Climatic Conditioning Co. Inc.

On Florida’s west coast, just south of Tampa Bay, lies a little slice of paradise known as Sarasota. It is home to great theater and the arts, beautiful white sandy beaches, and for 44 years now, Climatic Conditioning Company. The company was founded by father and son team, Dick and Richard Stehle, in 1972. They remained partners until Dick retired in 1991 (Dick has since passed away). Richard’s brother Paul joined Climatic in 1980 and became partner when their father retired. The two Stehle Brothers, Richard, president, and Paul, vice president, still oversee the firm’s daily operations.

As Florida’s growth took off in the 1970s, so did Climatic’s. One of the components that was unique to Climatic back then and is still paramount today is that Climatic does both residential and fairly large commercial projects. This holds true for their new construction, service department and retrofit/replacement division. “We have the knowledge and expertise for both residential and commercial HVAC which has kept us busy through numerous economic cycles,” Richard explains.

In 1976, Climatic teamed with Carrier Corporation and became a full-line dealer and 40 years later that partnership still exists. Carrier proved to be very helpful in the success of Climatic with its vast array of residential and commercial products and the factory training it provided to Climatic employees. Years ago when Carrier initiated its Factory Authorized Dealer Program, Climatic got on board immediately. “The required training and certifications for that program set us apart from much of the competition,” says Paul.

Climatic took advantage of Carrier’s name and brand recognition by identifying its fleet of vehicles with Carrier’s national dealer graphic package. “We feel that it provides a fresh, clean and uncluttered look that is our ‘billboard on wheels,’” says Paul. In 2015, Climatic received Carrier’s President’s Award which is presented annually to the top 1 percent of its dealers in the nation.

Embracing new technology

Over the years, new construction dominated Climatic’s growth. In 2007, the company was recognized nationally by INC. Magazine in its first INC. 5000 listing of privately held companies for sales growth. “While riding high through 2007, the economic downturn in 2008 hit fast and hard,” Richard recalls. New construction fell drastically, so the Stehle brothers turned to their service and replacement divisions to fill the voids.

Climatic worked diligently with its advertising agency, Mediagistic, to help increase sales in those departments. The team produced direct mail pieces and informative newsletters that went out twice a year to the company’s residential and commercial customer base. Along with that, they put together a creative website and television commercials that Richard and Paul appear in and explain the company’s noncommissioned service tech policy and the Stehle brother’s personal guarantee for their customers’ satisfaction. The company’s efforts increased sales in the service and replacement divisions and got Climatic through those tough economic times.

While the reliance on new construction is no longer paramount, the company could not pass up the resurgence of building. Last year the company completed a new Dillard’s department store with 400 tons of rooftop equipment as well as several smaller stores at one of the few new shopping malls being built in the United States, The University Town Center in Sarasota. Numerous other projects including a large auto dealership, an expansive country club renovation, a number of medical complexes and several multimillion-dollar residences have kept the new construction department quite busy.

“Keeping abreast with the industry’s latest technologies and trends, Climatic has become very familiar with the variable refrigerant flow (VRF) type systems. The versatility of the VRF systems has provided the industry with a state-of-the-art design and smarter functionality than we have previously had before,” says Richard.

The company recently retrofitted an office building that had a 1970s HVAC design with a Toshiba/Carrier VRF system. The new system has provided individual office temperature control, reduced equipment noise and operational cost savings. Another application for this system is currently being installed in a new, very elaborate 8,500-square-foot air-conditioned, three-story residence overlooking Sarasota Bay. Small, multiple systems were the only way to properly address the HVAC design requirements for this house. The VRF system was the only logical design application that could provide both zone control and personal comfort to the homeowner. These systems have proven themselves to be great in both residential and commercial installations.

Giving back to the community

On the philanthropic side of Climatic, the management and many of the employees have given back to the community through numerous functions and projects like the United Way’s Day of Sharing. The company has also participated in the Juvenile Diabetes Walkathon and is an active donor in the Dick Vitale’s Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.

Just this past year, Climatic and a couple of other members of the local Air Conditioning Contractors Association teamed up to provide and install air conditioning systems at the Community Haven, a nonprofit organization  that provides much needed group home and vocational training for adults with a range of disabilities. “These organizations rely heavily on donations and support from local businesses like ours and we are very proud that we are able to help,” explains Paul.

Looking toward the future, Florida — specifically the west coast of Florida — is currently one of America’s fastest-growing areas. People are moving in droves to the Sunshine State, fueling a substantial population boom that is predicted to continue for the next several years. Climatic Conditioning Co. Inc. is positioned better than ever to provide its paradise with quality air conditioning products and great customer service for years to come.