest in the people who work hard and are willing to learn.
Zach Kallus, Management Trainee, Texas A&M Graduate
Back in July of 2021, I had the pleasure of attending Hajoca’s Management Development Program Summer Fling just outside of Belton, TX. At this event, Management Trainees from all across our South-Central Division gathered for a couple days of fun, learning, and networking. This event served as a great “kickoff” event for many trainees who recently started the program after graduating in the spring. Our Division Manager, Region Managers, Recruiting Manager, and recruiters from across the division were all in attendance to take part in the fun. This was an awesome opportunity to begin building a solid network within the company and pick the brains of some of the brightest minds in business.
Some of the fun at the event included playing pool, kickball, and cornhole along with doing several different teambuilding activities including a game called survivor. This allowed everyone the chance to get to know each other better while also working on developing skills that will be very helpful going forward in the program. I know I personally made many connections that appear to be turning into lifelong friendships.
In addition to several learning sessions, there was both a Management Trainee Graduate Roundtable and Division Manager/Region Manager Roundtable event. During these Q&A sessions, I learned about our goals as a company along with the current challenges we face and what it takes to be successful in our industry. I also gained valuable insight into what exactly the training program looks like and what it takes to ultimately be successful as a trainee. Straight talk is one of Hajoca’s core values and it was definitely seen throughout these sessions. Overall, my greatest takeaway from the event is the fact that Hajoca consistently wins across the board because of the quality of people who make up our wonderful team. I have never seen a company who follows their core values as closely as Hajoca does; nor have I seen a company who spends as much time and resources hiring the right people. This thought crossed my mind time and time again throughout the event. It truly is comforting knowing that I found my second family at Hajoca, and even more comforting knowing that I will always be a part of THE WINNING TEAM.
My first introduction to Hajoca and their culture was when the recruiters came to speak in my "Intro to Marketing" class at Texas Tech in 2020. The two of them opened with the line, "We're probably the biggest company you've never heard of." From there, they caught my attention almost immediately the way they spoke about their programs, the company's history, culture, and how they invested in their teammates. I really became invested when I was able to speak with Hajoca one-on one at the Career Fair later in the semester. The way Hajoca invested their time and effort into me while I was a student absolutely motivated me to apply and interview for the internship and MDP program.
I was ecstatic to receive an offer for the internship, but unfortunately, like many college students during this time, Covid-19 provided too great a risk for everyone around the world. However, despite all of this, the team never stopped checking in on me during my time at Texas Tech.
Hajoca has everything that I could want in a career path: a clear development path, a chance to run my own enterprise, build my own team and culture, and so much more.
But despite all of this, there is still one reason that stands out above all of these positives, and that's culture. We're not employees; we're friends and teammates. The same people I work with every day are the same people I choose to spend my free time with. I don't have to set up meetings to meet with my mentors or leaders; they are just a short walk or text away at any time I need! My peers aren't just my teammates; they're my friends and counsel. Everyone I have met in the company is truly invested in each other's success and well-being, and that feeling has only gotten stronger after a year with Hajoca.
When the team reached out to me as a student, they asked me how me and my family were doing, or how my classes were going. It genuinely felt like I could have asked them for anything.
I said "Yes" because they treat me like family.
One of the biggest questions we all face early on in life is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I always struggled with this question because I honestly did not know. I came into school knowing I wanted to graduate with a business or engineering degree – I ultimately decided to major in Industrial Distribution at Texas A&M University – but wasn’t entirely sure what I would end up doing with it. From an early age, I knew I wanted a career in which I could be challenged and ultimately live into my dream. I also knew I wanted to be a part of a team with strong values, good culture, and individuals who make me a better version of myself each day. I interviewed and received offers from companies across the board in the oil and gas, finance, and wholesale distribution industries. Each opportunity seemed enticing but there always felt like something was missing – a direct connection to the company and its people. I found this and much more in Hajoca. Life as a trainee in Hajoca’s Management Development Program has been a great ride so far. The amount of growth and personal development I have experienced since joining the program is indescribable. A lot of this growth can be attributed to the exposure, responsibility, and autonomy we are given as trainees. Each day is a new challenge with numerous learning opportunities. Everyone across the board is so willing to help and the network one gains within the company is second to none. One piece of advice I have for anyone getting close to graduation or preparing to join the workforce is really look for a place that surrounds you with the people, tools, and opportunities that help you live into your dream. This looks different for everyone, but I can proudly say that Hajoca has afforded myself along with many others this opportunity and so much more.
I started with Hajoca on May 17th, 2021, shortly after graduating from Georgia Southern University. I’m currently working in Lithia Springs at Apex Supply (Profit Center 549). As I approach the 6-month mark in my time being here I am so grateful that I made the choice to choose Hajoca. The talent level in this organization is unlike anything I have ever experienced. From the warehouse workers all the way up to the President, everyone is treated with the same amount of respect, knowing we all bring something of value to the business. The company does a phenomenal job of making sure its employees are trained and equipped with the knowledge needed to take on this growing industry. Hajoca challenges us to live into our dream and goes the extra mile to ensure we achieve it. Saying 'yes' to this company is not only the best decision I’ve ever made, but I want it to be your best decision too.
I started with HAJOCA in March of 2021, and I am currently working with the counter team, showroom team and inside sales team during the second phase of the Management Development Program. The past 8 months I have learned so much, and I am still learning something new every day. At the counter and during my time in the warehouse, my coworkers wanted to help me learn as much as possible, so I can provide the best service to our customers and prepare me for my future. Everyone really wants to help you succeed and grow in your role. The MDP is a great opportunity for people that have a love for business and aren’t afraid of trying something new. I almost passed up HAJOCA at my college’s career fair because I thought “plumbing isn’t for me,” but I am so happy I took the chance and would recommend the program to anyone. While growing up, I was always on sports teams, and the work environment at HAJOCA truly resembles a winning team, and that’s one of my favorite things about the company!
Most individuals grow up thinking they want to be doctors or lawyers or even professional athletes. But for me, I always knew that selling and distributing products was my dream. Now, I never thought I would end up in the plumbing and HVAC industry, but here I am.
My final year of college was during the Covid-19 pandemic, and was a very large adjustment. Since all if my classes were online, it gave me more time to get myself together for the next transition in life. Weeks before the shutdown, I applied online for Hajoca's Management Development Program on Handshake. I had my first initial interview with Hajoca in person, on campus then, Covid struck. I thought it was over but the process just stretched out a little farther (over 3 months). Thankfully, I was getting weekly calls, and email updates from Natalie, Brad and Stephanie. [Fun fact- I was the first ever digital interview conducted by the team!] To think that the company was still hiring to during the pandemic was so promising and a dream come true to me.
Advice for all of you searching for a job during this pandemic- keep your head up. If you think the dream is yours, you can attain it. You have to do your research, and make sure the opportunity fits you. And lastly make sure you’re happy; if you come to work every day and don’t feel like you’re attacking your workday, it is not meant for you. Make sure you’re happy and going to work becomes the best part of your day.
When I started with Hajoca in September of 2020, I didn't know the first thing about plumbing...quickly, I found myself immersed in the world of water heaters, pipe, and fittings. I can honestly say that every single day has provided an amazing learning experience in the world of plumbing, distribution, and leadership.
One of my favorite things about the Management Development Program has been the relationships I've been able to build with my teammates. The quality and caliber of people at Hajoca is second to none. I've been able to learn the industry from the ground up and been surrounded by people who are invested in seeing me and our team succeed. The culture at Hajoca is all about the success of the team. Everyone is bought in and fueled by the goal of team success. That is a pretty awesome thing to be a part of!
I've been with Hajoca less than six months and I'm already so grateful for all who have invested in me and have no doubt that these relationships will last a lifetime!