SPOTLIGHT
PAST: GOLDEN ERA OF J&R HERRA
Isn’t it fun when you stumble upon a picture from the past? In an instant you are transported back in time and a forgotten memory is instantly reminisced. As we celebrate our 50th year of business, pictures like this one keep popping up in our nostalgic walk down memory lane. You can see our founder, Jack Herra, pulling home on this late, July evening. He sits behind the wheel in one of our very first fleet vehicles. Even back in the 1970s, emergency plumbing and HVAC service was the company priority. You can bet that Jack’s hand-lettered, red van was fully stocked with all the tools and parts required to repair each and every job he was called to attend. To this day, our J&R Herra fleet is no different. Each night, our plumbers and HVAC technicians drive their work vehicles home. That way prompt emergency service can be offered, at any hour and on any day. This old van is a simple reminder that our fleet size has changed over the years, but our testament to accommodating the needs of our customers has not. J&R Herra has always prided itself on being that trusted call for prompt, knowledgeable and reassuring repair work. We will continue to operate the way Jack and Rich taught us. Family and community drive what we do. Each day our team pulls in with the same work ethic and creative problem solving displayed in this photo. J&R Herra has grown to be “large enough to know how,” but we will ALWAYS be “small enough to know you.”
PRESENT: MEET JACOB G.
We are excited to introduce you to this month’s Staff Spotlight. Jacob is one of our very skilled, proficient, and highly-motivated plumbing apprentices. As J&R Herra has grown, so has our company infrastructure. Our graduated tiers of professional development allow for growth and movement as individuals gain more practice and exercise their specialized skillset. Jacob has proven, time and again, that he has what it takes to excel in this trade. He works and learns alongside our licensed plumbers, gaining confidence and proficiency along the way. But what makes Jacob so special is that he does it all with a smile. His pleasant, easy-going character makes him a sought-after member of our team. When he is not plugging away on a jobsite, Jacob can be found planning some kind of excursion. From camping to fishing, Jacob simply adores the outdoors. In fact, his favorite vacation was actually hiking the Appalachian Trail in Virgina. When Jacob is not outside, you will probably catch him having a BBQ (steak, burgers, or ribs…. yum!) with his girlfriend and family. We are overjoyed to have Jacob on our team and are beyond proud of his continued progress.
FUTURE: OVERTIME WITH OWEN
Work life is a lot like sports. I have made that comparison many times in my life. This quote is just another example of their similarities. Customers don’t always recognize a specific staff member, just like spectators don’t always recognize a specific player. The company or team gets the praise for the wins, accomplishments and achievements thanks to the collective hard work of the individuals. Being raised in the Herra family, I have had the opportunity to witness this truth more times than I can count. I have seen plumbers, technicians, managers, office and shop staff alike play hard for the customers in our community. I would like to stop and acknowledge their efforts. To me, they do not go unnoticed. After all, the J&R Herra company name is regularly remembered when customers who are looking for plumbing, HVAC, and remodeling work around their homes. This is all thanks to the work of our Herra team. I would like to give them all a shout out. Thank you for helping folks remember the Herra name. It is a great honor to be part of this team. You all have helped J&R Herra represent hard work, greatness, loyalty, trustworthiness, and dedication. We would not be the same company without each and every one of you.
GOOD TO KNOW
This hot and humid weather has many of us creating a backyard oasis with blowup pools, sprinklers and hours of hose play. Where that cool water may bring relief from the heat, it may also bring shocking utility bills and an alarming over usage of water on your property. If your community has not enforced a watering schedule, we strongly encourage homeowners to employ one on their own. These schedules maintain responsible water, irrigation, and hose usage on hot summer days. Not only does conserving water protect natural ecosystems, decrease drought risk, and reduce strain on local water supplies but an efficient watering schedule can significantly minimize water usage, leading to lower utility bills for households and businesses. In summer months, we recommend watering 3-4 times a week, in the early morning or late evening. In the case of a drought, water deeply but less frequently. Perhaps consider using drip irrigation or a soaker hose to minimize evaporation and to target the need for moisture. Lastly, when it comes to water recreation, set a timer for the play period. It also may suit you to plan playdates with your neighbors that welcome a rotation of shared water usage. Lastly, these may be the days to visit a community pool or splash pad instead of using your own water resources.
If you are looking for peace-of-mind and a simple solution to the detection of excessive water usage on your property, J&R Herra highly recommends Flo by Moen. This advanced technology detects leaks and potential overflow on a property before it becomes a serious water concern or an expensive problem. Flo allows for remote, automatic shut-off via app notifications on your smart phone. This is invaluable when you spring a leak while on a trip, forgot a hose was left running while at work, or have a vulnerable vacation home occasionally left unoccupied. This system has led to a 96% decrease in water claim events, a 71% decrease in the severity of the claims, insurance discounts, and immeasurable savings on utility bills. If you want to know how your home can specifically benefit from this state-of-the-art system, give the J&R Herra office a call. We’d love to answer your questions or give you a free estimate.
DIYlicious DESIGN
CUSTOMIZE. CREATE. INSPIRE.
Are you looking for an easy, inexpensive, and patriotic decoration for Independence Day? Try this red, white and blue bandana wreath by Seeing Dandy! This 4th of July décor element is fun, quick, and simple to make.
Materials:
- 12-inch wire wreath
- scissors
- 4 red bandanas
- 4 white bandanas
- 4 blue bandanas
- wood or foam stars (natural or painted white)
- hot glue/gun
- spray starch (optional)
Instructions:
- Cut each bandana into three, even long strips.
- Fold each strip in half. Lay the “loop” of the folded strip over the wire wreath.
- To knot each strip, tuck the tails of the folded strip up and under the wire wreath, pulling through the top loop. Pull tight to establish the knot.
- Push the knots together, tightly, to hide the wire wreath form.
- Alternate colors per your preference. Knot each strip around the wire wreath form.
- Hot glue the wood/foam stars onto the blue strips. Please note, foam is lighter weight on the fabric and could prevent the bandana ends from flopping over.
- Starch the wreath, upon completion, for extra fabric stiffness.
NOTE: If you use a larger wire wreath frame, you will need to increase the number of bandanas for the project.
RECIPE
In honor of Fourth of July, we are sharing one of the Herra family favorites: Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad! As far as we are concerned, a summer celebration is not complete without this side dish on the picnic spread. It is the perfect blend of salty and sweet. This dish is also simplistic to assemble with everyday basics you likely already have in your kitchen. Next to hot dogs and hamburgers, this “salad” is the taste of summer. Special shout out to Natasha’s Kitchen & Food Blog for the handy recipe.
TESTIMONIAL
Thank you, Scott for taking the time to leave this thoughtful review. Marcus and Vinnie take pride in the service they provide and they make us proud on a daily basis. We look forward to working with you for any of your future plumbing or HVAC needs.
“Our hot water heater was getting up there in age and I had to repair it myself 2-3 times in recent years. Last weekend we lost hot water, the gas valve had a blink code pointing to vapor sensor fault. I called J&R Herra on a Saturday and the answering service had a tech call me back. The tech was open and honest that they did not have the vapor sensor on hand so it wouldn’t be worth paying for him to come out to the house. He mentioned it is possible to jumper the vapor sensor to bypass it with a resistor. After getting off the phone I went through the box that had the old gas valve that I had replaced a year and a half prior. To my surprise I actually found the jumper. Plugged it in and the water started right up.
Knowing the jumper was not a long-term solution, I decided to have J&R Herra quote a replacement water heater the following Monday. Marcus came out to the house, provided quote and stated they could install same day. I told him I would like to get additional quotes just to get an idea that his price was in the ballpark. I was able to quickly get additional quotes and they were competitive to J&R Herra, but the lead times were 1-3 weeks. I decided to go with J&R Herra so I called back and gave them the go ahead. Later the same day, Marcus and Vincent came out to install the new water heater. The install looks very clean and professional and they even fixed a leaky valve that ran to the humidifier. I realize this is a long-winded review, but I am very happy with the services they provided. I usually do not write such lengthy reviews, but this experience was very positive and motivated me to share so they get the recognition they deserve for a job well done.”
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Philanthropy is a cornerstone of J&R Herra. We work tirelessly to support the community that supports us. In addition to the sponsorships and seasonal donations, 10% of all Herra Home Shield profits are donated back into our community. Thanks to you, this month we were able to be a “Glittering Gold” sponsor of the Elburn Lions Fireworks Show on July 6th.
