Family Tradition: B & L Heating and Air Conditioning celebrates 50 years – Stillwater News Press

The pictures tell the story. B & L Heating and Air Conditioning president Kyle Kelty seems to have been destined to take over the family business.

One wall in the office holds a snapshot of Kyles father Dennis holding a 4-month-old Kyle outside the old shop.

Hes wearing a tiny cap and his baby romper is embroidered with a mini tool belt.

Kyle had a battery-powered pick-up truck and when he was just little, maybe 4 years old, he would drive it out to our scrap yard and load things in the bed then haul them back to the house to work on with his little tool set, Kyles mother and B & L owner Bonnie Kelty said. He always left screws in the carpet.

Now in his 30s, Kyle is a working president and the third generation of his family to operate the business his grandfather and father built after buying B & L tin shop from the original owners Bilyeu and LaFollette in 1967.

His grandfather Jack expanded the sheet metal business to include installing heating and air conditioning units and duct work.

Many homes had central heat, but air conditioning was just starting to be a standard feature in new construction when the Kelty family took over the business, Bonnie Kelty said.

Dennis joined the family business after being discharged from the U.S. Navy where he studied air conditioning and refrigeration.

Bonnie says the biggest change shes seen since she joined the business is the increased efficiency of the units. People have become accustomed to being cool and comfortable and thats what they expect.

There used to be people who no matter how hot it got, wouldnt turn their air conditioners on until after the Fourthof July, she said.

The company has expanded its scope into commercial work and added radiant flooring, geothermal systems and the increasingly popular ductless systems.

At one time Jack and Dennis did all the work with one helper and Bonnie ran the office.

The number of employees has grown to 28.

The company has six installation crews and five service crews. Five people work in the office, in addition to sales staff.

Bonnie says she wants to express the familys appreciation for their loyal customers.

There are some people weve done work for, for years, she said. Now we work for their kids and grandkids.

She isnt counting on it yet, but Bonnie hopes Kyles daughters might someday be interested in being the 4th generation to operate their family business.

I guess well see, she said. Theyre still pretty young.

Twitter: @mcharlesNP

More here:
Family Tradition: B & L Heating and Air Conditioning celebrates 50 years - Stillwater News Press