It was 1969 when Sgt. 1st Class Jim Adkisson retired after 21 years in the US Army - including service in Korea. Born and raised in Tennessee and virtually living “everywhere in the country” with the the army, Adkisson brought his family to Michigan. His father had moved here to get a job at Buick. Mustered out, Adkisson took a job in Montgomery Ward’s service department. He soon tired of working for someone else and saw a need in the burgeoning mobile home segment - a need for heating and cooling systems. He opened the garage behind his house on Fenton Road and called it - Jim Adkisson Heating and Cooling.

Building metal parts for heating and cooling systems in his garage, he migrated to serving residences.  His business soon outgrew his garage.  He built a building on Fenton Road to house his company.  Today his two sons, Jim Jr. and Ken, who grew up working for Dad took over the company after Dad retired.  The brothers have expanded the company into a complex of buildings with a fleet of trucks at the corner of Holly and Baldwin Roads.  They employ 13 people.

In 1995, they added a sister company on the complex managed by Jim Jr. called Autumn Glo Fireplace Supply.  It offers the latest in heating your home with wood burning fire places or gas inserts.  The large showroom, lined with fire places, gives customers a variety of choices and lots of assistance. “Dad and Mom retired to Florida in 1980,” says Ken who is managing the business now called Adkisson Air 1.  “The business morphed.  We had to refocus.  We are now service-oriented.  And the business is more complicated.”  Ken, E.P.A. certified through Ferris Stat University, also holds State of Michigan certification, including seven classifications in the field.  He is also a licensed residential builder with over 33 years experience.  He says that today, the cost of energy demands efficiency that calls for new technology.  “We have military test equipment that can examine your furnace to detect carbon monoxide leaks.  Other advancements increase system efficiency and air quality - that’s a big problem today - air purification in your house.  People are suffering from allergies or asthma - sometimes indoor air is worse than outdoor air.”  He talks about the building boom in Grand Blanc when Adkisson served the builders putting up all those house.  “That was our business then,” says Ken.  “Putting heating and cooling systems in new homes.  Today, we are servicing those same homes.  We are a service and maintenance oriented company.  Before we dealt with builders, today we deal face to face with our customers.”

Adkisson’s is a family affair and includes baby sister JoAnn who does the book and is the office manager.  “When I was just a little girl, I used to help make metal parts in the garage,” she laughs.  “We’re definitely a family affair.  We all graduated from GBHS.  We all went to school and came home to work.  “We didn’t get to play sports.”  JoAnn and her husband Norm Goodall and daughter live in Old Town Grand Blanc.  And, here comes the next generation.  Both Adkisson grandsons, Ken’s son Scott and Jim’s son, Jim III, attended Ferris College’s heating and Cooling programs and are employed at the company.  Jim III is service manager; Scott’s the installer manager.  “We have lived everywhere,” says Ken Adkisson, “and Grand Blanc is a good place to live and a good place to do business.  “The community has been good to us.  We take care of our customers, they take care of us.”

Adkisson Air 1 Heating & Cooling, located in Holly, Michigan has the knowledge, experience, and expertise that you need. We offer high efficiency furnaces, air conditioning packages, and more. For over 30 years we have brought quality heating and cooling services to the Genesee county area, and we are ready to serve you. Browse our web site, if you have any questions or comments, please email us or call 1-810-FURNACE!