At Lakeside Heating & Cooling, family values, honest service and community roots are at the heart of every home they help.
For Brad Heydon, heating and cooling isn’t just a career, it’s part of the family story.
Heydon grew up in the industry, learning the trade while working alongside his father, who ran a successful HVAC company for more than 30 years. Over time, Heydon worked nearly every role imaginable in the field, from contractor work to the manufacturing side of the business. When the world shifted during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, he realized it was the right moment to take everything he had learned and build something of his own.
“Very few things are more essential than keeping people’s heating and cooling running during the coldest winter days and hottest summer months,” Heydon says. “It felt like the right time to put all that experience to good use.”
That decision led to the creation of Lakeside Heating & Cooling, a locally owned family business rooted in the Lee’s Summit community.
The name reflects both past and present. Growing up, Heydon spent summers at his grandparents’ place at the Lake of the Ozarks and days filled with swimming, fishing and boating. Today, he and his family enjoy the same lifestyle in their own lake community near Lake Lotawana.
“It only seemed fitting that the name reflected those memories and the life we’re building now,” he says. “We wanted to create something that reminded people of simpler times.”
That philosophy carries into the company’s approach to service. Lakeside Heating & Cooling aims to combine the trusted feel of a neighborhood “mom and pop” business with the professionalism and efficiency of a modern company.
The early days were a true family effort.
“When you’re starting out, everyone is doing everything,” Heydon says. “It’s the epitome of multitasking.”
His wife Lindsey remembers the whirlwind well, including a bassinet set up in the office while they worked.
“Our six-month-old was right there with us for a while,” she says with a laugh. “There was excitement, a little bit of terror and a lot of pride watching him build something he’d worked so hard for.”
Today, the roles are more defined. Brad manages operations and service calls throughout the city, while Lindsey and the office team handle internal operations, marketing and customer communication.
Their different strengths help the business run smoothly.
“I like being outside,” Heydon says. “Lindsey likes coffee and climate-controlled temperatures.”
Beyond technical service, the couple believes relationships are the most important part of the job. Heydon reviews every service call and often remembers customers by name when they call again, which is something he says people rarely expect anymore.
“It surprises them that we remember,” he says. “But to us, they’re not just another address. They’re neighbors.”
That sense of responsibility runs deep. The Heydons are raising their children in the same community they serve, sponsoring youth soccer and swim teams and supporting local schools and activities.
“These people are our friends and neighbors,” Heydon says. “We want to make sure we’re doing right by them.”
Part of that means helping homeowners see their heating and cooling systems as an investment, not just something to think about when it stops working.
Routine maintenance and modern, energy-efficient systems can significantly reduce utility costs while improving safety and comfort.
“If your system is struggling to maintain temperature or running constantly, that’s usually a sign it needs attention,” Heydon explains.
For many homeowners, the smartest first step is simple.
“Start with maintenance,” he says. “You’ll know your system is running as efficiently as possible and you’ll get a clear picture of its condition.”
Looking ahead, Heydon hopes Lakeside Heating & Cooling continues to build the kind of reputation that lasts for generations.
“I tell our team we’re playing the long game,” he says. “We want relationships with customers that span decades.”
Ultimately, his vision is simple: build a company his children can be proud of.
“Proud of the way we treated people,” he says, “and proud of what we did for our community.”