By: Randy Smith
FRANCHISEE SPOTLIGHT: MIKE KYSER & EILEEN CARAMELLA
Aire Serv® of Southern Michigan
a nice retirement plan in place for them, while also providing a confidence for them to feel they are important contributors to our successes. And this arises out of their everyday attainment of their goals as well as the goals of the business. What is your background and experience in the HVAC field? What did you do before joining the Aire Serv family? I first worked in this field while in high school during the late 1950s. I worked for a contractor and had successfully learned a great deal about the sheet metal trade, until I enlisted in the United States Army. When my military service ended, I had a chance to reinvent myself, but found out I suffered from HVAC fever. And so, I applied, was hired, and worked at Sears Roebuck & Company. There, I worked at the pilot program for Manager Training, following a prosperous and educational move to the position of the Installation Coordinator and Merchandise Manager for hard lines, which included HVAC. I continued to move forward into sales and became a Sales Manager for a HVAC contractor with three major locations. After I had learned enough to begin a business through these various experiences, I then bought my first company and took on a partner. The partner bought me out and I moved to the distributor side of the business as Regional Sales Manager. When an opportunity arose, I joined Lennox Industries as a Dealer Marketing Adviser and was exposed to many facets examining the successes and detriments of HVAC businesses across this nation. I then purchased my own company on April 1, 1990 and opened an adjunct business as a licensed custom
Why did you decide to buy an Aire Serv franchise? Over the past 27 years, I have run a successful heating, air conditioning, and ventilation business. During that time, I have explored many options, been faced with many decisions, and always believed I could achieve my expectations for every decision. None of the decisions I have made have been done in haste, which is why I attended an Aire Serv session and spoke to many current Aire Serv partners to hear about their trajectories, looking for a goodness of fit for my business and to serve my expectations and the expectations of my family. This decision could change the business I have grown on my own instincts, talents, and decisions. I can proudly say I changed HVAC service availability in my regional area over these nearly three decades. After the second session I attended, my wife and I concluded Aire Serv would be a good next step for growing our business. First, I had to achieve assuredness that Aire Serv could add to what I have already successfully built. While I believe this is so, I still needed to witness the full transition into an even more successful business. I knew that with the signing of a 10-year contract, I could then choose to make the same decision and continue, or go back to having a solo business. I have learned there are many different processes and procedures that Aire Serv offers that are intriguing to me. As my business is 27 years old, that equates to my advancement in age as well, and I have arrived at a place where I need to consider the future of the company, when I am not able, or select not to, continue the leadership. Important to me are the loyal employees who have been along for the ride beside me. And so, I desire to have
AIRE STREAM ® | EDITION 1
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