Rising Stars: Meet Caleb Howarth of Mesa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Caleb Howarth.

Hi Caleb, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 2011 I started working for a large air conditioning and heating company in the Phoenix valley. Prior to that, I was a diesel technician for a large fleet of trucks in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. I would take three flights, in one day, from Phoenix to Deadhorse, Alaska. We worked a standard shift of 12 hours for 21 continuous days. Then I would return to Phoenix for 21 days off. It was a great job for the time off, but the time at work was long intense and very monotonous. An opportunity arose to switch from repairing trucks at -70 degrees to repairing air conditioners at 115 degrees. I’m still not sure which is harder. With some individual training provided by George Brazil Air Conditioning and Heating, I learned the basics and heading out into the wildly intense summer. Over the next 13 years, I learned a wide array of skills pertaining to air conditioning and heating. I also learned tricks to prevent sunburn-my Alaska skin was not accustom to a UV index of 11. After seeing major changes within the AC industry between 2022-2024, I decided to try my hand at self-employment. I believe I have something to offer that large AC companies struggle to provide. So Frozen Cactus Air Conditioning & Heating was born. The name came about in conversation with friends I was born and raised with in Alaska. The Cactus clearly for Phoenix, and the Frozen as a nod to Alaska. The business started July 1, 2025, and has been going strong every since. I grew up building log homes as part of our family business, worked summers commercial fishing for red salmon, and I have have worked through home remodels with all the surprises they can bring, and all of those hard lessons prepared me for the launch of a new company. And as much as I thought I was ready, I learned quickly that I have much more to learn to get things going from scratch in the very competitive field of the Phoenix HVAC market. Through dedicated honest work, the support of family and close friends, and the graciousness of so many referrals, we are winding down our second successful summer. Adding two employees this spring and prepping for calculated growth looking in 2026. Some of the best advise I received when so many things were hard at the same time, was the perspective that a new business is much like a newborn child. It will require all of your energy, time, and determination to be a success. And I would have to agree

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been smooth. Last summer I was the only person working in, and on, the company. I contacted everyone I knew and did everything I could to get the word out that I was staring something new. I would then be the dispatcher for when the calls came in, get the info entered in the CRM, and then run the calls (running calls was all I did previously at George Brazil). Once at the call, I would need to do the things I had been doing for 13 years, but it was much harder as my mind was working on other things besides the call I was at. Once the physical work was completed, I had to learn the other side. The business tasks seemed like the kept coming as I had to learn how to perform them before I could perform them. Bookkeeping and accounting was a lesson hard learned, twice! Eventually I was told I also need an online presence, and that was its own adventure. I had to accept the pressure will come from more directions than you can count, and it all feels like it needs to be completed at the same time. Being that air conditioning repair is seasonal, it did help to know the last few months of 2024 would provide time for many of the items that were overwhelming.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Being a diesel mechanic for 12 years taught me more than I realized about a repair thought process from diagnosis, repairing, and confirming the diagnosis. This repair mindset helps me when it comes to air conditioning as engines and AC systems are electromechanical devices. Once you understand how the separate systems work together, for their intended purpose, it is easier to recognize which system is affecting the purpose it is not getting. I am known for being through with diagnosis and recognizing when repairs are major, minor, or in between. Knowing the severity of repairs helps when explaining to homeowners how soon the items do/do not need to be completed. I believe I set myself apart by listening first, finding the issue, and then explaining the problem. With my automotive background, I do my best to relate their air conditioner to their car. Current AC systems are very similar to current automobiles and trucks. I do my best to help them understand as most owners relationship with their air conditioning system starts and stops with the thermostat on the wall.

How do you think about happiness?
What is most rewarding for me is when I can help a homeowner that has had a terrible experience with another air conditioning company. At George Brazil, I was often the technician that was sent to save the customer that no longer wanted their services. With some love and logic, I was always able to get them back, provided I was the only tech that would return to their home. The large AC companies have tactics that are mostly in their self-interest, and that all homeowners deserve someone they can trust when they invite any company into their home. It’s a great feeling to restore someone’s faith in something they must deal with-no matter what that issue it. Air conditioning is a necessary evil for all in the valley, but it doesn’t have to be, and it shouldn’t be. When we can help someone realize that, it really is a great feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.frozencactusair.com
• Instagram: @frozencactusair
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562033992572
• Other: @frozen.cactus.air TikTok