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About Griffin HVAC

Joe Ingersoll
Griffin Heating and Cooling has been servicing the Peoria area since 1963. For the past 3 years Joe and Jane Ingersoll had been the owners, doing an excellent job servicing their customers. Joe had worked for Griffin a very long time before purchasing the business. He loved the company and had plans for it to grow. Unfortunately Joe had been battling cancer for the past 5 years and in March of 2019 he passed away. Joe was loved by his family, friends, and customers.

In the summer of 2018 Joe contacted me and offered to hire me to be apart of the Griffin team. I had always hoped that he would offer me a job, I wasn’t ever going to ask straight out but this was the opportunity I had been waiting for ever since I entered the HVAC field. So of course I said yes. He knew that at my previous employment we did a lot of work with the Ameren IQ program and he had planned on me taking on that role, getting the necessary certifications and specializing in energy efficiency. All the while helping in installations, service calls and whatever else. Upon hire I learned more about his battle with cancer but at this time things were very hopeful and he felt good. And since that time we all know what followed. I soaked in all the knowledge I could while working along side Joe, this was one of the reasons for coming to work with him because he was so experienced and knowledgeable in all aspects of HVAC. In my mind Joe was going to beat the cancer and we were going to work together for a long time becoming closer as friends and family. I can truly say we became closer in that short time I had to work and be along side him. 
It was February of 2019 when Zac and I found out that he was given a terminal diagnosis and he wanted to sell the business. After overcoming the shock of this news I said I wanted to buy it. Not knowing anything other than I want to continue Griffin. I didn’t even know if my wife and I could afford to do it. He was on board with selling it to me. He trusted that I would do a good job succeeding him, he trusted me. As I sit here and write this I tear up because that meant so much to me, beyond words. So from that point on I did what was necessary to buy Griffin, in that time I continued to manage the business with the assistance of Jane. I can say without a doubt that Griffin will continue to operate in Joe’s image. I will try and emulate all that Joe showed me. And this business will continue to be successful. 
So my wife and I started CPDI, LLC. Griffin heating, cooling and home services will now be Griffin HVAC. Things aren’t really going to change too much. I did change the logo, the website will be different and customers will be able to access our schedule through the website to book a service call or estimate.
I couldn’t have done this without the help of so many people. First being my wife. Without her belief and trust in me this couldn’t have happened at all, thank you my love, I love you infinitely. 

Jane has been so strong through all of this. I did whatever I could to make this process as easy and stress free for her as possible. And she did the same for me. Her faith in me to continue to manage the business meant so much to me, I am truly grateful for that. Together we got through it and made this transaction happen.

Carl Draper, my wife’s step-dad, happens to be the greatest lawyer in the state of Illinois. He helped Jane and I through some very stressful moments. This transaction could not have happened without his legal expertise, his compassion and empathy. Thank you so much Carl, I can’t thank you enough, I know you already know this. But I probably will say thank you every time I see you for the rest of my life!! 

I must also thank Morton Community Bank and Josh Graber. They helped get us the loan to make this happen. It means so much to us that you helped us, thank you.

I also need to thank the Griffin customers! Griffin has so many loyal customers. So many of you were patient with me, understanding and empathetic for the situation, beyond words that meant so much. Many of our Griffin customers loved Joe, in their eyes I have a lot to live up to. But I am up for the challenge.

Joe is irreplaceable as a business owner. In every role he had in his life, friend, husband, father, brother, son, grandson, cousin, colleague, cubs fan, yankee’s fan, car aficionado, all of it. He was such a happy positive person, his presence brought that out in everyone around him. He will be missed but never forgotten. Thank you Joe.

Call for a free estimate at (309) 676-0808 today!
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