Kobella's Community Outreach Program
As a society, we owe a great debt of gratitude to our military veterans who served our country with honor and courage. These brave people have sacrificed so much to defend our freedoms, and it’s our responsibility to give back to them whenever we can. Kobella Plumbing Heating and Cooling is thankful for the opportunity to partner with Trane in assisting our veterans. Annually through this partnership, Kobella can identify five deserving people to receive equipment provided by Trane. We also install the equipment by absorbing most of the labor cost that would ordinarily be associated with an HVAC installation. The efforts by both companies are a way to honor and respect those who have served our country with honor and dignity. Kobella’s relationship with veterans defines the heart and soul of the company! Michael Kobella, who founded the company, is a Marine Corps veterans with over 18 years’ experience in the plumbing and HVAC business, “On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veterans behind. Kobella Plumbing Heating and Cooling is also a proud employer of a number of veterans who are all in different positions within the company.
On February 18, 2023, as fate would have it, George Diedrich was standing in his kitchen when he looked out the window and saw a Kobella truck drive by. He had just come upstairs from his basement, where he was looking at his furnace that turned off again. He knew that had to be a sign, so he gave Kobella a call.
Having served his country for many years, this Chardon resident was no stranger to tough situations. His older furnace was starting to give him trouble; the pilot light kept going on and off. George’s brother built his furnace many years ago. Both gentlemen could do repairs and fixes on their own. But as they aged, the furnace started to become more of a hassle. As a veterans, George had always prided himself on his self-sufficiency. However, as the furnace began to continuously malfunction, he knew he needed help.
Alyssa Heffron, a Kobella customer service representative, picked up the phone the day George called. He began to explain to Alyssa that he hads been having trouble with his old furnace lately. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of vulnerability. He explained to her that since he’s on a fixed income as a Cold War military veterans, he was concerned about needing a new furnace and wasn’t sure he could afford it. To his surprise, Alyssa responded to all of George’s questions with empathy and understanding and assured him that they would send someone to help as soon as possible. George stated that his first interaction with Alyssa was extremely pleasant. After a warm conversation that lasted almost 30 minutes, and with Alyssa’s help, George was able to schedule an appointment with a technician.
The next day, Kobella visited George, and the HVAC technician, Jeremy Farrell, began the routine safety check. Here is where Jeremy saw multiple issues with George’s old furnace. It was evident that it needed to be replaced right away. The rust alone was a major concern and would lead to serious problems. George agreed and knew it was time to receive a quote for replacement. Jeremy placed a call back to the office, where Alyssa was able to assist them and schedule a Comfort Advisor for George’s home.
A few days after Jeremy visited, Jon showed up to meet George and discuss his options for a furnace replacement. After we spoke about those options, I sat down with George and wanted to know more about his life and his story as a veterans,” Jon said.
George is a Cold War veterans, not a combat veterans, and was stationed at Sadoshima Island off the north coast of Japan. He was in the 621st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron – 41st in 5th Air Force. He ended up as a sergeant. He recently lost his wife Judy in 2019 and claims he was lucky to have 61 years of bliss and good memories with her.
George graduated high school, and soon after, he was notified and called in for the draft. “I joined the Air Force for four years active and four inactive as a reserve and was honorably discharged. I was stationed at Osan Air Base in Korea, then was moved to Japan. The Cold War with Russia was going on,” explained George. “The military wanted my expertise in Japan because of my skills with radar maintaining and repairing heavy radar domes. Sadoshima Island had a huge radar dome on top of a mountain that controlled a lot of military communications overseas.”
When asked about his military experience, George was more than happy to tell his stories and particularly his most memorable moments. “One memory I will never forget was, while I was in Japan on a mountain there was a lot of snow. While I was working, I happened to see something covered in snow that I didn’t remember being there before. My job at this time was to go up and down the mountain and clear paths in the snow. We needed access to the top of the mountain for the radar domes I maintained while I was at Sadoshima Island in Japan. On my way back down the mountain one day, I saw a man who passed out. He actually had a severe heart attack. I immediately picked him up and rushed him over to our base. He was able to then get air lifted and survive. He ended up being a cook and that extremely helped me out! After I saved his life and he recovered, he got back to cooking at our chow house and fed me well. We remained friends after that.”
“George’s story really touched us, and we knew we wanted to assist him. We decided to make George a part of our outreach program due to first and foremost his service to our country, and second, you do not meet many veterans from his era these days. His history and his survival stories are what captured us here at Kobella. We all thought he would be a perfect candidate for our outreach program. It means the world to us to have the opportunity to be able to provide comfort and have such a rewarding program for veterans who are deserving. It’s most meaningful to us to be able to pay it forward,” stated, Mike Kobella.
When George was informed that he would be receiving his new Trane furnace on behalf of the Kobella Outreach Program, he was beyond grateful. He said, “You know what? I am a survivor. A true survivor. Not only did I serve my country, but I lost my beloved wife, my partner, and my life for 61 years. I also survived three rounds of cancer. I went through 42 treatments of radiation. I am emotional because I’m so thankful. It feels great to know a company cares so much about me. With inflation and cost of things these days, it means a lot to receive this furnace. I didn’t think I was eligible when they told me about their veterans outreach program, as there are so many veterans out there that are also deserving. I feel like I’m being recognized for being a survivor, and words can’t express the extent of my gratitude!”
We asked what he thought about his new furnace and experience with Kobella a few days after it was installed, he was pleased to give Kobella his feedback. George said, “As a new customer, there are certain experiences that stand out as exceptional and leave a lasting impression. That was certainly the case for me when I recently had the pleasure of doing business with Kobella, they went above and beyond in every aspect of their service. From the moment I first contacted them, I was met with professionalism, attentiveness, and a genuine commitment to meeting my needs. They listened carefully to my concerns, offered helpful advice and guidance, and worked tirelessly to ensure that I was completely satisfied with the final result. But what truly stood out to me was the level of care and attention to detail that they put into every aspect of their service. From the way that they communicated with me throughout the process to the quality of the work that they performed, everything was done with a sense of pride and dedication that is all too rare in today’s business world. As a result of this outstanding experience, I can say with certainty that I will be a customer for life. In fact, I have one of their plumbers who happens to be a veterans, coming to my home soon to help me out with some issues.”
Supporting our veterans is not just a responsibility, it’s an honor. It’s our duty as a society to support our veterans and ensure that they receive the care and respect they deserve. These brave men and women have made incredible sacrifices to protect our freedom and way of life, and we owe it to them to honor their service and provide them with the resources they need to thrive.
Whether it’s through volunteering your time and resources, donating, thanking a veterans for their service, there are many ways that we can make a difference in the lives of our veterans. Every effort counts! By working together, we can ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten. Let us all continue to advocate for the well-being of our veterans and show them the appreciation and support they deserve. At the heart of it all, supporting our veterans is about coming together as a community and showing our appreciation for those who served.
