Chamber Insider Blog

Thank you to Comfenergy for answering a few of our questions.
Congratulations on being named a finalist for Superior Service Business of the Year!
The 24th Annual Loudoun Small Business Awards will be on November 1, 2018 – Tickets/More Info Here

1. Tell us your story of how your company got to where it is today?

Comfenergy was formed in the fall of 2013 by Justin Dobson after leaving his family’s heating and air conditioning company.  The company was created because there was a need in the marketplace for a true home performance company that fixes uncomfortable homes. HVAC Companies service, repair, and replace heating and air conditioning equipment. Most don’t address the duct work that delivers the heated and cooled air to where it’s desired. None of them address the building envelope (what separates inside from outside the home) that keeps the heated and cooled air in the home.

The company has since grown to over 40 employees and will gross over $4 million this year. Comfenergy has become the “go to” company for homeowners, heating and air conditioning companies, flooring companies, roofers, carpet cleaning companies, and many others to refer on a daily basis to solve those comfort and energy issues in homes that “nobody else does”.

Comfenergy has outgrown their office and warehouse space twice in 5 years. Most recently in January of 2018 we moved to another flex space in Sterling, VA.  We are currently looking for an additional warehouse and storage facility to better house inventory, and have purchased 4 large work trucks this year alone and continue to grow. Comfenergy has adopted an “always hiring” culture to handle the demand for our services.

2. What would it mean to you and your company to win a Small Business Award?

It would make me incredibly proud to win the “superior service” award.  Comfenergy has been runner up in this category 3 times prior to this year.  I want our TEAM to win this award so they can share it and be proud of the work they perform.

3. If you weren’t running your own business/working at this business, what would you be doing?

If I weren’t running this business I’d be coaching baseball.  Baseball is life to me and I enjoy everything that the game has taught me, which have all become life lessons.  I would love to pass this knowledge and these life lessons on to the younger generation of athletes.

4. What book are you reading right now? / What is your favorite book?

I don’t read.  I can’t stand reading for some reason. I probably shouldn’t answer this question with this answer, but I’m just being honest. Any time I read I feel as if there is something else more productive I should be doing.

5. If you have 24-hours off, and your family was out of town, what would you do?

If I had 24 hours off and my family was out of town I’d go boating, play golf, and sleep!!

6. What is the smallest thing that has made the largest impact on your business?

 I’d say the smallest thing that has made the biggest impact in our business is hiring and focus.  We have been striving hard to hire the right people, give them specific tasks to perform and focus on those tasks to become perfect at them.  This has made our company more efficient and productive. This has also allowed me personally to concentrate ON the business and less IN the business.

7. What did you want to be when you grew up as a child? / What was a childhood dream that you had?

I always wanted to be a major league baseball player of course!!  I played a few years of minor league baseball so I came close…but no cigar!

 8. Who is the one person that has influenced you the most in your career?

I would say that my now business partner, John LeVan, has had the most influence on me.  I have learned more about running a business with him in the past 5 years than I have ever learned in college and in past businesses.

9. What is your favorite thing about running a business in Loudoun County?

My favorite thing about running a business in Loudoun County is employing people.  The people that we hire ARE our business!  I take great pride and joy seeing our employees achieve life milestones like buying their first car or home, or having their first child.

10. If you’re not in the office where can we find you?

 If you don’t find me in the office, you’ll find me at a networking meeting building relationship with other business owners throughout Loudoun County.

11. What is your favorite weekend activity in Loudoun County?

 My favorite weekend activity in Loudoun is going to a brewery or winery with friends and just hanging out talking and laughing.