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"Don't live by emails and voice mails. Get out there to meet your customers, and earn their trust," he says. "That's why Pat and I are still on the call rotation; we want to remain close to our customers. You're only as good as your last installation or service call, so you have to be on the ball with everything."

Bright Future
When asked to describe SCR in one word, Welty again mentions "diversity."

"We've had years in which refrigeration was slow, but HVAC was good. With multiple legs to stand on, it's easier to keep the entire enterprise on a solid foundation," he says. "Our employees are all good people, with family values, and a strong work ethic. That's consistent throughout the company. Having a team of geniuses doesn't necessarily get work done, if they don't have the same values and work ethic."

Moving forward, Fitch believes a new company motto might be, "hold on tight."

"As our area and branches become stronger, and the economy comes back, there should be lots of additional opportunities," he says. "We're trying to position SCR as 'the company to go to.' We want them to call SCR first." On a particular day in March, it was ContractingBusiness.com who happened to call, with some good news. We're glad Mike Fitch and Pat Welty took that call, and that they were willing to accept this latest accolade, as we name SCR the ContractingBusiness.com 2011 Commercial Refrigeration Contractor of the Year.

New Talent Always on Deck

SCR has never had a problem finding qualified technicians, thanks to a special scholarship program initiated in 1996. It’s been used at three area vocational/technical schools since that time, and is currently in place at St. Cloud Technical College. Here’s how it works:

SCR writes a check to the school for the students who are chosen to participate in the program.

The funds are applied to students’ accounts, and is used to cover tuition, books, and any other course requirements, such as lab fees.

The schools typically teach HVAC and refrigeration together, which covers every major topic of potential interest, including building automation.

After graduating, students are expected to remain with SCR for a minimum of two years.

Students work for SCR during the school term, usually for three hours each day after classes (2 PM to 5 PM).

Students will also work for SCR in the summer months in between their first and second school year. The program, and the summer employment feature, is a major win-win, for the student and for SCR.

"They're a much more enlightened student when they return for their second year of class," Fitch says.

"We've had 30 to 35 people participate in the program," Welty adds. "We always have people going through it, so we haven't had a shortage of workers for the last 20 years."

Fitch and Welty have found that many of the youth from surrounding rural areas have a high level of mechanical skills. And, having three schools in your hometown keeps them nearby when school’s out.

To grow students' interest in HVACR careers, SCR leadership will speak to high school counselors about the HVACR industry’s many opportunities, and arrange for technician "ride-alongs," for students who are curious about the work.

"Get into the high schools, and let them see what the industry's all about, its earning potential, importance, and resilience. And, talk to counselors and parents," Fitch says

WHAT IS THE CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR?

The ContractingBusiness.com Commercial Refrigeration Contractor of the Year represents an elite group: a forward-thinking class of commercial refrigeration contractors who are dynamic and professional in every aspect of their business. They constantly seek new ways to improve their businesses through quality contracting, and they strive for the highest level of customer service.

These contractors maintain superior treatment of their employees, customers, and suppliers. They establish a reputation as providers of superior products and services. They have an eye on the future, and are aware of changing market conditions as they respond quickly to opportunities in their niche.

These contractors follow strategic plans and maximize their returns on investment, and are always exploring new ways to improve their operations. They maintain high levels of communication within their organizations, are aware of changing market conditions, and respond quickly to opportunities. They’re the leaders of our industry. They’re committed to their businesses and the industry, and aren’t afraid to take calculated risks, and explore new market areas.

We welcome nominations at any time. Visit http://contractingbusiness.com/awards/contractorofyear/ for the entire list of our nomination criteria. Then, nominate your company or a colleague. Send nominations to Terry McIver, executive editor, at terence.mciver@penton.com.