Comfort Experts/Hobson
Air Conditioning has an
interesting history. The 56-yearold
residential service and
replacement company might be
considered a true survivor, and
not just a survivor of the ups
and downs of the challenging
world of HVAC.
There seem to be fewer family-owned mechanical companies every year, especially in the South where fast a/c service is king, and competition is as fierce as anywhere in the country.
If you’re reading this article right now, then it’s safe to assume you’ve heard of George “Butch” Welsch. Aside from being a regular contributor to The NEWS, Welsch is president of St. Louis-based Welsch Heating & Cooling Co., and the man…well, he’s a legend. Welsch was recognized at the 2017 Service World Expo as the first of this year’s three inaugural Legends of HVACR Award winners.
Rick Haller, CEO of Lititz, Pennsylvania-based Haller Enterprises Inc., jokes that he got his start in the HVAC industry at the ripe age of 16 because the labor laws were different than they are nowadays. In 1981, at age 23, he had left that company and started his own business, operating out of his garage.
The owner of Walpole, Massachusetts-based Sison Plumbing & Heating has spent more than half of his life in the industry, having started in the plumbing industry at the ripe age of 17.
When Todd Morgan decided to start a mechanical contracting firm, he had only $10,000 cash in his pocket and no line of credit. He’s the first to admit that this is way too little to be starting a mechanical contracting business.
Since it was founded in 2011, Cherry Hill, New Jersey-based Allied Energy Efficiency Experts has completed approximately 5,000 comprehensive Home Performance with Energy Star (HPwES) projects in New Jersey and Delaware.
Parker needs 24-hour in-home care, and after purchasing a home equipped with a patient lift and wheelchair entry, he had no funds to purchase the wheelchair he desired. An online search led him to the Joseph Groh Foundation, where he applied for a grant. Thanks to many supporters, it was able to grant Parker’s wish.
Success is hard to define — it’s the chameleon of words, always taking on a new definition depending on the situation. Because it’s constantly changing what it looks like, success may seem nearly impossible to recognize, let alone achieve.