29 Nov “Spotlight” on Marco Bertolini
Marco Bertolini has worked for Operational Intelligence for several years as a Mechanical Lead, he has been working in the HVACR industry for over 30 years, with experience in sectors ranging from retail, lodging, hospitals, life sciences, district cooling, and critical facilities. Being a Chartered Engineer and Member of the IET ASHRAE, and IoR, we chat with Marco about his experience in the industry, read his thoughts below.
Tell us a bit about your career and what you’re bringing to your role:
I’ve been in the HVAC industry since graduating in 1989 and have only ever had three ‘employments’: a graduate trainee at a UK contractor, an HVAC salesman at a multinational manufacturer, and my current role. Besides knowledge and experience what I bring to the role is a rational and calm approach to getting the job done.
You have a highly pressurised career – what would you say are the key strengths you bring to a team?
Who said it was a highly pressurised career? It’s what you want to make of it. What key strengths do I bring? Focus: Ensuring the team understand what are the important battles. You can only control the bits that you can control. Timing: Delivering the right message at the right time. Consistency: The team and the client know what they are going to get. Humour: Let’s have a bit of a laugh when we can.
What are the main challenges in the Mission Critical sector?
The main challenges are always people. Managing people so everyone is driving in the same direction is key.
What kind of skills does one need to have to enable a career in the Mission Critical sector that spans for 34 years?
Technical skills are a ‘given’. Without these basic capabilities to carry out your role there won’t be any confidence from your team or from the client. But the greatest skill is effective communication.
Over the course of your career, what would you say was your most challenging project?
That’s an interesting question and it depends on whether you’re asking about technical challenges, commercial challenges or time challenges. Each project has its own unique set of challenges. By far the most challenging are those where a design is trying to defy the laws of physics. Never seen on of those projects work yet…
Is there any cutting-edge technology which you are excited about, which will be at the forefront of the industry in the next few years?
Technology is a tool to get a job done. It neither excites me nor motivates me. People are the only thing that really matters.
Are there any skill/formulae/tech you learned in your formative years you still utilise today?
Loads! As my degree was in electrical and electronic engineering it’s mainly simple formulae like Ohm’s Law. Mostly for HVAC it’s the sensible and total heat equations. A lot of my work has involved being able to speak the same language as my clients – technical with consultants, commercial with end users.
As you are always heavily involved in the final push to complete a project, what are your coping mechanisms to deal with the pressurised environment you live in?
Plan your work and work your plan. Don’t leave it to the last minute. Remember the acronym – PPPPPP. I won’t spell it out because it’s rude.
What is it that you enjoy about working with the MiCiM team?
It’s nice working with a diverse group of people with different skillsets but who are all dedicated and interested in what they are doing.
After a busy working week, what do you do in your down time?
Some more work! No, just kidding. It’s a mixture of sports, cultural visits, travelling, and spending time with friends.
