Business is more than 85 percent residential sales, with a focus on customer service including regular maintenance, repair and replacement of existing equipment, said President Edward Reid.
Thomas Bartels first started the business as a one-man operation in 1973, conducting all repairs and field calls himself. As business grew, he built an office and warehouse in 1978, followed by a showroom and new offices some 20 years later.
The company was incorporated in 1984 and the work force steadily grew to a current staff of about 13, Reid said.
Bartels retired in 1997. At that time, Reid, then a longtime employee, took the role of president. Reid said he’s worked at Bartels since 1983.
Since taking over the business, Reid has computerized things so Bartels has mobile invoicing in the field, for example.
“With the economy, naturally things slowed down a bit,” Reid said. But “everybody has a water heater and an air conditioner, so there’s opportunities out there.”
Going forward, Reid said his son Paul, who works at Bartels, will probably be the next president in the coming years.
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