Leap Partners - Experts & Thought Leaders

Tim Ferguson Plumbing, Air and Electric, a full-service home service provider serving the Memphis and Jackson areas for over 24 years, has hired veteran industry and community pioneer - Nick Hayes as Vice President and General Manager. Hayes will oversee operations and help drive business growth at the company’s Memphis and Jackson branches. Next year marks a significant milestone for the company as it celebrates Tim Ferguson’s 25th anniversary in the industry - a testament to decades of excellence and leadership. This milestone also marks the beginning of a bright new chapter as Hayes steps into his role, succeeding Tim Ferguson, who is retiring after years of dedicated service to the company and the community.  Successful growth strategies Hayes brings nearly two decades of experience in residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services Hayes brings nearly two decades of experience in residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services. Before joining Tim Ferguson, he served as General Manager at Hiller, where he led multimillion-dollar operations across departments, overseeing large teams and implementing successful growth strategies that earned multiple Branch of the Year awards. Hayes will be instrumental in guiding the company into its next phase of growth and innovation.  “Nick has proven leadership and exceptional business development skills that set him apart,” said former Owner, Tim Ferguson. Further strengthening to Tim Ferguson Tim Ferguson added: “His deep connections in Memphis and Jackson will be invaluable as we continue to grow our presence and provide exceptional service across West Tennessee.” Tim Ferguson Plumbing, Air and Electric joined Leap Partners in late 2023. The partnership continues to bring additional resources, technology and expertise to the quickly growing Tim Ferguson team, further strengthening their residential and commercial services. Prior roles of Hayes  “I am honored to join the Tim Ferguson team to continue providing top-tier services to the Memphis and Jackson communities,” said Nick Hayes, adding “With the support of Leap Partners, we’re well positioned to take the company to new heights, while staying committed to delivering best-in-class service to our customers.” Hayes is actively involved in the Jackson community. He served as the vice chair for the 2020 Leadership Jackson Class, is a proud member of the Jackson-Old Hickory Rotary Club, and has been involved in the Heart & Sole Project, which benefits children of the Jackson-Madison County School System.

Leap Partners, one of the fastest-growing home service companies with HVAC, plumbing, and electrical businesses across the Southeast, has proudly announced its latest acquisition, of Appalachian Heating, a trusted third-generation business serving West Virginia since 1948. This partnership marks Leap Partners’ entrance into West Virginia, further extending its regional presence. Appalachian Heating brand Appalachian Heating, led by father-and-son duo Dan and Daniel Akers, has built a legacy of reliable service across West Virginia and Virginia. Both Dan and Daniel will continue to lead their teams under the Appalachian Heating brand as they continue their journey with Leap Partners.   “We are excited to expand into West Virginia with Appalachian Heating,” said John Cerasuolo, Leap Partners chief executive officer. “Dan, Daniel and the Appalachian Heating team have built an incredible business in the community over the past 75 years. We are excited to work together to continue their growth.”  Leap Partners’ resources The alliance with Leap Partners brings more help, technology and expertise to Appalachian Heating The partnership with Leap Partners will bring additional resources, technology and expertise to Appalachian Heating, further strengthening its service offerings.  “Joining Leap Partners is a natural evolution for our company,” Daniel Akers said. “Their support will help us continue to grow and honor the family legacy we’ve built. With Leap Partners’ resources and expertise, we’re confident that Appalachian Heating will reach new heights, while keeping the same commitment to our customers and community.” Leap Partners’ portfolio Over the last two years, Leap Partners’ portfolio has grown to include 18 HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The portfolio includes companies of all sizes, and Leap Partners provides support and investment for these businesses to grow and expand while empowering the local leaders to manage with autonomy.   Owners of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies interested in selling and either staying with their companies or planning their exit strategy can visit the website to learn more or speak with other owners about their selling experience.

Leap Partners, one of the fastest-growing home service companies with HVAC, plumbing and electrical businesses across the Southeast, has proudly announced its latest expansion in Kentucky, with the acquisition of Air Care Heating and Cooling in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA. In 2022, Leap Partners also acquired Hornback Plumbing, a plumbing company in the area. The two companies will now partner to provide HVAC and plumbing services to the Elizabethtown community. Affordable HVAC comfort solutions "We are thrilled to continue our growth in Kentucky," said John Cerasuolo, Leap Partners' Chief Executive Officer (CEO), adding "Air Care has established itself as a premier heating and cooling provider for residents of Elizabethtown, and its values perfectly align with Leap’s. The Air Care and Hornback Plumbing teams working alongside each other are a perfect match to provide more top-tier services to our customers." Air Care specializes in providing affordable HVAC comfort solutions for residential clients  Serving Elizabethtown for more than 10 years, Air Care specializes in providing affordable HVAC comfort solutions for residential and commercial clients. The company will continue to be led by former Owner - Chet Lovall and will still operate under the Air Care brand.  "We are excited to have Leap Partners’ support and industry knowledge so we can continue our growth," said Chet Lovall, adding "I am excited for the additional career opportunities this will offer my team." Leap Partners’ portfolio Over the last two years, Leap Partners’ portfolio has grown to include 17 HVAC, plumbing and electrical companies across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The portfolio includes companies of all sizes, and Leap Partners provides support and investment for these businesses to grow and expand, while empowering the local pioneers to manage with autonomy.   Owners of HVAC, plumbing and electrical companies interested in selling and either staying with their companies or planning their exit strategy can visit theleappartners.com to learn more or speak with other owners about their selling experience.

College was never the only path to success. There are many other nontraditional avenues to success, and I had the privilege of blindly venturing down one myself. My path included a short stint in college, then trade school, an apprenticeship, a role building a training program, a managerial role running a branch, and ultimately a leadership role running a large region of companies. I started my career as a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technician, and I didn’t think I’d ever be able to lead a group of amazing companies covering five states.   13 years of HVAC experience I have been in the HVAC industry for 13 years, currently serving as the vice president of the Northern Region at Leap Partners. My journey has been a long one, requiring perseverance, hard work, and a willingness to take whatever opportunities were thrown at me. I would be lying if I said it was easy, but it sure has been worth it. Although it has been rewarding, I did feel as though I was blindly finding my way. Early on, I didn’t know what my career options were.  training programs and courses While this may demand several years of dedication, the ultimate rewards make it worthwhile There were so many assumptions I had that were ultimately wrong. A college degree is not mandatory for entering the HVAC field, but it does necessitate a commitment to various training programs and courses. While this may demand several years of dedication, the ultimate rewards make it worthwhile. I firmly believe that the technician’s role comes with numerous personal and financial advantages that the public may not be aware of:  1. Financial Benefits  Who is interested in saving tens of thousands of dollars? Attending a trade school or becoming an apprentice is an option that is only a fraction of the cost of attending a traditional university. I was able to avoid a huge financial burden and start my career debt-free. In my opinion, going to a traditional college can cause some young people to rack up debt and find themselves trying to climb out of an unnecessary hole when starting. This makes it so people are just focused on the daily grind of trying to pay bills and miss awesome career opportunities.   Driven, reliable, and enthusiastic tradesperson Additionally, because these roles are in high demand, they pay much more than most other jobs Additionally, HVAC careers and other careers in the trades are very lucrative because they are in high demand. You can throw a rock and hit dozens of companies that will bend backward to hire a driven, reliable, and enthusiastic tradesperson, even if you have no experience. Additionally, because these roles are in high demand, they pay much more than most other jobs that don’t require a college degree and more than some jobs that do require a college degree.  2. Career Flexibility   I can assure you that jobs in the trades can be highly flexible compared to other traditional 9-5 jobs in an office. The off-seasons that come with the HVAC industry allow my colleagues and me to work hard during the peak season and then take extended breaks and develop a healthy work-life balance if we want. Or, you can keep your nose to the grindstone the whole year, whatever works for you and your family. Develop specialization Something else that attracted me to this career was the flexibility to do something different every day Something else that attracted me to this career was the flexibility to do something different every day. Or if you like mastering a skill, you can develop deep specialization in certain areas. This flexibility doesn’t exist in all careers, and most don’t think of it when they think of the trades.  3. Growth Opportunities   It might not seem obvious, but there are a lot of growth opportunities in the trades. Most people think only of the traditional, linear career paths of apprentice, tradesperson then master tradesperson. This is a great path, but I want people to know that there are many more options to try a lot of different jobs than it may seem.  Experience and exposure You can work in different business units from customer maintenance to service to installation I have worked in my current job at Leap Partners to help build a flexible career path so a technician can get experience and exposure to all aspects of the business. You can work in different business units from customer maintenance to service to installation. There are rewarding managerial roles running departments, sales roles, leadership roles running branches or regions, and entrepreneurial opportunities to own businesses.​ Equipment, technology, and techniques Also, even if you have the same job, things are always changing. Equipment, technology, and techniques are constantly evolving, so there is always a need to improve your skills and learn new things. I love this aspect of the job, and it has kept me on my toes. I always recommend participating in new training programs and working to get new certifications. I am a firm believer that, if you work hard, opportunities will come your way. However, to grow you have to be open-minded and prepared to tackle opportunities when they show up.  An excellent choice Overall, a career in HVAC or any of the other trades is an excellent choice if you are looking for a flexible path to success in an ever-growing industry. I am grateful that Leap Partners makes an effort to be one of the top places to work for tradespeople while also building out a robust, flexible career path. This allows me to continue to gain personal and professional skills as I enter new chapters of my career. I would encourage anyone interested in a profession in HVAC, plumbing, or electrical to give it a try. You may surprise yourself and find a passion you didn’t know existed. I did!