Rick Kostelaz
Empire Air, 781 S. Center St. 775-727-8546
Age: 65
Background: “This business has been around in Pahrump for the last 25 years. I came 6 years ago to help save the company. I have a background in electronics from working in Silicon Valley, where I was a military contractor from 1967 until the 1990s. We are one of two air conditioning businesses in town with a commercial shop.
Years in business: “We have been around for 25 years and I have been involved with Empire for six years.”
First job: “When I was a teenager I worked at a plastics shop. There I made it to machine operator by the time I was 18, which led to a steady job as a transportation manager.”
Personal: “In my free time I like to do Autocross. We set up tight maneuvering courses for the drivers and it’s a timed event to complete the course. It’s similar to road races but it’s condensed.”
Business Climate: “This business is stable. We were very busy during the construction boom in the valley and now survive on repairs and new installations. We have only two employees and are very busy and do repairs in our shop, which is also a complete sheet metal shop.”
Note: The business profile is a free service that the PVT provides to the business community of Pahrump. If you would like to be profiled or know of a business that should be profiled, contact Vern Hee at 775-727-5102 or at vhee@pvtimes.com.