Some like it hot. Others, not. For 34-year-old Dan Scribner, his work is dedicated to keeping everyone happy with the thermostat.
Scribner, a 1990 Clarkston High School graduate, created Scrib’s Heating and Cooling nearly three years ago.
The business installs and repairs furnaces and air conditioning units, as well as air cleaners and humidifiers.
‘I get gratification out of helping people fix stuff. When you do a good job, people always say, ‘great work? and I feel that’s a feeling of gratification you can get out of the industry, helping people,? Scribner said.
He has been in the industry for the past 14 years, since he took the leap to start his own business after years learning his craft with another company.
‘I’m happy I did it. It was a good move because I was more stressed out working for him than I am working for myself because I have control over everything,? Scribner said.
He does almost half of all his business in the area, in which he likes to work because of his local ties.
‘It’s the area I want to key in because it’s local and I’m from the area,? Scribner said.
‘I know the streets and I know a lot of the people and I really don’t have to go that far for work, that is nice too. There are really good people around here,? he said.
‘Clarkston’s just a nice community.?
After graduating from CHS, Scribner attended Ferris State University in Big Rapids, where he met Amy.
‘She’s the best thing about going there. I’m glad I went there because I met my wife and now we have two kids,? he said.
The heating and cooling trade he learned post-FSU seems to really be paying divot-ends for Scribner. During the summer months, he plays with former teammates from the CHS golf team in their weekly golf league.
‘I love golfing. It’s a big challenge, just when you think you’re good, you go out and play terrible,? he said.
Scribner decided to golf instead of playing football like his friends.
‘I was eating dirt,? Scribner said. ‘I think I want to go play golf,? he remembered.
‘More freedom is the best thing, it isn’t really about the money and I’m happier.?
Within the next five years, Scribner hopes to expand the business to include more employees, but not too many.
‘I want to have a full-time service man and two installation crews. When you get too big, you lose control,? he said.
‘I just want to stay small, provide everybody with a really good service and earn a decent living, I don’t need to be a millionaire.?
One perk of having his own business is that he can be at home in Oxford, spending time with his family, wife of six years Amy, son Layne, 3, and daughter Sadie, 2 months.
The nature of his business, however, necessitates him being on call because furnaces and air conditioning units tend to break in temperature extremes, and they don’t always keep bankers? hours.
‘I get emergencies all the time, that’s part of my business and you have to deal with it. Basically, I’m on call year-round, 24-7. I can’t sit there and worry about my next phone call that might come. I just go about my life and deal with it when somebody calls. If I sit there and worry about it, then I wouldn’t be spending as much time with my family,? Scribner said.
‘We try to plan our vacations in the springtime, when it’s not quite as hot or cold.?
Referrals are the most efficient way to get his name out there.
‘I advertise and I have my name in the phone book, but referrals are real big and they are the cheapest form of advertising you can get,? he said.
In the beginning, friends did not realize that Scribner had his own business, and would go to other contractors and repairmen. At the annual Clarkston Wolves golf outing, Scribner came in contact with former classmate Erich Becker, owner of the Sunoco gas station on Ortonville Road.
‘Immediately, I was working for him the next day. He said, ‘I’ve got work for you right now.? Until you make that connection with people, I don’t think they realize you’re seriously in business for yourself,? Scribner said.