5 minute read
Gardening with Complete Solutions
WHAT WE ARE SEEING
by PJ Kratohvil, Owner of Complete Solutions | photos courtesy of Complete Solutions
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When it comes to patio & outdoor living, the current trend is very much a less-is-more philosophy. Sure, every now and then you’ll get something different, but for the most part, we’re being asked to keep things light, open, functional, and not overdone.
EXTERIOR: 214.735.1363 | COMPLETESOLUTIONSDFW.COM
When it comes to landscape projects, our team uses a variety of materials to leave things looking more interesting with less. For example, we may only use 20 plants where we once would use 50, but we would incorporate small rocks, steel features, colorful pots, and possibly even a wood feature to mix things up.
The same can be said for patio and outdoor living projects. Again, less is more. This includes using simpler floor finishes, less busy patterns, and more natural pavers. We also enjoy introducing larger veneers to vertical structures like counters and bars, then going with a low maintenance countertop when possible versus natural stones or granite. Also, we’ve experimented with different wood plank materials and stain colors to keep things light and open up underneath the structures.
Slowing down all the busy patterns results in a calm, larger space in most cases. Granted, everyone’s got their own style, and that’s really the great thing about this industry. But it’s up to the designers to listen, create, recommend, and construct the perfect space – no matter how big or small.
Helping You Get The
MOST OUT OF LIFE
by Steve Gamel photography by Your Candid Memories (YourCandidMemories.com)
Mike Douglas insists that there “wasn’t much to buy” the day he purchased an under-the-radar air conditioning company from an investment group he had been working for. The year was 1981, and the fledgling company had only been open for about a year. It wasn’t very big, either, boasting a small office space and only a handful of employees.
But Mike knew he had something special. He renamed it Advent Air, and today, he’s celebrating 40 years in business.
“I had been working as their GM at the time. It was a different type of business than what they were used to, and I liked the idea of going into business for myself,” Mike said. “So I bought it and grew it from there.”
He added, “Like anything else, you go through cycles of ups and downs. But it all worked out.”
Saying “it all worked out” is an understatement for this family-owned and operated company. Advent Air remains a trusted and relied-on staple of the Lewisville community, even as Mike transitioned leadership to his son Jared two years ago. While they’ve maintained that small, local feel, they pride themselves on having the reach to serve the majority of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. And they do it all, too, with comfort-focused residential services ranging from repair and maintenance to new construction, replacement, and installation. They also specialize in ductless cooling systems and split heating, air purification services, 24/7 emergency services with no overtime fees, and more.
Having a highly trained and certified team in the HVAC business that you can trust is invaluable, especially in North Texas. Summer temperatures spike over 100 degrees for months at a time, and we all know how brutal winter can be after February’s snowstorms. Advent Air resets the bar year after year and was recently awarded the 2020 Carrier President’s Award for leadership, management, customer satisfaction, expertise, business growth, and operational excellence. They are also the only HVAC company in North Texas to win the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics.
“If we make a mistake, we make it right,” Jared said. “As we’ve evolved and restructured, we have identified things from five years ago — even stuff that was misdiagnosed and is now outside warranty — and corrected them for customers free of charge. We really go out of our way to deal with everything the right way. There’s no cap on honesty and ethics.”
Mike agreed.
“It’s all about maintaining our core values and doing honest work,” he said.
When we caught up with Mike and Jared, the conversation never really revolved around their work and services. Their customers will vouch for them at the drop of a hat when it comes to that stuff. What sets them apart from everyone else is the family piece and their commitment to their employees. In fact, when we asked Jared’s 4-year-old son, Graham, what he wants to do when he grows up, he confidently said, “Work with my grandpa and daddy at Advent.”
Jared started working in Advent Air’s warehouse when he was 15. He’s since held every position, from working in replacements and installs to engineering and new construction sales. Over the last few years, he’s spearheaded the addition of new technology while also restructuring the company so that it continues to grow the right way.
“It’s been an amazing journey — not only growing up in the industry and within this company but also being part of the process and seeing the dramatic and positive changes,” Jared said. “We have such a positive culture of mentoring and supporting our employees. Our core passion is to help people get the most out of life — not only employees and their families but also our customers. It’s very important to us that we have people here who have a passion for life, a passion for people, and a passion for doing the right thing for the customer.”
Mike agreed, adding that he even made Jared apply for his job to become Advent’s new president — if for nothing more than to double down on their commitment to ensuring everyone was in the right seat.
“There are no free lunches,” Mike said with a laugh. “As it turned out, he had the interest and the skillset to excel.”
While it may sound cliche, the sky truly is the limit for Advent Air moving forward. And that’s impressive when you think about how far they’ve come — and the family that continues to lead the charge.
pictured above starting from the left is Jared and Mike Douglas
