R&D Mechanical Services Inc. The Heart of a Family By Meghan Griffin Business ownership can certainly have highs and lows, yet owning a business with your family can present its own unique set of challenges. When lifelong Georgians, Robbie and Dana Matiak, started R & D Mechanical Services in 2000, their goal was to build a company with rock solid values that would lead them to a successful future. That decision wasnt made without some trepidation as Robbie had just left a position with a larger company and had concerns about striking out on his own. However, he said that he felt called to do the work he is doing; fixing problems and serving people within and around his community. As R & D continued to grow through the early 2000s, Robbie and his family continued to build the business together. He brought his son and daughter, Heath and Ashleigh into the business in 2011 and the company relocated from Robbie and Danas home to their current office space in Holly Springs. While expanding their company, they also wanted to make sure that they were making the lives of their employees better. Every January, the team members meet to discuss the expectations, goals and focus for the year. Last year, the company made a decision to center efforts on further improving quality, both in the work that they perform and personally by being good examples to those they come in contact with. This years focus is on serving others. At the top of the priority list are the team members who make up R & D Mechanical Services. Heath noted, If we serve each other first, we will serve our customers even more so. The term team member was a very deliberate decision for the company; Robbie wants everyone at R & D to know that they are, Working with us and not for us. The focus on valuing family time is also conveyed by allowing the on-call service technicians to control their schedules when emergency calls are needed. If their son or daughter has an activity such as a sporting event scheduled or they are attending a church outing, technicians are encouraged to make it known and to ask other technicians to assist in the emergency service calls with our customers. As always with R & D, family is first priority. R & D also wants to make sure that everyone that works within their company understands that doing the right thing and treating other employees as they would like to be treated is intrinsic in their companys work ethic. They use these values as standards when hiring new team members. As Heath said, Our core values serve as a great litmus test when we are looking to expand. We can teach the skill set later, but they need to connect with our values first. Customers and future team members can learn more about the company by visiting R & Ds website, where the companys core values are proudly listed. Some key points include living and working with the highest sense of integrity and character, being themselves, whether in public or in private, and always doing as they have promised. R & D Mechanical Services currently operates at about a 70/30 split between commercial and residential work. They offer heating and cooling installation services, as well as preventative maintenance, upgrades and repair. For their customers, Robbie and Heath stress the importance of building a loyal customer base. The company strives to under-promise and over-deliver at all times. We strive to spend your money like it was our money. Robbie said. In addition to putting the focus on family and team members, Robbie and his crew are active in the community. Last year, R & D Mechanical was a sponsor for the Collins Dixon Bend Your Knees 5K in Canton and the Hero Run 5K for the Wounded Warrior Project in Kennesaw. This year they are sponsoring the Kennesaw Grand Prix Series. They also partner heavily with Alive Ministries and their Save It Forward program, which Dana Matiak is very involved. The Save It Forward program uses extreme couponing and partnering with the Atlanta Food Bank to provide food and toiletries to families in need. They work with local schools and counselors to identify and serve those families. R & D Mechanical believes wholeheartedly in the mission of this program and helps out monthly. Other organizations that they have partnered with include Next Steps Ministry in Woodstock, which assists special needs individuals in job skills development, and Cloud Walk Ministry in Alpharetta. However, the team members at R & D are most proud of quietly helping individuals in their community. Whether it is installing a new low or no-cost furnace or system for someone who was without heat during the winter or doing labor at cost to help families in need save money, R & D continues to show their actions speak louder than their words. During Thanksgiving 2014, Robbie sent out a letter to their customers and titled it Thanks-Giving. In the letter, he spoke of the history of the company and of his drive to start his own business. He reiterated their mission and the work that they do in the community. He also wrote about how the company and his family supports children in Haiti and how special it was to him and Dana, when they are able to spend time with the children during mission trips to Haiti. The letter spoke to many of his customers and Robbie shared the overwhelming responses. In Robbies mind, it proved his point that by putting family, team members, and his customers first; he has built a company not driven by profit, but by love and loyalty. As we transition into spring, if you need assistance with your HVAC system, consider calling R & D Mechanical Services and know that your money will be going to a company that goes above and beyond. R&D Mechanical Services Inc.3448 Holly Springs ParkwayCANTON770-917-1795 RandDMechanical.net AliveMinistriesInc.org
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