February 11, 2025 • 16 mins
More than 40 years ago, his father started the business out of necessity. Dawson Heating & Air Conditioning Chief Operating Officer Todd Dawson talks about tuning up the business through the support of SCORE mentors. Dawson was a finalist for the SCORE Client of the Year Award in 2022 and shares how his company is leading with top quality service and technology.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hello.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
My name is Michael Dawson, your host of scores My
since the Small Business Stories. In this episode, I'll be
talking with Todd Dawson, chief operations officer of Dawson Heating
and air Conditioning. We'll find out more about that first.
We'll be right back after this message.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Did you know twice as many small businesses survive past
five years when they have the support from a mentor.
My sincey small Business Story is brought to you by
the volunteer mentors of SCORE Greater Cincinnati, a nonprofit organization
that helps launch hundreds of new small businesses and even
more jobs in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Indiana every year.
Our vision is to give every person the support they
(00:43):
need to thrive as a small business owner. Visit score
dot org Slash Greater Cincinnati to request a free business
mentor or share your own expertise. You can also listen
and subscribe for more stories about overcoming challenges, clearing obstacles,
and owning a successful small business.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Welcome Todd, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Michael.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
I understand that Dawson Heating and Air condition is a
third generation family business. Tell us how your family came
into the heating and air conditioning business and give us
kind of an overview of your company.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Well, the company started by my dad, Thaddeus Dawson Senior,
and it was started out of necessity. He worked at
General Motors full time, but he also had started renovating
and rehabbing properties and he had a gentleman that was
helping him with his h back system, and the guy
did not show up again, so he had to get
(01:36):
the house finished and to get the apartment finished, and
so he went on ahead and figured out how to
install that unit and figured it, Hey, this is not
that hard, and I think I'm going to do this
for myself in the future. And so that's where the
light came on for him and began as far as
the HVAC business and his interests in it and just
(01:58):
learning how to perform the service to do that type
of work. And then the second necessary party was the
fact that General Motors closed the plant in Norwood, so
he had to find something else to do. So that's
when he launched in nineteen eighty Dawson Heating and Air Conditioning,
so out of a necessity for his own property, but
(02:18):
out of necessity for being able to feed and take
care of his family. So it's a great story and
testament to him and his grant and determination as a man.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Very much so. So your company was a runner up
for SCORES Client of the Year award in twenty twenty two.
What role has mentorship played in your small business story?
We love to hear specifically how you and SCORE work together.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
My two SCORE mentors were Frank and Dave, and those
two gentlemen, they helped me in so many different ways,
just the breadth and depth of their knowledge. We can
go from accounting to insurance, bonding, some human resources decisions
(03:10):
that we had to make, where to seek funding. It's
just I think it was the perfect match with those
two gentlemen to be matched to help and assist us.
That it just made it seem like we had worked
together for years and it just was seamless and flawless.
And so they were able to help me, like I said,
(03:33):
select an accounting program. We also we're able to find
an accountant and just all the various resources that were
available to me through their introduction and just being able
to lead and guide us in the right direction. It's
just been invaluable. And I tip my hand to those
(03:55):
gentlemen and thank them for sure.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Are you still working with score or have you moved
to a point where you don't need the ongoing mentoring.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
We don't need the ongoing mentoring, but definitely if there's
a question that I have, I have no hesitation in
picking up the phone and or sending an email to
either one of those gentlemen and asking them a question,
and without fail, they respond and give me great sage
advice as I always you know, expect and receive from
(04:25):
those guys.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
I read in an interview in Cincinnati Magazine where you
talked about providing over service. What does that mean and
how do you train or empower your employees to fulfill
that level of over service.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
That's a great question for me. Over service is just
meeting and exceeding the client's expectations. So one of our
core principles for our team that I repeat and share
and we have up on the wall for everyone to
see is vice see value, integrity, service and excellence, and
(05:05):
that is the core part of our company and what
we do. I came. I've been a part of the
business of course when it first started, but more so
as a laborer then and now as a leader. I
bring all my various years of experience in business, and
just coming from an insurance background and a service type
(05:28):
business like insurance, it has just given me that level
of care and expertise. I want to bring that service
level to the HVAC business. So just trying to do
everything we can to meet and exceed the client's expectations.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
The heating and air conditioning business has changed a great deal.
I saw something that i've I don't think I've heard
before in respect to residential heating and air conditioning IAQ
indoor air quality. What exactly is that.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Indoor air quality is really important and really was the
importance of it was highlighted and emphasized greatly during COVID.
So indoor air quality studies have shown that the quality
of air inside your home is ten times worse than
the quality of air outside. Our homes are insulated, the
(06:25):
windows don't allow on the air in and air tight
and so your home is sealed. And so during COVID,
what they did for schools and offices, and it changed
the industry and it changed the standards for air quality.
It was important to bring outside air in and bring
(06:46):
in fresh air, to circulate fresh air with the air.
That's inside your home or inside your space, and so
that became important. Along with that, you also had to
filter the air. So in the industry it's improved just
from your basic filter to devices that our most popular
(07:08):
right now are air ionization systems and that's where it
releases molecules to attack the bad viruses and bad bacteria
and things that are into air. And then the other
is UV lights. So during COVID once again they use
UV lights to clean different surfaces and everything like that.
So they've bought those two technologies into the heating in
(07:31):
their space and it has changed the game as far
as being able to have hospital quality air inside your home.
So we have a best in class device that we
like that takes both of those air ionization technology and
UV technology and puts them all in one device and
it is absolutely phenomenal. And the results are people have
(07:54):
a cleaner you can cook fish and you not smell it.
If you have animals, you don't smell the animal smells.
So just really phenomenal results with the indoor air quality
products that are out now.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Also, so something else I wasn't familiar with. I think
this might be new for this year. If I had
this correctly, I believe it's complaint refrigerants.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Correct. A to L compliant refrigerants are twenty twenty five
compliant refrigerants for sure. Just to make it easy, the
refrigerants have changed again. So we have gone from R
twenty two refrigerant, which is what was used probably about
twenty years ago, and then they came with R four
ten a refrigerant and the last year for that was
(08:41):
twenty twenty four. So now we're on to the A
to L compliant refrigerants. And there's two different brands of
refrigerant out that qualify and that the companies are using.
One is R thirty two, which is one hundred percent
pure refrigerant R thirty two, and the other is R
(09:02):
four or five four B, which is I think it's
seventy percent R thirty two and then thirty percent other refrigerants.
And so the R thirty two being pure and being
used over in Europe for over two decades is the
one that I think is going to last and going
(09:23):
to stand the test of time. But either way, both
of those refrigerants are compliant, and we have access and
will you know, have access to both of those refrigerants
into the future.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Now that's the stuff you put into the AC AM
like correct.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Correct that the refrigents are the typicals that you put
into the AC and into the heat pump systems if
you have an all electric system.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
So I guess the one question that I have, and
I think a lot of people do when it comes
to ensuring that their system lasts is owners it can.
Is preventative maintenance really worth it?
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Preventive maintenance is definitely worth it. The best way an
analogy I can get for most people is most people
have a car, and so if you're going to take
a trip tomorrow, Michael, and you're going to drive from
Cincinnati to California, you would probably get your oil change,
your brakes, check, tires rotated, just those basic things to
(10:26):
make sure that you can run from Cincinnati and drive
to California and make it safely without any breakdowns. So
the same thing you do for your automobile, you should
do in the spring before you start that unit. And
you know, in May in April, you want to get
that unit checked out so that when it comes to
(10:48):
June and July. Well, last year it was hot starting
probably at the end of May. It did not cool
down until September, so there was no break. Sometimes there's breaks,
but there was no break last year. So you're going
to ask that you from Cincinnati to California for four
months and you haven't had it checked out. Chances are
you're going to have a breakdown and it's going to
(11:10):
you know, cost you and you're going to be uncomfortable
because the problem is is that everyone calls at the
same time. So if you get ahead of it and
can have a company like ours take a look at it,
there's some predictive mieling and so sometimes we can see
that this part is going bad, or this part is
most likely going to go bad, you need to replace
(11:32):
this and or just get an estimate so you'll know
that what you need to save up for if your
unit is you know, past its useful life. So just
using some wisdom on the h VAC side, the same
treatment that you would do for your car and applying
that same you know, technology and methodology to your home.
So in the winter once again, come out in the
(11:54):
fall and check it before you set that unit off
and expect for it to work all you know winter.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
So Todd, what advice would you pass along to somebody
who is starting a business or thinking about starting a business.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Advice I would pass on for someone that's going to
start a business is definitely find something that you are
passionate about. Because if it's just for money, there's been
a lot of people that did jobs and do jobs
that is just for the money. That's not going to
sustain through the good times, through the bad times, through
(12:30):
the ups and downs. You have to definitely do something
that you're passionate about and have that why that wakes
you up every morning to pursue that goal, to pursue
that dream. So just be focused on that and know
why you're doing it and let it be something that
you love. And then the second would be just be patient.
(12:51):
A lot of people want to, you know, start a business,
but they, you know, just don't have the patience. You
have to be patient and there's a process and just
follow the process and follow your path and your plan
and get some help. The third advice is just get
some help. And Score is a great place to get
(13:11):
that help that you that you need. So that that
would be my advice.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
So if I wanted to connect with you for some services,
where can I find you? How do I get ahold
of you?
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Well, our telephone number is five one three two eight
one three three one one. That's two eight one thirty
three eleven. And our website is www dot Dawson daw
s O N h v A c R dot com,
(13:44):
so that's Dawson HVAC R as A refrigeration dot com.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Very good. So, Todd, is there anything out in the
future that's going to have some impact on how we
heat or air conditioning our homes is sold? We're going
to be a thing at some point. Just curious what
your thoughts are.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yeah, definitely, solar is Once again everyone's looking to remove
or to lessen the impact on the environment. So one
of those one of the ways that we can do
it is through solar power. So once you get to
the point where you have the solar power, just getting
(14:24):
and moving toward electrifying your home if that's the decision
that you choose to make. So there's an initiative in
Cincinnati called Electrified Cincinnati and we're a part of that
and they're trying to they're providing resources to electrify homes
totally from an HVAC standpoint, so moving the home from
(14:47):
gas and fossil fuse to electric key pumps and you
know electric type of systems, and so the electric systems
that were out in the past just did not have
the ability to go down and provide the same efficiency
during extremely cold weather. But once again technology is catching
(15:09):
up and those units are now improving where some of
the units and the higher end units go down to
negative twenty negative thirty degrees and so you don't have
the loss of efficiency. So definitely it's going to be
a move and a big push and incentives from the government,
you know, state, local, and federal to move off of
(15:31):
the fossil fuse and move towards heat pumps and electric.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Very interesting. Thank you Todd. We've been talking with Todd Dawson,
chief Operations officer of Dawson Heating and air Conditioning. If
you would like to sign up with a score mentor,
or would like to become a score mentor, go to
score dot org and click on the appropriate link. Please
subscribe to this podcast and share the link. Thank you
(15:59):
for what's your name
Hello.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
My name is Michael Dawson, your host of scores My
since the Small Business Stories. In this episode, I'll be
talking with Todd Dawson, chief operations officer of Dawson Heating
and air Conditioning. We'll find out more about that first.
We'll be right back after this message.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Did you know twice as many small businesses survive past
five years when they have the support from a mentor.
My sincey small Business Story is brought to you by
the volunteer mentors of SCORE Greater Cincinnati, a nonprofit organization
that helps launch hundreds of new small businesses and even
more jobs in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Indiana every year.
Our vision is to give every person the support they
(00:43):
need to thrive as a small business owner. Visit score
dot org Slash Greater Cincinnati to request a free business
mentor or share your own expertise. You can also listen
and subscribe for more stories about overcoming challenges, clearing obstacles,
and owning a successful small business.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Welcome Todd, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Michael.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
I understand that Dawson Heating and Air condition is a
third generation family business. Tell us how your family came
into the heating and air conditioning business and give us
kind of an overview of your company.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Well, the company started by my dad, Thaddeus Dawson Senior,
and it was started out of necessity. He worked at
General Motors full time, but he also had started renovating
and rehabbing properties and he had a gentleman that was
helping him with his h back system, and the guy
did not show up again, so he had to get
(01:36):
the house finished and to get the apartment finished, and
so he went on ahead and figured out how to
install that unit and figured it, Hey, this is not
that hard, and I think I'm going to do this
for myself in the future. And so that's where the
light came on for him and began as far as
the HVAC business and his interests in it and just
(01:58):
learning how to perform the service to do that type
of work. And then the second necessary party was the
fact that General Motors closed the plant in Norwood, so
he had to find something else to do. So that's
when he launched in nineteen eighty Dawson Heating and Air Conditioning,
so out of a necessity for his own property, but
(02:18):
out of necessity for being able to feed and take
care of his family. So it's a great story and
testament to him and his grant and determination as a man.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Very much so. So your company was a runner up
for SCORES Client of the Year award in twenty twenty two.
What role has mentorship played in your small business story?
We love to hear specifically how you and SCORE work together.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
My two SCORE mentors were Frank and Dave, and those
two gentlemen, they helped me in so many different ways,
just the breadth and depth of their knowledge. We can
go from accounting to insurance, bonding, some human resources decisions
(03:10):
that we had to make, where to seek funding. It's
just I think it was the perfect match with those
two gentlemen to be matched to help and assist us.
That it just made it seem like we had worked
together for years and it just was seamless and flawless.
And so they were able to help me, like I said,
(03:33):
select an accounting program. We also we're able to find
an accountant and just all the various resources that were
available to me through their introduction and just being able
to lead and guide us in the right direction. It's
just been invaluable. And I tip my hand to those
(03:55):
gentlemen and thank them for sure.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Are you still working with score or have you moved
to a point where you don't need the ongoing mentoring.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
We don't need the ongoing mentoring, but definitely if there's
a question that I have, I have no hesitation in
picking up the phone and or sending an email to
either one of those gentlemen and asking them a question,
and without fail, they respond and give me great sage
advice as I always you know, expect and receive from
(04:25):
those guys.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
I read in an interview in Cincinnati Magazine where you
talked about providing over service. What does that mean and
how do you train or empower your employees to fulfill
that level of over service.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
That's a great question for me. Over service is just
meeting and exceeding the client's expectations. So one of our
core principles for our team that I repeat and share
and we have up on the wall for everyone to
see is vice see value, integrity, service and excellence, and
(05:05):
that is the core part of our company and what
we do. I came. I've been a part of the
business of course when it first started, but more so
as a laborer then and now as a leader. I
bring all my various years of experience in business, and
just coming from an insurance background and a service type
(05:28):
business like insurance, it has just given me that level
of care and expertise. I want to bring that service
level to the HVAC business. So just trying to do
everything we can to meet and exceed the client's expectations.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
The heating and air conditioning business has changed a great deal.
I saw something that i've I don't think I've heard
before in respect to residential heating and air conditioning IAQ
indoor air quality. What exactly is that.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Indoor air quality is really important and really was the
importance of it was highlighted and emphasized greatly during COVID.
So indoor air quality studies have shown that the quality
of air inside your home is ten times worse than
the quality of air outside. Our homes are insulated, the
(06:25):
windows don't allow on the air in and air tight
and so your home is sealed. And so during COVID,
what they did for schools and offices, and it changed
the industry and it changed the standards for air quality.
It was important to bring outside air in and bring
(06:46):
in fresh air, to circulate fresh air with the air.
That's inside your home or inside your space, and so
that became important. Along with that, you also had to
filter the air. So in the industry it's improved just
from your basic filter to devices that our most popular
(07:08):
right now are air ionization systems and that's where it
releases molecules to attack the bad viruses and bad bacteria
and things that are into air. And then the other
is UV lights. So during COVID once again they use
UV lights to clean different surfaces and everything like that.
So they've bought those two technologies into the heating in
(07:31):
their space and it has changed the game as far
as being able to have hospital quality air inside your home.
So we have a best in class device that we
like that takes both of those air ionization technology and
UV technology and puts them all in one device and
it is absolutely phenomenal. And the results are people have
(07:54):
a cleaner you can cook fish and you not smell it.
If you have animals, you don't smell the animal smells.
So just really phenomenal results with the indoor air quality
products that are out now.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Also, so something else I wasn't familiar with. I think
this might be new for this year. If I had
this correctly, I believe it's complaint refrigerants.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Correct. A to L compliant refrigerants are twenty twenty five
compliant refrigerants for sure. Just to make it easy, the
refrigerants have changed again. So we have gone from R
twenty two refrigerant, which is what was used probably about
twenty years ago, and then they came with R four
ten a refrigerant and the last year for that was
(08:41):
twenty twenty four. So now we're on to the A
to L compliant refrigerants. And there's two different brands of
refrigerant out that qualify and that the companies are using.
One is R thirty two, which is one hundred percent
pure refrigerant R thirty two, and the other is R
(09:02):
four or five four B, which is I think it's
seventy percent R thirty two and then thirty percent other refrigerants.
And so the R thirty two being pure and being
used over in Europe for over two decades is the
one that I think is going to last and going
(09:23):
to stand the test of time. But either way, both
of those refrigerants are compliant, and we have access and
will you know, have access to both of those refrigerants
into the future.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Now that's the stuff you put into the AC AM
like correct.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Correct that the refrigents are the typicals that you put
into the AC and into the heat pump systems if
you have an all electric system.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
So I guess the one question that I have, and
I think a lot of people do when it comes
to ensuring that their system lasts is owners it can.
Is preventative maintenance really worth it?
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Preventive maintenance is definitely worth it. The best way an
analogy I can get for most people is most people
have a car, and so if you're going to take
a trip tomorrow, Michael, and you're going to drive from
Cincinnati to California, you would probably get your oil change,
your brakes, check, tires rotated, just those basic things to
(10:26):
make sure that you can run from Cincinnati and drive
to California and make it safely without any breakdowns. So
the same thing you do for your automobile, you should
do in the spring before you start that unit. And
you know, in May in April, you want to get
that unit checked out so that when it comes to
(10:48):
June and July. Well, last year it was hot starting
probably at the end of May. It did not cool
down until September, so there was no break. Sometimes there's breaks,
but there was no break last year. So you're going
to ask that you from Cincinnati to California for four
months and you haven't had it checked out. Chances are
you're going to have a breakdown and it's going to
(11:10):
you know, cost you and you're going to be uncomfortable
because the problem is is that everyone calls at the
same time. So if you get ahead of it and
can have a company like ours take a look at it,
there's some predictive mieling and so sometimes we can see
that this part is going bad, or this part is
most likely going to go bad, you need to replace
(11:32):
this and or just get an estimate so you'll know
that what you need to save up for if your
unit is you know, past its useful life. So just
using some wisdom on the h VAC side, the same
treatment that you would do for your car and applying
that same you know, technology and methodology to your home.
So in the winter once again, come out in the
(11:54):
fall and check it before you set that unit off
and expect for it to work all you know winter.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
So Todd, what advice would you pass along to somebody
who is starting a business or thinking about starting a business.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Advice I would pass on for someone that's going to
start a business is definitely find something that you are
passionate about. Because if it's just for money, there's been
a lot of people that did jobs and do jobs
that is just for the money. That's not going to
sustain through the good times, through the bad times, through
(12:30):
the ups and downs. You have to definitely do something
that you're passionate about and have that why that wakes
you up every morning to pursue that goal, to pursue
that dream. So just be focused on that and know
why you're doing it and let it be something that
you love. And then the second would be just be patient.
(12:51):
A lot of people want to, you know, start a business,
but they, you know, just don't have the patience. You
have to be patient and there's a process and just
follow the process and follow your path and your plan
and get some help. The third advice is just get
some help. And Score is a great place to get
(13:11):
that help that you that you need. So that that
would be my advice.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
So if I wanted to connect with you for some services,
where can I find you? How do I get ahold
of you?
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Well, our telephone number is five one three two eight
one three three one one. That's two eight one thirty
three eleven. And our website is www dot Dawson daw
s O N h v A c R dot com,
(13:44):
so that's Dawson HVAC R as A refrigeration dot com.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Very good. So, Todd, is there anything out in the
future that's going to have some impact on how we
heat or air conditioning our homes is sold? We're going
to be a thing at some point. Just curious what
your thoughts are.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yeah, definitely, solar is Once again everyone's looking to remove
or to lessen the impact on the environment. So one
of those one of the ways that we can do
it is through solar power. So once you get to
the point where you have the solar power, just getting
(14:24):
and moving toward electrifying your home if that's the decision
that you choose to make. So there's an initiative in
Cincinnati called Electrified Cincinnati and we're a part of that
and they're trying to they're providing resources to electrify homes
totally from an HVAC standpoint, so moving the home from
(14:47):
gas and fossil fuse to electric key pumps and you
know electric type of systems, and so the electric systems
that were out in the past just did not have
the ability to go down and provide the same efficiency
during extremely cold weather. But once again technology is catching
(15:09):
up and those units are now improving where some of
the units and the higher end units go down to
negative twenty negative thirty degrees and so you don't have
the loss of efficiency. So definitely it's going to be
a move and a big push and incentives from the government,
you know, state, local, and federal to move off of
(15:31):
the fossil fuse and move towards heat pumps and electric.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Very interesting. Thank you Todd. We've been talking with Todd Dawson,
chief Operations officer of Dawson Heating and air Conditioning. If
you would like to sign up with a score mentor,
or would like to become a score mentor, go to
score dot org and click on the appropriate link. Please
subscribe to this podcast and share the link. Thank you
(15:59):
for what's your name
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New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!