CAW E6: Wade Hamstra, Hamstra Heating & Cooling

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Wade Hamstra, Owner & Vice President 
Hamstra Heating & Cooling, Inc. 
 4389 N. Highway Drive 
Tucson, AZ 85705 
520.629-9833 
whamstra@hamstraac.com 

A native of TucsonWade is a confessed sports nut and “business geek” who is carrying on the legacy of a family business over 37 years old.  A proud graduate of the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Business, Wade obtained both a Bachelors’s and Masters’s degrees from the school before returning to his roots in the HVAC industry.  Wade’s childhood was mostly spent around the company’s shop floor, working with his father Jeff, uncle David and grandfather Glenn – who founded the company back in 1983. 

It was in the wake of the Great Recession that Wade put his business education to use, spearheading a major shift in the company’s approach towards residential customers and avoiding the darkest days of the construction industry’s collapse.  It was in that transition to a wider net of customers that demanded a caring, personal touch – not just a low bid price – that the family-run business realized its greatest cultural asset: intentional, unwavering care for its people and its customers.  With this value enshrined, both Wade and the HHC team have been able to serve Tucson’s most vulnerable through the Hamstra Helping Hands charities and in service to the El Rio Foundation.  Wade, his wife Dolora, and their children look forward to continuing the Hamstra legacy in Tucson for generations to come. 

About the Business:

Hamstra Heating & Cooling was founded on November 1, 1983, by Glenn Hamstra and his two sons, Jeff and David. Glenn had 34 years of experience in the heating & cooling industry, Jeff 11 years and David 9. Tired of being unable to provide the highest levels of customer service, Glenn felt it was the right time to set a new standard for the heating & cooling industry. Jeff and David were working as field installers for separate companies at the time and jumped at the chance to join their dad in the new business venture. They too had seen the lack of customer service provided in Southern Arizona and saw this as a prime opportunity. 

Glenn managed to get a bank loan, which they used to buy two trucks, two pieces of shop equipment, pay rent on a small building and buy materials for their first job. Initial business came from builders that Glenn had formed relationships with over the years. These builders were thrilled that Glenn had finally gone out on his own because they knew his ethics, integrity and the quality work he would produce. Eleven months passed before Hamstra was able to hire its first employee, Robert Orr, who still is a big part of today’s Hamstra team. 

In 2006, a third-generation arrived into the family team with Wade Hamstra, Jeff’s son, assuming the role of General Business Manager and co-owner. Wade has modernized the operation and has brought an even greater focus to customer service and technical excellence. 

The entire Hamstra family is proud of the reputation it has grown and maintained, being able to employ over 60 Tucsonans. As part of the Tucson community, Hamstra Heating and Cooling actively volunteer and provides financial donations through a committee we call Hamstra Helping Hands. 

We do hope that all of the above gives you confidence in our abilities and that you will allow us the opportunity to provide service or replacement for your home or business

Host

Matt NelsonSenior Vice PresidentCrest Insurance Group 
Matt is a Senior Vice President at Crest Insurance Group in Tucson, consulting with companies to identify and implement insurance, risk management, and employee benefits solutions.  With more than a 15 years of industry experience, he has served as a keynote speaker on the healthcare industry, leadership, workplace culture and risk management for professional organizations throughout Southern Arizona, including the City of Tucson, Greater Tucson Leadership, the Financial Executives and Affiliates of Tucson, and the CEO Roundtable of Tucson. 

Matt is an active member in the Tucson community, having served as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the Arizona Army National Guard and volunteering with multiple local organizations, including as Treasurer and a Big Brother with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Southern Arizona, a volunteer with the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, Chair of the Pima County JTED’s Business and Industry Council, a builder with Habitat for Humanity and many other local youth charities. 
Email: mnelson@crestins.com  
Phone: 520.784.7636 
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mattrnelson2   

 

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