Some people build a business, and some build a trade. Chris has spent decades doing both.
At Halcro Heating and Cooling, Chris’s story is closely tied to the company’s roots. He started working in HVAC in 1987 and incorporated the company in 2003. Long before the next generation stepped into ownership, he was the one answering calls, solving problems, and building a reputation for quality work and honest service. His story is not just about time in the trade. It is about caring for people, doing the job right, and staying committed through the hard parts of running a business.
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How It Started
When asked what inspired him to start his own company, Chris answered plainly: circumstances and people wanting his services. Like many small business stories, it did not begin with a polished plan. It grew from experience, real customer needs, and the chance to help people who needed dependable HVAC work.
The early years were challenging. He had to learn quickly, manage charge accounts carefully, control spending, and figure out how to charge enough to keep the business healthy. He also learned that ownership did not feel nearly as free as people often imagine. Still, those years shaped the company’s standards.
What stands out most to Chris is not growth by itself. It is the fact that the company served a lot of people well, including low-income customers, while trying to do the highest quality work possible. That combination still says a lot about the kind of company HHC aims to be.
Passing the Business Forward
When the time came to pass the company on, the decision felt right. Chris and his wife were getting older, and the purchase offer from the current owners, his son and daughter-in-law, was exactly what they needed.
Turning over ownership did not mean leaving the trade behind. It meant stepping into a role that let him focus more on the field and less on paperwork. As a senior technician, Chris still enjoys providing good service and leaving with the satisfaction of a job well done.
The values he wanted to pass down were simple and important: keep doing the highest quality work and care for people. In HVAC, customers may not remember every technical detail, but they do remember whether they were treated with honesty, patience, and respect.
A Life in the Trade
Chris has always especially enjoyed furnace repairs and boiler repairs, with steam boilers standing out as a personal favorite. Those are the kinds of systems that reward patience, experience, and careful thinking.
Over the years, he has seen HVAC technology continue to improve, especially when it comes to efficiency. At the same time, he says customer expectations have always been high. People want their homes to be safe, warm, dependable, and explained clearly. That part has not changed.
One of the biggest lessons he has learned is that a successful HVAC company has to pay attention to the customer and explain things well so they understand. Technical skill matters, but so does communication. A good technician helps homeowners feel informed and comfortable with what is happening in their home.
What Great Service Looks Like
Chris defines great service in practical terms: reasonably fast response and thorough work. That balance matters, especially in Montana, where a heating problem can become urgent quickly.
His approach to building trust is just as direct. Be caring and try to do better than people expect. That helps explain why some families keep coming back generation after generation. High standards and good customer interaction go together.
He also believes in taking time to explain systems and answer questions fully. For many homeowners, that makes a real difference. A technician who slows down, explains what matters, and helps a customer feel comfortable is doing more than fixing equipment. He is building trust.
Experience That Still Supports the Team
When asked how the team would describe his role today, Chris said he guessed it would be as a good support person. That answer is modest, but it fits someone who brings decades of experience, steady judgment, and perspective to the field.
For younger technicians, his advice is clear: learn as much as you can, pay attention to details, and think outside the box. HVAC work is not just memorizing steps. It takes observation, problem-solving, and a willingness to keep learning.
Those lessons matter in north central Montana, where systems work hard through long heating seasons and customers need dependable solutions, not guesswork.
What Keeps Him Going
After all these years, Chris says personal satisfaction, income, and meeting customers’ needs are what keep him motivated. Trade work is demanding, but satisfaction in the work itself can carry a person a long way.
Outside of work, he enjoys tinkering with things and spending time talking with family. That fits naturally with the mindset of someone who has spent a lifetime fixing, building, and paying attention to how things work.
His philosophy toward work and life is simple: do your best as much as you can, in a way that honors God, and give it your best shot.
Why This Story Matters
Chris’s story is about more than one career. It reflects the values that shaped HHC over time: quality work, care for people, thoughtful communication, and a commitment to keep learning.
For customers in Great Falls and throughout our service area, that legacy still matters. It shows up in the way we approach repairs, explain options, and try to treat people fairly. Equipment changes over time, but the foundation stays the same.
We are grateful for the work, standards, and example Chris helped build and still brings to the company today.
If you need help with your furnace, boiler, or home comfort system, HHC is here to provide clear answers and quality work you can trust. Whether it is a repair, replacement, or just a conversation about what is going on with your system, we are glad to help.