From a young age, Steven harbored a strong interest in the trades. After he obtained a finance degree from Ryerson, he followed his passion and attended trade school to become an HVAC mechanic. His brother Jeff was already in the HVAC industry, and during a warm August evening in 1996, the brothers discussed the concept that would become Avenue Aire. Initially, the company specialized in providing maintenance and repair services for heating and air conditioning systems to commercial and industrial customers.
As time passed, clients started requesting ventilation equipment installations, and Steven recognized the need to broaden the company’s expertise. To accommodate the growing demand, he brought on mechanical engineers and sheet metal mechanics. In 1998, Avenue Aire experienced a significant milestone while resolving a long-standing issue with the LCBO’s air conditioning system. The LCBO sought to modernize its store but was hesitant to invest in equipment upgrades, resulting in a 25-year-old air conditioning unit with clogged evaporator coils that failed to cool the store effectively.