Black Haak Heating Inc.

Director’s Notes 03/05/2012

The Service Nation Alliance is a group of contractors that are more than just names on a list. As we learn from one another, we need to know each other. To that end I plan from time to time to profile an individual company so we can come acquainted. If you like to be featured, drop me an email and I will set some time to learn about you and your company. This will be a regular item in my Director’s Notes throughout the year.

Member’s Profile

Bob Haak

Black Haak Heating, Inc

Appleton, WI

Bob Haak’s (Pronounced Hawk) company, Black-Haak Heating, is located between Milwaukee and Green Bay in eastern Wisconsin. He is in a sportsman’s paradise—hunting and fishing are within minutes of his office, challenging the priorities of any red-blooded male. He runs his business with his two sons, Jim and Jeff Haak,  focusing on residential and light commercial work with a target of 2.3 million in sales for 2012.

Bob started working for his Uncle in the afternoons and on Saturdays while he was in 8^th grade, and continued after high school to a full time position. In 1989 he and his wife purchased Blackie’s Heating Service (founded in 1954) and started the transition from technician to business owner. He acknowledges Frank Blau’s influence and assurance that it was alright to make a profit and charge a price that rewarded the risk he took as a business owner. It started him down the path to develop better operations and improve his company. It was in St. Louis at his first Comfortech in 2005 (and has been to several since) that he met and spoke with Lee Rosenberg, who directed him to the Service Roundtable and Matt Michel; he has been member of the Service Roundtable since December 2002.   He appreciates David Heimer’s involvement in Black-Haak Heating becoming one of the charter members of the Retail Contractor Coalition for private labeling Goodman and other products. Bob has joined the Service Nation Alliance (SNA) and is a participant in Advisory Board Group 4, sharing and challenging others to build and grow their business.

His business is growing and strives to provide Mercedes-level services to customers that are willing to pay for the increased value in a market place that is typically a Chevy demographic. He has instituted Steve Mile’s ideas, such as extended hours at regular rates, which has been advantageous for Black-Haak Heating. His company currently supports 20 employees and 12 trucks. His short term goal for 2012 is to increase net profits by 10% and his long term goal is to establish a succession or absentee ownership plan with his sons continuing with the business. He acknowledges SNA and his advisory board for holding him accountable and creating expectations of performance that allowed him to finish 2011 stronger than projected. The SNA advisory board has inspired Black-Haak Heating to attend to the business more and his partners on the advisory board has helped the company become more accountable of their number’s tracking which have led to exceeding expectations. Bob wants his thirst for continual improvement to be passed on to his sons. Jim and Jeff Haak both have associates degrees in HVAC from the Wisconsin Technical School and four-year apprenticeships in service. Jeff has experience with a five-year apprenticeship in sheet metal through ABC and the state of Wisconsin, while Jim also has a bachelor’s degree in business. Bob believes that his son’s experiences will provide them with a solid background to running this business.

If you have not met Bob you need too—he is a demanding goal-oriented individual passionate about his work. Black-Haak Heating is continually learning and utilizes newsletters, Charlie Greer’s Service Tech training on sales, and is currently beginning to work with Mike Morsi on a direct mail program. Bob believes that the company is a team collaborating between the customers and fellow workers. You will have the opportunity to meet him at the Service Nation Alliance meeting in September in Chicago. Give me a chance to introduce him to you.