Christopher Mickey is the founder and owner of Airheads HVAC, a growing HVAC company based in New Port Richey, Florida. Raised in the same town, Chris learned self-reliance early.
He moved out at age 14 and worked his way through high school and college. His first job was at Winn-Dixie. He later earned degrees in economics from the University of South Florida and became licensed in HVAC through Marchman Technical College.
At 21, Chris bought his first business—a struggling Westshore Pizza franchise. Within three years, it became the second-best location in the chain. After selling his restaurant holdings, he turned to real estate. Alongside his wife, Stephanie Woods, he flipped over 500 homes in 17 years. During that time, they couldn’t find reliable HVAC services, so Chris built his own. That’s how Airheads HVAC was born.
Today, Chris runs several companies across real estate, leasing, finance, and HVAC. But Airheads is his main focus. He leads with grit, integrity, and hands-on know-how. His team serves homes and businesses with a strong focus on customer service and value.
Chris is also a family man and philanthropist. He and his wife support charities, churches, and youth sports across Pasco County. He believes in giving back to the community that raised him.
With a track record of turning challenges into success, Christopher Mickey is a business leader to watch—especially in the HVAC and home services space. His story is one of hard work, smart growth, and staying true to your roots.
Interview with Christopher Mickey: Building a Business from the Ground Up
Q: Christopher, thanks for joining us. Let’s start at the beginning—what was your early life like, and how did it shape you as a businessperson?
A: I grew up in New Port Richey, Florida. My dad was a plumber, but he passed away when I was seven. My mum worked in the lab at HCA Bayonet Point Hospital until she retired. I’ve got a younger sister, and we were just a normal working-class family. I played soccer, did a bit of SCUBA diving—normal Florida kid stuff.
But things changed early for me. I moved out of my mum’s house when I was 14. I started working—my first job was at Winn-Dixie—and I’ve been on my own ever since. That experience taught me how to hustle. If I didn’t figure things out, nobody was going to do it for me. That mindset stuck with me throughout my life and career.
Q: You’ve had a diverse career—restaurants, real estate, HVAC. What was your first real venture into business?
A: When I was 21, I bought into Westshore Pizza. It was one of the lowest-performing locations at the time. But I liked a challenge. I focused on improving operations and service, and within three years, it became the second-best location in the franchise. I sold all my restaurant holdings by the time I was 25. I didn’t grow up with a business mentor or anything, but I had a good sense of how people wanted to be treated—and that worked in my favour.
Q: How did you make the leap from pizza to property?
A: After selling the pizza business, I jumped into real estate. My wife, Stephanie, and I started flipping houses. We bought, renovated, and sold homes throughout Pasco County and beyond. We’ve flipped 545 homes over the past 17 years.
It was hands-on, gritty work. We learned as we went. One of the biggest headaches during those years was HVAC. We could never get consistent service. Too many no-shows, pricing that didn’t make sense, poor work. Eventually, I said, “Why don’t we just do this ourselves?” That’s when Airheads HVAC was born.
Q: That’s a big pivot—how did you make it work?
A: I went back to school at Marchman Technical College and got my HVAC license in 2017. I didn’t want to be another guy hiring out jobs I didn’t understand. I wanted to be qualified and knowledgeable. Starting Airheads was about solving a real problem, not just filling a market gap.
We already had experience with project management from flipping homes, so we knew how to run crews, handle clients, and deal with timelines. I brought that same structure to Airheads. Over time, we built a strong, dependable team. We focus on being straight with people—no gimmicks, just solid work.
Q: What do you think sets Airheads HVAC apart in such a crowded field?
A: We’re not chasing quick sales. Our whole model is built around reliability. I know what it’s like to be the customer who can’t get a straight answer or who’s stuck in the middle of a job delay. We show up when we say we will. We don’t cut corners. If we mess something up, we fix it. That kind of accountability might not sound exciting, but it’s rare these days—and it builds trust.
Q: Your businesses span real estate, leasing, HVAC, and finance. How do you manage it all?
A: I work a lot. I’m not going to pretend I’ve got some secret formula. I’m a bit of a workaholic. But I’ve got a good support system. My wife and I have built these businesses together. We know our strengths and when to stay in our lanes.
Plus, I’m a big believer in process. Once something’s working, I want it documented and repeated. That’s how we’ve scaled without losing quality. I don’t want 10 things running halfway. I want four or five things done properly.
Q: Outside of work, you and your wife are involved in a lot of community projects. Why is that important to you?
A: We’ve been blessed, and it’s important to give back. We’re involved with Metropolitan Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, and a couple of churches—Generations Christian and Experience Church. We also support youth baseball—sponsor about 11 teams and leagues.
My wife sits on the board of several charities. She’s amazing at organising and leading those efforts. We also donate to most of the local schools. Pasco’s our home, and we want to invest in it, not just profit from it.
Q: Looking back, what would you say has been your biggest lesson in business?
A: No one’s coming to save you. You’ve got to be willing to do the hard things, especially when no one’s watching. Also, humility matters. You’ll never know everything, so keep learning.
It’s not about being flashy—it’s about being dependable. That’s how you build a name that lasts.
Q: What’s next for you and Airheads?
A: We’re focused on controlled growth. I don’t want to be the biggest HVAC company overnight. I want to be the best one in our region. If that takes more time, so be it. We’ll keep showing up, keep doing good work, and let the results speak for themselves.
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Christopher Mickey on Building Airheads HVAC from the Ground Up