Host Dave Fiore speaks with Ricardo Schneider, executive advisor and recently retired president and CEO of Danfoss Turbocor. The Tallahassee-based company produces high efficiency, oil-free compressors for commercial air conditioning systems around the world.

Ricardo’s lifelong passion for improving the world through better refrigeration and air conditioning led him to a position with Danfoss in his home country of Brazil, where he grew up in a community of German immigrants. He excelled in every opportunity with the company and worked his way up to global vice president and a move from Mexico to Baltimore.

While Danfoss has more than 40,000 employees and $12 billion in global revenue, the operation in Tallahassee was in trouble when Ricardo arrived. He quickly turned things around, doubling the company in size every five years, managing multiple expansions and delivering hundreds of millions in economic impact to our community.

He remains inspired to create greater global and local impact through innovative and disruptive thinking and helping create tomorrow’s leaders. And while he is in transition toward the next season of his life, Ricardo says, “purpose does not retire.” 

He is proud of what he has accomplished but says his best products for the world are his three children, made in partnership with his wife, Juliana.