When Art Spellerberg began his one-man operation, Art’s Furnace Company, in 1956 he probably never dreamed it would still be going strong 68 years later, run by a third generation of his family.
His business grew and by the 1970s, Art was amassing a group of young, talented individuals to work with him, and their scope expanded to include central air conditioning. Thus, AFC Heating and Cooling was born.
Jackie McCormick Heanue, office manager, is part of that third generation. She noted, “It was during this time that the true ‘family business’ dynamic began to take shape. Art's sons, David and Bill, became heavily involved in the company during this time, and several of Art's stepsons, the McCormick brothers, including my father John, Bob, Bill, Tom and Dennis, began joining the company.”
David eventually took the reins as the sole owner of the organization. Under his leadership, the company saw continued growth, prosperity, and change, including the company's move from Kansas City, Missouri, near Swope Park, to Lee's Summit in 2000.
In 2017, AFC began its third generation of ownership, with David's two sons, Phil and Matt, as well as the company's longtime Service Manager and Art's stepson, John McCormick, purchasing the company from David.
“Since 2017, we have continued to experience substantial growth, development and improvements, with an employee base of 33 full-time staff. Although some staff are relatively young and new, and many have been employed for three decades or more, the average tenure still sits at an impressive 16 years of service,” Jackie commented.
The company was an integral part of the new home industry and building boom of the 1990s and is now serving multiple community builders.
“Although our service area spans the entire metro, a significant portion of our residential and light commercial customer base is in Lee's Summit. All the principals of the company have called Lee's Summit home for more than 40 years, some their entire lives, and many of our employees reside in Lee's Summit as well. Our service manager, one of the principal owners has been with the company full-time for 48 years!” she continued. “We believe that community involvement and support is a critical responsibility of businesses.”
They hold teambuilding community service projects and serve on a number of community boards, nonprofit initiatives and youth athletic teams.
As a full-service HVAC company, they offer everything from preventative maintenance to repair to full system replacement. Preventative maintenance, including regular tune ups, is their number one recommendation. These visits can often catch irregularities with the system before they become major issues.
“It never fails that your system will decide to act up at the worst time, on the hottest or coldest day of the year!” she explained.
She also recommends changing and cleaning your furnace filter regularly and paying attention to your system and how it operates.
“2025 will usher in another new generation of refrigerant for the HVAC industry. It is important for homeowners to be aware of this and be prepared to ask questions before making decisions, especially if they relate to repair or replacement of their existing systems,” she reiterated.
Their philosophy is that their customers and employees are their greatest assets, and they take care of them with honesty, no hidden fees or surprises, and that is why they continue to have such a strong reputation in our community.
Their office is located at 824 NW Main Street, Lee's Summit. Call 816-347-8388 and visit afckc.com for more information.