Our Leadership

James has been filled with the spirit of ATS from the start and transitioned to a full-time role in 2004 following his father’s passing. His journey, marked by a commitment to honoring this legacy of excellence while continually adapting and leading with purpose, has seen him contribute significant insights to ATS. “Carrying forward my father’s legacy, I’ve learned that success is not just about how we start but about how we adapt, grow, and lead with purpose. At ATS, we embody the true spirit of leadership, guiding our team to new heights while honoring our legacy of excellence.” During his tenure as a Project Manager at Air Systems from 2002 to 2004, James acquired a deep understanding of project management and HVAC systems. His impact extends well beyond ATS, illustrated by his appointment to the National MCAA Board in 2023 and his current chairing of the MCAA’s “Management Methods Committee.” A true champion of collaboration, James ensures ATS remains at the forefront of HVAC services with his leadership.

Michael Potts brings a people-first approach to leadership, shaped by his service in the U.S. Air Force and a career spanning business development, sales strategy, operations, and organizational leadership. As a LEED Accredited Professional, Michael combines a strong business foundation with a commitment to responsible growth and long-term performance. Throughout his career, Michael has focused on building strong teams, developing leaders, and creating the structure and accountability organizations need to grow successfully. His servant leadership philosophy centers on putting people first while maintaining high expectations for performance, collaboration, and follow-through. At ATS Mechanical, Michael helps guide the company’s continued growth while protecting the culture, relationships, and standards that have defined ATS for decades. “I believe success is best measured by the impact we have on others and the legacy we build through leadership.” Michael Potts

Building a service organization that performs at a high level starts with understanding the work from the ground up. Since joining ATS in 2004 as a Service Technician, Ben has built more than 20 years of experience across HVAC service, construction, controls, and building automation. His career at ATS has included roles as Startup Superintendent and Controls Foreman before advancing into service leadership. Ben holds degrees from San Jose City College in Climate Technologies and Building Maintenance, along with certifications including UA Star Certification, Carrier Controls Expert, and Mitsubishi VRF Factory Certified Technician. He was instrumental in building ATS’s Controls Department from the ground up and helped lead the Service Department through over a decade of 20% year-over-year growth. Today, Ben leads ATS Mechanical’s service operations with a focus on developing strong teams, improving service delivery, and continually strengthening the client experience. His technical background and firsthand field experience continue to shape how the department grows while maintaining the level of service ATS Mechanical customers expect.

Great construction leadership comes from knowing how to take a project from concept through execution. With more than 30 years in the mechanical construction industry, Brandon brings deep experience in HVAC construction, project management, and leadership, with particular expertise in HVAC dryside systems. His career has been built through both field and project experience, including completion of the Local 104 Sheet Metal Apprenticeship program and the San Jose State University Project Management Certificate Program. That combination of technical knowledge and project experience has shaped his approach to managing complex mechanical construction. At ATS Mechanical, Brandon leads the HVAC Construction Sales and Project Management teams, providing direction from preconstruction through project delivery. His focus is on developing strong teams, maintaining accountability, and ensuring projects are executed with the planning, coordination, and technical expertise our clients expect.

Four decades in the trade creates a perspective that can’t be learned from behind a desk.** Frank’s career has been rooted in Silicon Valley, where he has helped deliver complex commercial and industrial plumbing and process piping systems for some of the world’s most recognized technology companies, including Apple, Intel, IBM, and Google. Starting in the field, Frank worked his way through nearly every level of the trade, serving as General Foreman, Superintendent, Project Manager, Project Executive, and Division Manager before becoming Vice President of Plumbing. That progression gives him a rare understanding of a project from both the field and executive perspective. Frank’s expertise includes **healthcare construction, OSHPD and NFPA compliance, Lean construction, design-build delivery, commercial and industrial plumbing, process piping, and systems serving clean and highly controlled environments.** His professional development includes trade school along with superintendent, leadership, and project management training through SMACNA. At ATS Mechanical, Frank leads the Plumbing Division, overseeing its people, projects, operations, and continued growth. His combination of field knowledge, technical expertise, and operational leadership allows his teams to take on highly complex projects where planning, coordination, compliance, and execution are critical.

Complex projects demand more than technical expertise. They require leaders who can see the entire project before construction ever begins. With more than 10 years of experience in commercial HVAC construction, Andrew brings an engineering-driven approach to some of ATS Mechanical’s largest and most complex projects. His experience spans large-scale, multi-million-dollar construction, including sophisticated HVAC systems, tenant improvements, design engineering, preconstruction, and project management. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from California State University, Sacramento. His technical background and construction experience give him the ability to evaluate complex systems, anticipate challenges, and guide teams through demanding projects from early design and planning through final execution. As Vice President of HVAC Construction, Andrew leads project teams with a focus on strategy, coordination, quality, and performance. He is equally committed to developing the people behind the work, mentoring future leaders and building teams capable of taking on increasingly complex and high-profile projects. For Andrew, successful construction starts well before work begins in the field, with smart engineering, disciplined planning, and a team prepared to execute at scale.

Michelle Acosta serves as Vice President of Business Development for ATS Mechanical, where she focuses on building strong client relationships, developing strategic partnerships, and creating opportunities that support the company’s continued growth. With a background spanning operations, marketing, customer experience, and business development, Michelle brings a broad perspective to how ATS connects with its customers and the industry. Her approach is centered on understanding what clients need, strengthening long-term relationships, and ensuring the ATS team remains a valuable partner well beyond a single project. Michelle is also an active member of the Bay Area construction community. She serves on the Board of Directors for Women in Construction Bay Area, a Bay Area SMACNA Mission Partner, and has held leadership and committee roles with Bay Area SMACNA. She is also a member of Vistage Worldwide and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing from San José State University. For Michelle, business development is ultimately about people: building relationships, creating connections, and making sure ATS Mechanical continues to earn the opportunity to be invited back.

As Senior Director of Operations, Stephen oversees key functions that keep ATS Mechanical's field operations running safely and effectively, including field support, safety, fleet, and operational coordination. Working across departments, he helps ensure our teams have the resources, processes, and support needed to perform at a high level.

Some of the most complex mechanical projects begin with a problem that doesn’t have an obvious answer. James leads ATS Mechanical’s engineering and special projects efforts, bringing technical leadership to projects that demand advanced engineering, creative problem-solving, and a high level of coordination. His expertise spans preconstruction, design-build delivery, retrofit engineering, design review, controls integration, and value engineering. As Director of Engineering & Special Projects, James works across teams to solve challenging technical issues, strengthen engineering standards, improve quality review, and support projects from early concept through execution. James has also played an important role in ATS Mechanical’s growth from its HVAC roots into a full-service commercial mechanical contractor. Through the Special Projects Group, he combines engineering expertise with practical field solutions to expand the capabilities and complexity of the work ATS Mechanical can deliver. Beyond ATS Mechanical, James serves as a California State-Appointed Building Standards Commissioner, bringing his industry experience to the development and review of standards that help shape California’s built environment. Show Less

The best technology doesn’t get in the way. It makes the entire organization work better. With more than 20 years in information technology, Michaela brings a practical approach to building the systems, infrastructure, and security that support ATS Mechanical’s people and operations. Her perspective extends beyond traditional IT. Before becoming Director of Technology, Michaela led Service Operations at ATS, overseeing a growing commercial HVAC, plumbing, and controls operation. Combined with her experience building and managing businesses, that operational background gives her a distinct understanding of how technology decisions affect people, processes, customers, and business performance. Today, Michaela leads ATS Mechanical’s technology strategy, infrastructure, systems, and cybersecurity, with a focus on improving how teams work, strengthening processes, protecting the organization, and building the technology foundation required to support continued growth. Her approach is grounded in a simple principle: technology should make it easier for great people to do great work.

Growth doesn’t happen just because a company gets bigger. It happens when its people, processes, and priorities are built to grow with it. Laura leads company-wide strategic initiatives at ATS Mechanical, working across departments to turn ideas into action and build the programs, processes, and structure that support the company’s continued growth. With a background in service operations, customer relationships, and process improvement, she brings an operational perspective to organizational development and employee experience. Her work focuses on identifying opportunities, creating clarity across teams, and moving cross-functional initiatives from concept through implementation. Laura also leads ATS Mechanical’s internal and external marketing, overseeing brand strategy, communications, digital presence, and company-wide messaging. This combination of operations and marketing allows her to connect how ATS Mechanical operates internally with how the company communicates its value to employees, customers, and the industry. Her leadership philosophy centers on the people behind the work: “People first. Always. Give people a place where they feel valued, give them the tools and confidence to succeed, and they’ll do more than great work. They’ll help build something they’re proud to be part of.”

The strongest field leaders don’t just know how to build a project. They know how to build the people behind it. With over 4 decades in the sheet metal industry, Travis brings extensive field experience across core and shell, high-rise, tenant improvement, plan-and-spec, and design-build projects. Having worked his way through the trade from sheet metal worker and foreman to superintendent and general foreman, Travis understands construction from the ground up. His experience allows him to identify smarter ways to coordinate work, solve field challenges, and help projects stay on schedule while controlling costs. As HVAC General Superintendent, Travis leads ATS Mechanical’s HVAC field operations with a focus on safety, quality, planning, and execution. Just as important is his commitment to mentorship. He takes an active role in developing the next generation of tradespeople, passing along the technical knowledge, craftsmanship, and accountability that come from decades of hands-on experience. For Travis, a successful project isn’t measured only by what gets built. It’s also measured by the people who are better prepared to lead the next one.