ACR Latinoamerica spoke with Alberto Jara Villalobos, general manager of the Costa Rican company Refrimundo, about his successful career and also about his most personal side.
By: Álvaro León Pérez Sepúlveda
Widely recognized in the regional HVAC industry, our Professional of the Month holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from the Universidad Hispanoamericana; as well as a specialization in Working Capital Management from the Central American Institute of Business Administration (INCAE). Additionally, Alberto Jara is the current president of the Chamber of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Ventilation Companies of Costa Rica (CCRAVE), also serving as a member of the liaison committee of the National Learning Institute (INA) and the committee of the Licensing Program of Refrigeration Technicians of Costa Rica.
However, to better understand this story of success and recognition, we must go back to May 6, 1967, the date of Alberto's birth in the city of San José, Costa Rica, in a family made up of his parents and five siblings.
ACR LATIN AMERICA: What can you tell us about your childhood?
ALBERTO JARA VILLALOBOS: In my childhood and youth I studied music and practiced some instruments. My greatest achievement was having won first place in marimbas at the national level, being a student at the Roberto Brenes Mesén High School.
ACR: What were your first challenges at work?
AJV: I started working at a very young age, but my main work challenges have been at the Aeropost company, where I worked for 11 years as Regional Financial Director; as well as at Grupo Clima where I was Financial Administrative Manager for 11 years. Subsequently
I have worked at Refrimundo as General Manager for 18 years, until today.
ACR: What strengths and opportunities would you highlight in yourself?
AJV: I consider that my greatest virtue is the ability to face different challenges in a positive way and I believe in the Japanese philosophy according to which in every crisis what exists is an opportunity. My biggest weakness is not dedicating more time to exercise; It is a matter of discipline that over time I have not been able to improve.
ACR: What aspects do you consider key to successful leadership?
AJV: From my point of view, it is impossible to think that the objectives of a company are achieved without leaving aside the feeling and knowledge of the work team. That is why for next year we will continue to train our employees to have the most professional team in the market. Above all, we will be letting them know the value that they represent for us in the company, strengthening the idea that the sense of belonging is the feeling that is needed to achieve success, both individually and collectively.
ACR: What do you spend your time on when you're not working?
AJV: On weekends I usually travel to a city in the countryside called San Mateo, where I have a little house and where I enjoy most weekends with my family.
ACR: How is your home formed?
AJV: I have been married for 26 years and have four children: Pamela, Sebastián, Camila and Luciana. I live in the city of Heredia with my wife and children.
ACR: What are your hobbies?
AJV: I am a loyal soccer fan, mainly for teams such as the Alajuelense Sports League of Costa Rica, Barcelona of Spain, River Plate of Argentina and Milan of Italy. I'm also a UFC and F1 fan.
ACR: What do you think are the reasons for your recognition in this market?
AJV: The truth is that love, passion and dedication for what I do, do not give me space to imagine what others may think. Of course, I tell you that I am very grateful to God for all the friends that this beautiful industry has given me, not only in Costa Rica but in different countries around the world, and I feel extremely privileged for it.
ACR: What goals do you have to achieve personally and professionally?
AJV: My greatest aspiration on a personal level is to be able to give my children an adequate education and an example of impeccable life, so that they can face the challenges they are going to have in the best way, without interfering with their happiness and what they want to be in the professional field. In addition, I hope to be able to continue contributing my grain of sand through the Chamber of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Ventilation Companies of Costa Rica and also from my position at the National Institute of Learning, as well as in the new challenges that I must face at the labor level for the development of our company, Refrimundo.
ACR: How has the HVAC industry evolved over the years of your professional career?
AJV: Our market has had an upturn throughout Latin America. Climate change has been fundamental to growth, but so have new technologies, the prices of Asian products, and the economic stability that has occurred in the aftermath of the pandemic. These factors have also been drivers of development.
ACR: What are your projections for this industry in the medium term?
AJV: I think there is no reason to think about any crisis in the sector, beyond the risks at the global level that are unpredictable, such as, for example, the 2020 pandemic. It seems to me that we have to be very aware of the changes that are going to take place with the issue of new refrigerants and the agreements that occur worldwide on this issue. I think that the political strategy that has been taking place between Asian countries and Latin America can be an interesting issue, not only because of access to reductions in tariffs, but also because of the strategies of Asian brands. We will also have to see what strategy the United States Government will follow with the change of administration, but the important thing is to stay updated day by day, since this is a very dynamic market and changes occur very quickly.
