That feeling runs deep — perhaps due to the fact that if you count the youngest Hobsons who help out at the business after completing their half-day at pre-school , on any given day , four generations of Hobsons might be present at the company .
Of the 168 nominations we recieved in the HVAC category , more than 2 / 3 of our respondents named Comfort Experts as their # 1 choice . Weatherford-based Comfort Experts , with a staff of more than 60 , provides the level of care of a small boutique provider , according to one nominatation . Some of the comments included , “ It feels like we ’ re being taken care of by close family friends ,” and , “ Our family has always used them for our AC repair . They ’ ve always taken wonderful care of us .”
The Hobsons view their staffmembers as extensions of their family . Which may explain why Comfort Experts was listed by Fort Worth Inc . Magazine , HVAC News and Contractor Magazine in their Best Companies to work for lists .
“ As I always impart to our new hires , this is really a special place ,” said Diane Peninger , human resources and payroll manager for Comfort Experts / Hobson Air Conditioning . “ When you work here , it ’ s like you ’ re part of a big family . I take care of my 81-year-old mother , and whenever I need to do something for her , they tell me , ‘ Go and take care of your mom .’ It ’ s the same for anyone with children or other obligations . The company is very flexible , and the leadership makes sure we all know family comes first .”
To that end , the Hobsons provide staff-members with regular continuing education through The Perfect Technician Academy , which is a separate entity from Comfort Experts , but it is run by Brian Hobson . Mark Watkins , the academy ’ s instructor , worked in the field for Comfort Experts / Hobson Air Conditioning for more than 20 years . Classes run for six intensive weeks and are followed by a two-week externship in the field .
Comfort Experts / Hobson Air Conditioning has an exciting history . The 56-year-old residential service and replacement company might be considered a true survivor , and not just a survivor of the ups and downs of the challenging world of HVAC . In this case , the company is a survivor of a train derailment that destroyed its building in 2002 , a fire in 2007 , and a flood in 2009 .
Company President , Brett Hobson , takes the mishaps in stride and with characteristic good humor .
“ A lot of people have fires and floods , but we ’ re probably the only company to get wiped out by a train derailment ,” he laughs . “ We really won the trifecta on that one .”
He adds that no one was injured in any of the incidents .
“ Fortunately , we still had the Weatherford facilities to work out of , so despite being hit by a train , we were able to be up and functioning and taking care of our customers that same afternoon ,” Brett Hobson said .
As a company that hires for attitude and trains for aptitude , any new technicians hired at Comfort Experts / Hobson Air Conditioning who don ’ t have significant HVAC experience are required to attend the academy . In addition , students come from around the globe and other HVAC companies send their employees to the academy — to learn from the best .
APRIL 2018 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
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