Winston-Salem Business Magazine - April 2008 - (Page 23)

the few companies that still use sheet metal ductwork. Most other companies use a material known as flex, Miller explained. Sheet metal ductwork ensures a more even distribution of heat throughout the building, Miller explained. “It sure does make a difference,” she said. “You get a better quality level of comfort. That’s just one of Piedmonts’ signatures.” The market has changed over the (From left to right) David Harris and Al Wakefield years, but the commitment of excellence to the customer has not, Cook said. “When we bought the company we were putting in about 300 oil furnaces a year. In the 60’s we started doing air conditioning and in the 70’s we started with heat pumps,’ he said. “We try to be there and be on time. Customers say they’ve never had a company leave their house cleaner than it was before.” Again demonstrating his warm hearted and personable nature, Cook said his favorite thing about his business was working with people. Miller said that anyone who had ever met her father had nothing but good things to say about him. “He’s such a man of integrity,” she said. “If he says it will be done right, it will be done right.” For Cook it’s simple, it’s about a promise to the customer to do good work. “I think we’ve always done what we say we will do and at a cost as low as we can,” he said. Once you become an employee of Piedmont Sheet Metal you become family,” she said. ‘The majority of our employees have been with us for over 20 years. That speaks volumes.” Miller started her career at Piedmont Sheet Metal in 1978 when asked by her father if she could come in for a few weeks to help the office manager get caught up. “At the 25 year mark I asked him if we were caught up,” Miller said. “He said ‘not yet.’” Miller joked with her father about not getting a gold watch for her many years of service with the company. “Well, I didn’t get a gold watch either,” Cook said, without a hint of regret. He went on to explain that when he was growing up, you didn’t need a watch. “When the sun got above your head it was time for lunch and when it started getting dark it was time to quit for the day,” he said. This ‘sun up to sun down’ work ethic is undoubtedly a family trait. Phil Lanier, Cook’s son-in-law began working at the company in 1972 while still in high school. “It was through Forsyth Tech, a program at that time called Jr. Achievement. He began at the bottom in our Sheet Metal Shop. He has served in every capacity here,” said Miller. Lanier is currently working in the Commercial Division. “Also, third generation is on board,” Miller said. “Nick Thompson, my son and of course dad’s grandson. He is in the commercial division as well.” For the first time in the past 60 years the General Manager is not a member of the family, but Gordon Lovett, certainly shares the family vision said Miller. In addition to being a family oriented business, Piedmont Sheet Metal stands out in the heating and air conditioning industry by being one of WINSTON-SALEM BUSINESS | 23

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Winston-Salem Business Magazine - April 2008

Winston-Salem Business Magazine - April 2008 Contents Wake Forest University Smitty's Notes BBB Marketplace Ethics Awards Better Business Bureau A Winning Market Strategy ENFO Solutions Serving Winston-Salem for 80 Years Business Bites Money Matters Intelligent Communities Smart Marketing Local Business Calendar

Winston-Salem Business Magazine - April 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.