Roper started working for North Shoe Plumbing and Heating at age 13.

“That was my weekend job, summer job, and side job throughout my younger years,” Roper said. “Working for my family's company, I wore a lot of hats and learned a lot about the trade, business, and the industry.”

Roper has made a mark on the industry. He was involved in commissioning cold climate heat pump systems as Energy Canada tested the systems performance in Canadian winter climates, which led to the Canadian Heat Pump Guide. He also was the chair of education for the Thermal Environmental Comfort Association as they created HVAC and heat pump courses required for provincial and federal energy grant.

“My career goal is to keep bettering the trade by helping to create HVACR curriculum for the next generation and being a role model for future mechanics,” he said. “Besides education, I have the goal of moving into a business development or director position for a large HVACR corporation or manufacturer.”