Presented with the opportunity to buy the business for which he had worked as an employee the previous 17 years, Dan Laverdure didn’t think twice.
“I went to school for three years to learn plumbing and HVAC,” Dan explained, “and after I graduated, I began looking around for a job. I sent out a bunch of applications, and Jay Carlson at Mr. Furnace offered me an interview. After talking for a while, he hired me on the spot.
“I’ve learned a lot over the years, and when Jay was ready to sell the business in February of 2022, he offered me a chance to buy it,” Dan continued.
Needing capital to purchase the business, Dan and his wife, Kallie, shopped around for financing.
“We tried other banks,” said Dan, “but they weren’t as responsive as Nate Lloyd at Grand Rapids State Bank.”
“Nate got back to us right away after we visited with him,” added Kallie. “He is easy to work with and really anticipates what we might need.”
Besides the business loan, the Laverdures opened other accounts at GRSB to manage the business finances.
“I work three days a week at the business, too;” Kallie explained. “I do the billing and accounting and all the computer stuff. I also work as a Dental Assistant for Kreklow Dental two days a week. “
Dan added, “We’ve maintained a good relationship running this business, and it works out well.”
Their service area covers a broad swath of northern Minnesota, from Duluth to Park Rapids and anywhere in-between. They are a ‘preferred service provider’ with three Home Depot stores in Duluth, Grand Rapids and Bemidji. When customers shopping for furnaces at those Home Depot stores use the in-house credit card, the Laverdures’ Mr. Furnace business comes recommended as a trusted installer and service provider.
“We continue to provide the warranties on the installation and equipment,” Dan explained, “but Home Depot provides us with lead generation. This can be time consuming—we end up making follow-up sales calls that don’t all get returned—but ultimately it’s a good deal for us.”
Dan and Kallie employ three other people, two of whom were with the company prior to Dan joining.
“Those three guys are the backbone of our business,” said Dan. “We are kept busy year-round, but winter is definitely busier.
“When people are depending on their furnace to keep warm, we try to be as responsive as possible,” said Dan. “There are many stories—some of which we can’t retell—of people needing our help at the worst times, but one really tested us. We responded to a call from an elderly couple near Squaw Lake in northern Itasca County. It was after a snowstorm, and their roof vent had been covered and plugged with snow. It was about 30 below zero with 20 mile-per-hour winds. We earned our money that day.”
Kallie and Dan thoroughly enjoy living in northern Minnesota. They began dating in high school and now have three children. The oldest, age 20, just completed her first year of an accelerated chiropractic program. Her sister, the middle child, is an avid volleyball player and just learning to drive, while their brother, age 12, is all about fishing and football.
“Our family has bonded over sports, fishing and camping, and we truly love this area,” said Kallie. “We’re fortunate that we’ve had a bank that has helped us own a small business in an area we love. They’ve helped us with anything we’ve needed.”