Carrier reported on March 16 that it had inducted three HVAC dealers into the Carrier Dealer Hall of Fame. Carrier said the award — which was established to recognize dealers who set and maintain the highest standards in customer service and loyalty to the Carrier brand — is the culmination of years of outstanding work and is the latest in the long line of awards for the most recent inductees.
“Carrier relies on its dealers to represent our products to customers across the country and around the world. These men and women are the vital link between our factory and our customers and we are thankful for the outstanding dealers who strive for excellence every day,” said Chris Nelson, president, North America HVAC Systems and Service, Carrier. “The dealers recognized with induction into our Hall of Fame have set themselves apart with their unwavering commitment to customers and unyielding loyalty to Carrier. We are proud to honor them today and believe they set a standard dealers across the country can look to as an example of excellence.”
The Carrier Dealer Hall of Fame Award is presented annually to select industry-leading contractors. Nominees must be Factory Authorized Dealers and have a minimum of 20 years associated with Carrier as their primary brand. This year’s inductees are Ken Reister of Steel-T Heating in Denver, CO; Eddie and JoNell Evans of Reed Service Company in Beaumont, TX; and Chuck Kulp of Energy Air in Orlando, FL.
The following are Carrier's comments about this year's inductees:
Ken Reister, Steel-T Heating
A man who led by example and set a standard of excellence, Reister grew Steel-T Heating in Denver, Colorado from a low-cost, low-quality HVAC shop when he purchased the company in 1989 into Colorado’s largest Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer that thrives by providing value to customers and Carrier alike.
In the past 20 years, Steel-T has participated in dozens of home builds with Habitat for Humanity and has also completed three home projects for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway. The company has also raised thousands of dollars for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and is a major sponsor for the local affiliate of the Special Olympics.
Eddie and JoNell Evans, Reed Service Company
The longtime owners of Reed Service Company in Beaumont, Texas, are being recognized posthumously for their decades of commitment to Carrier and the home comfort industry with this distinguished accomplishment. Together, the married couple and business partners grew Reed Service Company from a small local business with about $350,000 in gross sales to a well-known and respected HVAC leader that today manages several thousand service contracts annually worth approximately $4.5 million.
Eddie Evans left an incalculable impression on the HVAC industry in south Texas by collaborating with other HVAC business owners to teach the keys to running a successful business. He founded the South Texas Heat Pump Association, for many years serving as its president, and he established a local union for air conditioning contractors. He believed training his competitors would create higher customer satisfaction across the industry and benefit all HVAC firms.
Chuck Kulp, Energy Air
Kulp helped turn a 1976 garage start-up into a $50 million business employing several hundred employees, positively influencing scores of families and making a significant economic and charitable impact across the central Florida region.
Kulp’s standing in the community is also built on an exemplary record of community service. His support of local trade organizations serving the HVAC industry, as well as a robust training program have established Kulp as a leader in the industry. Energy Air’s in-house training, which includes a three-year program instructing employees on all aspects of HVAC, exemplifies how to grow a business by focusing on creating first-class employees who are positioned to best serve customer needs.