Photo by Mike Lamb The photo display on the wall as you walk into the Bisbee Plumbing and Heating office represents the company’s emphasis on the team that works for the company.

The Bisbee name has been around forever, according to company president, Scott Williams.

“We are the problem solvers in the community,” Williams said. “When the phone rings, we are expected to jump and resolve the problem all the time. Water heaters don’t quit at 10 o’clock in the morning. They wait to 5 o’clock on Friday to call.”

Williams, however, says if “you take care of your community, your community takes care of you.”

That mission of taking care of the community goes way back to 1941 when B.A. Bisbee started delivering propane to Marshall, according to Williams.

“Converting wood burning stoves to natural gas. That’s what made him successful,” he said.

“When my father-in-law (Joseph Mortier) bought the business back in 1967, he changed the name from Bisbee heating — originally it was Bisbee Gas Company. Then it was Bisbee Plumbing and Heating.”

Way back then, the company was heavily involved in making the community a better place to live. Mortier played an instrumental part in bringing Southwest Minnesota University to Marshall.

Today, the company plays a big part in developing the heating and plumber technicians of the future. The company offers opportunities for Marshall High School students involved in the Marshall Career and Technical Institute.

“I have a list of high school kids. First time ever. Marshall High School students want to come to work. It’s amazing. Seven of them,” Williams said. “They have metal fabricating out there. Have one of the kids working here right now. Fantastic kid. He’s a junior and state of Minnesota doesn’t allow you to work construction until age 18. If we can install the work ethic for two years before putting them out in the field, everybody is better.”

Williams said the student can fabricate in the shop and run parts.

“Right now we got him welding,” Williams said.

“We invest money into them and if they decide to go to school for HVAC, our program has always been if they graduate in top third in their class we reimburse 100%. If they graduate in top half of class, we reimburse 50%.”

From the shop to the office, Williams emphasizes the team — not just one individual. Williams said there are more than 25 employees. While he serves as president, Dustin Westover is vice president and plumbing manager. His wife, Terri, is co-owner and the bookkeeper. Janelle Louwagie is the office manager. Eric Mathiowetz is the service manager and CJ Mortier is HVAC manager.

“It’s really a family business. It’s the Bisbee team. I want to emphasize that. It’s like the quarterback on a football team. The football team can’t play the game by himself. The linemen can’t win without the quarterback,” he said.

“There is a fantastic group around me. We got truly good guys that really, really care,” he said. “They volunteer in the fire department, put time in Big Buddies.

The company has been involved in many community events and causes.

“Everybody in the community knows if it involves kids and cancer, we are usually involved.

“Pedal tractor pulls, Sounds of Summer — some of the stuff we sponsored forever. All the baseball teams.”

From providing plumbing and heating services to the community to volunteering, Williams cites the company’s motto.

“The whole team atmosphere is what makes us successful,” he said.