Daniel Foidl: Living the Dream
By Matt Solis, Editor
Daniel Foidl originally planned on having a career in the aviation industry, but even after his aspirations were grounded, he found a way to elevate his professional prospects. “I got out of the U.S. military in the late ’90s and went to work for United Airlines,” he explains. “After a while, I noticed they were kind of struggling with increased fuel prices and takeovers, so I decided to look for something more ‘recession-proof.’ I started working part-time for my friend’s HVAC business and found it really interesting, so I decided to go to school for it. Four years later, I got my contractor’s license and opened my first business in Vacaville.”
Today, as manager of Moore Mechanical Heating & Air Conditioning, Daniel says his favorite part of his job is working in the field and engaging with customers. “I frequently visit our jobsites and help with installations and servicing, and I’ll even run emergency service calls on weekends from time to time. I’m always prepared to help out, even if it means fixing an air conditioning unit on a 120 degree day.”
A longtime resident of the Bay Area, Daniel says his favorite parts of living and working in the region are the temperate weather and accessibility. “I’ve lived in the Bay Area on and off for the better part of 30 years, and the weather is definitely the best thing about living here. I love playing tennis with my two teenage sons when it’s nice out, and we’re close to Lake Tahoe, so there’s great snowboarding in the winter and boating and jet skiing in the summer. There’s just a lot to do here. We’re all living the dream in this lovely state.”
Outside of work, Daniel prefers to spend most of his free time with his wife, Lori, and their family. “We have a pretty good family atmosphere—our daughter is grown and out of the house but our sons still live with us, so we like getting together and enjoying all that the Bay Area has to offer. We also take vacations as often as possible. Our favorite destinations are Cozumel and Maui. In fact, our next trip is to Maui and I’m trying to get my youngest son to start scuba diving with me.”
When asked to describe his personal or professional philosophy, Daniel says it’s all about treating people with respect. “To me, that’s the most important thing in life. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or what your position is—everybody knows something that you don’t, so the more you get to know someone, the more you’re going to learn.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: Coffee or tea?
A: Coffee with flavored creamer.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Portugal. I’ve been there a few times on motorcycle tours and it’s a beautiful place to visit. The people are fantastic and the food is just off the charts.
Q: If you could drive any car, what would it be?
A: An old Shelby Cobra.
Q: What’s the strangest food you’ve ever eaten?
A: Kangaroo. It tastes like chicken!
Q: What’s your favorite holiday?
A: Christmas. Watching my kids open presents in the morning is fantastic.