Jim and Vickie Tholen can’t seem to be thankful enough for where their business has taken them after 35 years, even if it did start in their garage. THE OPEN HOUSE is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in celebration of the many customers of the business.
This Saturday, they will be celebrating 35 years in operation for Tholen’s Heating and Cooling with an open-house celebration. The journey has been an interesting ride.
The business, which started in March of 1978, was operated out of their garage — with minimal space and a high demand.
“People would show up at the house anytime they wanted to,” Vickie said. “You would have to be nice.”
She said people would simply drop off air conditioning units on their front yard for repairs. It seemed as if word of Jim’s expertise had already spread through Iola.
“You can’t put a price tag on experience,” Jim said.
The U.S. Navy is where Jim gathered most of his working knowledge. He was enlisted for four years and spent three of them on an aircraft carrier, working on the maintenance of the ship’s units. After working different construction jobs, and on farms hauling hay, Jim decided to open his own business — but not without the help of a good friend.
“I couldn’t have done it without Bill Maloney (then the owner of Humboldt Electric),” Jim said. “He gave me the intestinal fortitude to step out and start my own business.”
The business began to grow and space became tighter.
“My wife’s birthday is June 1, and I asked her what she wanted,” Jim said. “She said, ‘I want you out of my garage.’”
And so he moved out, and in 1987 moved into the building on North Chestnut Street. As the business grew even more, Jim knew he couldn’t keep up with demand without hiring more help.
“Some days I felt like I was coming apart like a two-dollar watch,” he said.
Kendal Catt and Tim Graham, who have been with the company 17 and 19 years respectively, are some of Jim’s most trusted employees. Kendal has taken on a lot of the responsibility that Jim carried in the earlier days.
Jim said he was involved in a motorcycle accident in 2011, and was incapacitated for four months — his employees, along with Vickie, stepped up to the plate.
“I learned the business can run without Jim Tholen,” he said.
“The guys really stepped up to the plate,” Vickie chimed in.
With the help of his trustworthy employees and loyal customer base (Vickie said they have between 2,500 and 3,000 customers), the business has grown to larger proportions than the Tholens would have ever expected. They work with six Super Walmarts, 50 Century Line telephone buildings and Gates Manufacturing — not to mention all of their residential clients.
Jim said he can’t fully accept any credit for his success. After becoming a devout Christian in 1979, he believes God has “had his hand” on his business.
“He deserves the credit,” Jim said.
There are still some echoes of the early days, working out of the garage. The Tholens still have a LAN line in their home for on-call emergencies, a testament to their dedication to the business. But, Jim said, he hopes to retire at some point, and leave most of the responsibilities to his employees.
“I like where I am,” Jim said. “I’m not working under the gun all of the time.”
Vickie had a simple answer for where the business has taken her and her husband.
“I can’t complain,” she said.
There will be food, gift bags for customers and special offers on warranties with new units. KIKS will be on the scene as well, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tholens’ business turns 35 years old
