Tanner and Desiree Lindstrom are the dynamic duo at the helm of Kennewick-based Columbia River Plumbing. Together, they bring a perfect blend of diverse and complementary skills to their business: Tanner is a seasoned plumber with over 29 years of experience and Desiree has a background in banking and mortgages.

Forging a Path
In 2009, already well into his plumbing career, Tanner made the decision to strike out on his own. He figured his hands-on, customer-focused approach had given him plenty of insights that would help him build a successful business. And with Desiree’s solid understanding of business and finance, the two were set to begin their new adventure.

The Sweet Spot
With newfound success and a growing business through referrals, Tanner and Desiree were able to expand their team to 18 employees. They focused on balance: growing the business organically while maintaining the small business mindset and dedication to customer service. In the process, they discovered that hiring the right people made it easier to keep their teams happy and enthusiastic.

Profitability with Purpose
By keeping their business at a manageable size, Tanner and Desiree are able to stay responsive to customers’ needs and ensure they’re supporting their team’s goals along the way. This has led Columbia River Plumbing to work with programs like Comfort Ready Home to make energy-efficient upgrades and utility rebates more accessible for their customers. For the Lindstroms, it’s about building a business that serves the community and values the people who make that service possible.

With more Northwest utilities and contractors prioritizing home energy efficiency and weatherization, the Comfort Ready Home field team has made adjustments to bolster support throughout the region. Three Field Specialists, Aaron Lazelle, Colton Taxdahl, and Miesha Yagle, have joined the team this year and changes have been made to territory boundaries.

Adding Aaron, Colton and Miesha helps us be responsive as we aim to provide balanced support throughout the Northwest for utilities, contractors and residents alike. These three bring experience and passion to their roles, and their unique perspectives complement the work of their colleagues to further elevate BPA’s Comfort Ready Home program.

Aaron Lazelle

Field Specialist, NE Washington and Northern Idaho

Aaron steps into the role with a rich background that spans over two decades in construction and energy efficiency. His diverse experience includes program design, small business outreach, and work with rural communities and community-based organizations. He has also been a home performance contractor, working on projects ranging from HVAC retrofits and energy efficiency remodels to environmental site assessments.

Notably, Aaron has also worked on a variety of federal and regional energy projects and programs, including contributions to the design of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)-funded community block grant programs through the Department of Energy. This multifaceted experience makes him well positioned to support the utilities and contractors in his region.

Colton Taxdahl

Field Specialist, Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon

Colton’s understanding of the HVAC industry is deep rooted. Growing up, his father owned and operated an HVAC company; prior to joining Comfort Ready Home, Colton worked as an energy specialist focused on enhancing the efficiency of school district fleets. He brings his passion for helping people and his understanding of energy efficiency, backed by his years of experience.

As a Field Specialist, Colton supports, trains, and assists HVAC contractors and utility companies around Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon. His goals include maintaining relationships with trade allies and doing his part to ensure that homeowners in his region have the information, connections, and confidence they need to make energy-efficiency upgrades.

Miesha Yagle

Field Specialist, Northwest Washington and Olympic Peninsula

Miesha brings a wealth of experience in commercial HVAC to her new role. She built her career as a service technician and project manager, earning certification as an HVAC&R professional and a Building Trades Journeyman.

Her hands-on knowledge, technical proficiency and creative approach to problem solving have proven invaluable in her transition to the residential sector. Her creativity has helped build excitement for energy efficiency in her region, and she looks forward to nurturing continued growth.

Who They Are
Peak Heat Pumps & Electric is a woman-owned and family-operated team serving Corvallis, OR, and the surrounding Mid-Willamette Valley. At the helm are Gretchen and Brian, a husband-and-wife duo who bring years of expertise and a dedication to comfort and safety to every home they work on. For the Peak team, business as usual means an abiding respect for the people and homes at the heart of their community.

Making the Connection
Brian and Gretchen’s service mindset goes beyond their business as Peak Heat Pumps & Electric. Their passion extends to nurturing connections between community based organizations like Verde Builds, Seeds for the Sol and local utility rebate programs. They have seen firsthand how combined efforts make larger impacts and reach more people.

From Plan to Project
A sample of their work in the last year included converting an eight-unit apartment from electric resistance heaters to the efficient ductless heat pumps. The switch came at a fraction of market cost because they utilized rebates and incentives on the initial investment. The project will save tenants more than 43,000 kWh annually.

Peak Insight
The Peak Heat Pumps & Electric team stays ahead of the market by continually learning and adapting. By utilizing program resources like Comfort Ready Home’s Learning Center and email newsletters, they stay in the loop on qualifying products, available continuing education units and installation specifications. This dedication to excellence on and off the jobsite keeps their customers happy and strengthens their community.

We are proud to support and recognize the women-owned businesses participating in the Comfort Ready Home Contractor Network.

Comfort Ready Home’s Field Team Manager, Mike Hughes, grew up learning about energy. With his father working as an energy educator for Eugene Water & Electric Board in Oregon, Mike’s path was paved with lessons in conservation and innovation. Soon, he found himself teaching his own classes on storm window construction at the local high school.

Later, Mike began working for Eugene Water & Electric Board. He focused on the practicalities of energy conservation as he insulated electric resistance water heaters and canvassed neighborhoods promoting efficiency measures through local programs. These experiences, along with his father’s influence, fueled Mike’s passion for the field and his work in energy management. He spent a decade working for the utility followed by several years with an electrical contractor.

Aside from his professional life, Mike finds comfort in simplicity. Some of the projects he enjoys include refurbishing his greenhouse, remodeling his home, and taking weekend trips in his trailer.

To get in touch with Mike and learn more about how Comfort Ready Home works with distributors and contractors, send us a message.

A Business Built on Trust

Erin Ennis’s journey into owning her own business was serendipitous. She stumbled into the construction industry while seeking opportunities to enhance her own home; with her background in sales and entrepreneurship, she was able to turn her newfound fascination into an occupation. Her motivation? The opportunity to add value in homeowners’ lives through comfort and savings.

Erin became the owner of Energy Exteriors NW, a home exterior remodeling contractor in Bothell, WA, in 2014. For more than 10 years, she and her team have been building rapport with customers through empathy and unparalleled service and craft. Erin says, “Every time we are working with a customer we are building a portfolio of trust. When we receive 5 stars and a happy client, we know we added to our portfolio.”

Making the difference

As a woman in the trades, Erin leverages her unique perspective to connect emotionally with homeowners. She emphasizes integrity and reliability in her work, and her experienced team shares her values, ensuring every project is a perfect balance of heart and science.

Community Connections

When Erin isn’t building her own team of female leaders, she is strengthening the woman-led workforce through organizations that share her passion. In 2024, Energy Exteriors NW is sponsoring Women Build, a Habitat Humanity initiative in which teams of women volunteer to learn skills while directly creating affordable housing. Erin also holds a Golden Elite Membership with the Business Ladies of Society and continues her lifelong membership with Camp Fire Snohomish County.

As her journey continues, Erin continues to be a catalyst for those getting started in the industry and looks to provide ongoing support as they grow.

We are proud to support and recognize the women-owned businesses participating in the Comfort Ready Home Contractor Network.

For over 13 years, Sarah Moscatello has owned and operated The Heat Pump Store, one of the premier HVAC companies in the Pacific Northwest. Headquartered in Northeast Portland, and with locations up and down the Willamette Valley, her business has long specialized in designing and installing ductless heat pump systems.

Starting in 2011 with five employees, The Heat Pump Store’s approach focused exclusively on ductless heat pump technology. This set their business model apart from virtually all the other HVAC contractors in the region and allowed them to scale their business dramatically. Today, the company offers both ductless and ducted HVAC systems from multiple brands and the team numbers more than thirty employees.

Sarah got her start in the industry by working for a utility program implementation company, where she marketed ENERGY STAR® certified HVAC technologies. She was drawn to showcasing a more energy-efficient approach to heating and cooling for homeowners. “Incentives are a big part of our business,” Sarah says when asked about how utility programs like Comfort Ready Home support her efforts. “Everyone wants to save money when making a large purchase like this!” Calling on Comfort Ready Home Field Specialist Nick Phillips allows her sales team to stay informed about the latest utility offerings and ways to take advantage of utility programs.

And even though The Heat Pump Store doesn’t offer weatherization services directly, Sarah says it’s a topic that is almost always discussed during the sales process. “Weatherization can have a dramatic effect on HVAC equipment selection, system sizing, comfort and operating costs,” she says. This adds an extra level of care and personalization to consultations, a clear demonstration of the business’ customer-first approach.

Although women-owned HVAC businesses are relatively rare, Sarah sees a benefit to running her own company. “I think it actually works to our advantage, as we often find that women are making the purchasing decisions in their home. Taking care of our customers is really important to us and trust is a big part of that.” Given The Heat Pump Store’s growth and glowing reviews, Sarah’s approach is spot-on.

We are proud to support and recognize the women-owned businesses participating in the Comfort Ready Home Contractor Network.

Since the 1990s, Mike Stothers has been interested in the intersection of energy efficiency and architecture. In his years working as a carpenter, he developed an eye for detail and an appreciation for the craftmanship of a beautiful house. He also understood that good construction was only part of what made a home truly livable; it also had to be energy efficient for optimal comfort and savings.

After 20 years working construction, Mike transitioned to the solar industry, merging his background as a builder with the emergence of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Eventually, he started his own construction company and learned the ins and outs of running a business.

Years later, when the greenery of the Northwest called, Mike joined Comfort Ready Home as a Field Specialist in 2021. Here, his combination of skills foster growth for contractors while helping them understand how integrating energy efficiency and incentives can strengthen their business. His mix of experience, skills and passion allow him to guide contractors toward sustainable profitability which in turn supports healthier communities.

In his free time, Mike melds his passions for science, art and activity. He can be found building his own backyard skate ramps, spreading watercolor across canvas and making upgrades to his home in Eugene, Oregon.

To get in touch with Mike and learn more about how Comfort Ready Home works for utilities and contractors, send us a message.

Changing with the Industry

Throughout the years, family-owned Marshall’s Inc. has stayed relevant by focusing on hiring the right people, maintaining expertise in developing technologies and solution-based customer service. Lisa Bruckner, Chief Operating Officer at Marshall’s, says, “The industry has changed over the years, but the core of what makes Marshall’s special hasn’t changed. Experience has shown we need to change what we install to meet the needs of the community, but how we do it remains genuine.”

Prioritizing the Customer

The company, which started by delivering oil in 1948 and then installing oil furnaces to meet customer needs, has followed the evolution toward more energy efficient and sustainable options. Marshall’s Inc. became one of the first contractors in the local area to embrace technologies like heat pumps, insulation for energy conservation and all things comfort. To provide their customers with even more value, Marshall’s partners with their local utilities, Eugene Water & Electric Board, Springfield Utility Board, Emerald People’s Utility District, Energy Trust of Oregon, Lane Electric Co-op, local gas utilities and product manufacturers for easy access to available rebates. By offering incentives on their proposals at the point-of-sale, Marshall’s offers transparency that helps build trust with their customers. “We put the onus on ourselves to bring the rebate to the client. As the professionals in the field, we feel it’s on us to put it all together for them,” says Bruckner.

Collaborating to Improve

Through relationships with other organizations and partnerships with utilities, Marshall’s strives to offer continuous education opportunities for its employees. They are currently working with Comfort Ready Home to assemble a local heat pump water heater training for their team.

Interested in scheduling a free training? Contact your local Field Specialist

A Balanced Partnership

Marshall’s Inc shows that providing excellent service comes from staying true to your roots while embracing the changes that benefit your customers and being open to collaboration. Striking this balance between innovation and customer care has helped the company set an admirable standard and will continue to serve them well into the future.

Winter can be a challenging time for many families, especially when it comes to keeping their homes warm and cozy. This was the case for one family who called ThermAll Heating, Cooling & Electric in the middle of winter to repair their non-working heating system.

Upon arrival, the salesperson discovered a flame rollout issue, where combustion happens outside the designated area. If left unresolved, the situation poses a serious fire and safety hazard. The family had no other heating source and was not financially able to repair the current system, leaving them without heat at a dire time.

Thankfully, the team at ThermAll was not content to simply walk away. They reached out to local organizations and the local gas utility company to seek support to provide the family with a solution. After tapping into their connections, they were able to secure funding for a brand-new system. But they didn’t stop there. ThermAll reached out to their local Comfort Ready Home Field Specialist, David Olivas, to see if there were any other resources available for the family. Through this connection, David put on his other hat as community advocate and helped ThermAll find supporters to raise extra funds to ensure the family was able to have a family holiday celebration.

This heart (and house) warming story is just one example of how ThermAll has been standing behind their name since 1988. Founded as a force for good in the mission to bring affordable heating and cooling solutions to their community, ThermAll has remained committed to this goal despite the challenges that come with being a family-owned business in an increasingly competitive market.

They continue to grow adding great people to the team, including recently adding a whole electric division. The ThermAll team continues to work with Comfort Ready Home to stay at the top of their game by accessing free Comfort Ready Home trainings and their on-call field specialist, David Olivas.