TMB E17: Howard Stewart – AGM and Brett Wright – D&H

Guests Howard Stewart, President/CEO AGM Container Controls 3526 E. Fort Lowell Road Tucson, AZ 85716 hstewart@agmcontainer.com 520-881-2130

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SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube Howard Stewart has been President/CEO of AGM Container Controls (AGM) since 2000. Howard currently serves as the 2019/2020 Open Your Heart Chair for the American Heart Association (AHA) Tucson Chapter. He serves as a board member for the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, UWTSA (2013-2020). Howard also serves as a board member for the Tucson Metro Chamber (2012-2020). In 2018/2019, Howard chaired the local AHA Heart and Stroke Ball, helping to raise over $500,000 for local heart research. Under Howard’s leadership, AGM has successfully run 21 consecutive UWTSA fundraising campaigns at the Gold award level.  In 2019, AGM achieved its 27th straight year without a layoff.  Due to Howard having recreated AGM’s college tuition reimbursement plan, a record 26% of AGM’s workforce attended college in 2018. In 2017, Howard proposed an important new Tucson initiative, which has since been named “FlyTucsonFirst”. The initiative’s purpose is to get Tucsonans to understand the vital economic impact that will occur only if we fly in and out of our own Tucson International Airport. In 2018, Howard was named CEO of the Year by Tucson Local Media. In 2009, AGM was recognized as “America’s Small Business of the Year” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 2002, Howard was recognized as Tucson’s Small Business Leader of the Year. Business info: AGM Container Controls is a Tucson-based manufacturing company with 145 employees. AGM has an Employee Stock Ownership Program. As such, every AGM employee is either an employee-owner or in the process of becoming such. AGM manufactures environmental control hardware for missiles and other electro-optical equipment. AGM also manufactures the world’s premier vertical wheelchair lift, which provides access to elevation changes in public facilities and residences for individuals with disabilities. Brett Wright, Owner, and President of D&H Air Conditioning & Heating Co. Date: Thursday, July 25 3629 N Oracle Road, Tucson, AZ 85705 Phone: 520-408-2665 https://www.dandhac.com Social Media: D&H Facebook | D&H Instagram Other: https://dandhac.com/ac-technicians-training-facility/ Brett Wright grandfather Arthur Duhamel and partner Harry Hawk founded the company in Tucson back in 1959. He says he literally grew up in the business tagged around with his grandpa by age 6 and by his teen years, he was “digging ditches and working in the shop, before studying business at the U of A.” Brett bought the company in 1987. And now, as D&H celebrates its 60th anniversary, the family-owned business continues to provide consistent, high quality, expert HVAC services throughout Southern Arizona. In fact, the company is doing an exciting first as they are in the process of opening a state-of-the-art technicians’ training center, which will benefit the industry, workforce development and its clients at all levels, including superior 24/7 service, full financing, and coverage of all brands. Word has it that Four core values set D&H Air Conditioning and Heating apart from the competition:  Service; Innovation; Knowledge; and Experience. This facility is a complete house INSIDE a huge commercial facility at 3990 S. Evans Blvd in Tucson. It’s never been done before in Tucson – or anywhere, that we know of. The new space will include our showroom, training lab, classrooms, call center, and offices. The house will be fully equipped with every residential system we offer, each connected to a control room that can simulate all kinds of system failures– and wired for audio and video so training techs can see a playback of visits with roleplaying ‘homeowners’ to self-assess their technical and communication skills. This will be a place where young people will be able to build a well-paying career without four-year college experience. With our training lab and training house, we will be able to continuously train our technicians and help improve their skills to make sure our customers receive the best service every time. The air conditioning industry is undergoing a major technological change benefiting homeowners: more comfortable homes, lower energy bills, more flexible and durable A/C systems. Small A/C operators are bound to disappear, unable to keep up with the level of training, mobility, and service required by equipment makers and consumers. D&H AC is well prepared for this, with large investments in hiring, training, equipment, and technology. Our clients benefit from this at all levels, including 24/7 service, full financing, and coverage of all brands.

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