CEDARBURG — Ozaukee Economic Development is thrilled to honor Hometown Heating Air & Electric as one of its Business of the Year winners. It won in the medium-size company category. The recognition celebrates their remarkable journey, commitment to customer service and deep community involvement, according to OED officials.
Founded by Ken Theiler, Hometown Heating Air & Electric represents a transition from a big city corporate career to small town entrepreneurship.
“I had an entrepreneurial itch that I had never gotten the chance to scratch with my previous career,” Theiler said. “I started evaluating a lot of different business opportunities and stumbled across HVAC and thought, people really need this.”
This move eventually led to exploring franchise opportunities in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry, where Theiler’s previous marketing experience with Johnson & Johnson in Cincinnati became a key differentiator in a competitive market. Like many startups, Hometown Heating Air & Electric faced challenges and operational hurdles in its early years. However, a strong emphasis on customer service and team building helped the business navigate these challenges, Theiler said. When the business began, heating and air were the focus, but a recognition of the ability to provide more robust customer satisfaction led to them adding electrical to their offerings.
That has helped the company to continue the entrepreneurial spirit of wanting to grow and has led to them servicing more areas. They have also opened a second location in Brookfield.
Theiler gives huge amounts of credit to his wife and brother, who were his top supporters from the first day of the company’s inception. Today, their focus on long-term customer relationships and consistent service quality has become the cornerstone of their success.
In awarding the company the OED award, Hometown Heating Air & Electric was recognized for being deeply embedded in the local community. They actively participate in local chambers of commerce and support multiple charitable organizations, some of which come from the causes that matter most to their employees.
This commitment to giving back reflects their philosophy of corporate responsibility and gratitude for local support.
Receiving this award is a testament to Hometown Heating Air & Electric’s dedication and hard work, Theiler said. It serves as a validation of their efforts and motivates the team to continue striving for excellence.
Theiler expresses deep gratitude to employees, customers, and supporters and his family that was there from the beginning.
“To have the business community stand up and say that we’re doing a good job, it gives us that momentum to keep going and a wakeup call to take a moment to celebrate our hard work,” he said.
OED officials say that as Hometown Heating Air & Electric continues to grow and serve the community, they look forward to seeing their future achievements and contributions to Ozaukee County.
To learn more about the company, go to www.yourhometownheating.com.
James Alexander is the marketing and education coordinator for Ozaukee Economic Development.