Marc Patrick’s path didn’t come from following a straight line but through trial, redirection and an eventual passion for a trade he once knew nothing about.
For two years, Patrick, of Wills Point, has commuted more than an hour each way to attend Tyler Junior College’s HVAC/Refrigeration program. What began as a search for stability has turned into a clear vision for a long-term career in ammonia refrigeration — a critical but often overlooked part of the food supply chain.
“I was looking at trade schools in Tyler and Waxahachie, and I just wasn’t big on the Waxahachie area,” Patrick said. “So, I chose Tyler. It was a good decision.”
After completing an entry-level HVAC certificate last spring, he’s now earning his advanced certificate and has already committed to returning next year for the specialized ammonia refrigeration track.
His goal: to become a Certified Assistant Refrigeration Operator (CARO) and eventually, a Certified Refrigeration Technician, which will require another five years of operator experience.
Patrick’s journey didn’t start in the trades. He graduated high school in 2008 and briefly attended Navarro College with hopes of becoming a nurse. When that didn’t work out, he spent a year working at a CVS pharmacy — a time he describes as heading “toward rock bottom.”
“I joined the Navy to get out of Corsicana,” he said.
He enlisted on May 8, 2013, serving nearly a decade of active duty before separating in October 2022. In the Navy, he served as a gunner’s mate while working toward a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice — initially aiming for a career in law enforcement. But during his studies, he realized it wasn’t the right fit.
“That lifestyle just isn’t for everyone,” he said, so he set about charting a new future, which turned out to be HVAC — and more specifically, ammonia refrigeration.
“I was finishing the light commercial and residential HVAC track when they introduced the ammonia program,” he said. “It looked like something I’d really enjoy, and I was right. It’s all on a much larger scale.”
Unlike residential HVAC systems, which cool homes to a comfortable 75 degrees, ammonia refrigeration involves massive, industrial-sized equipment capable of cooling entire facilities to sub-zero temperatures — often to store perishable food. It’s an industry that plays a silent but vital role in global food security.
“Without refrigeration, you lose the ability to store and move that amount of food across the country,” he explained. “Places like Tyson Foods — they have huge plants, and these can’t even be near neighborhoods due to the risks involved with ammonia systems. There are laws about that.”
Staffing in the field has declined in recent years.
“The HVAC community is small, and the ammonia field within that it is even smaller,” he said. “A lot of people are retiring, and not many are coming in to replace them.”
He’s determined to be part of the solution. He’s currently studying for the Certified Assistant Refrigeration Operator (CARO) exam and plans to gain five years of field experience to become a technician.
Balancing life isn’t easy. Patrick has three children — 8-year-old twins and an adopted 3-year-old son — and for a while, he juggled school and work. But something had to give.
“As things progressed, I couldn’t maintain the balance. I had to stop working to focus on school,” he said. “I’m doing this for my family, too.”
He credits TJC’s instructors for their support and flexibility. “They’re awesome — very knowledgeable and they really work with our schedules. You can tell this is what they’re meant to do.”
Looking ahead, he encourages anyone considering a trade to explore their options and keep an open mind.
“If you had told me 10 years ago that I would go into HVAC, I would have laughed,” he said. “But once I started learning about it — how it works and all that goes into it — it really grabbed my attention.”