Modern Air Conditioning has been named the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year.
The chamber announced the award this morning at Modern Air, 106 Commercial St. The business is owned by Jim Kessler, Bob Burenheide and Charlie Haag and will be formally recognized Jan. 19 at the chamber’s annual meeting.
The business got its start in 1918 when George Groh and Sons began selling Lennox heaters, later adding cooling equipment to its product line. But in 1968, Groh’s turned its focus to its roofing business. The heating and air-conditioning business was sold to R.J. Kuhlman, Richard Kuhlman and Humberto Felipe and renamed Modern Air Conditioning.
Kessler joined the company in 1974 as a bookkeeper but began buying stock in the company. In 1996, he, Burenheide and Haag bought the business.
Since its start, Modern Air has expanded considerably. In 1968, it had eight workers, six trucks and a small shop at 327 Commercial St. Now the business’ current home takes up over 19,000 square feet with a staff of 25 employees and a fleet of 24 vehicles.
The company serves residential, commercial and industrial customers within about 100 miles of Emporia.
“We state many times in our company meetings that the only reason we are in business is because of the customer and we will always treat them with fairness and respect,” Modern Air’s owners said in a report to the chamber after being nominated for the award. “And the only way we can offer those services is by treating our employees fairly.”
The Business of the Year winner is always chosen by the past three award winners: from 2003, Rex Williams of Williams Automotive; from 2004, Bob Doudican Jr. of Bobby D’s Merchant Street BBQ; and from 2005, Dan Smoots of Fanestil Packing Co.