M.C. Wheeler & Sons named Chamber's Business of the Month for January
(Talk of the Town photo by Michelle Culbertson) Present for the business of the month award ceremony were, from left in front, Trudy Miller-Longhenry of Simonson Estates, Angie Simcoe and Crystal Wheeler Leighty of M.C. Wheeler & Sons, Pat Hatcher of the Columbia City Chamber of Commerce, Kim Wheeler, owner of M.C. Wheeler & Sons. Row two from left is Kent Rethlake, Dan Richey, Chad Leighty, Randy Judd, Joe Taylor, and Nathan Wheeler, all employees of M.C. Wheeler & Sons.
By Michelle Culbertson
The weather was not very cooperative, but we were determined to honor our Business of the Month for January, M.C. Wheeler & Sons.
This long-standing plumbing, heating & air-conditioning, and well-drilling business began in 1884 (that’s 105 yrs!) and has been handed down from generation to generation in the Wheeler family. Current owner and manager Kim Wheeler plans to keep the tradition alive into the 5th generation as his son, Nathan Wheeler, and daughter, Crystal Wheeler Leighty, as well as his son-in-law Chad Leighty all work for the company.
Though times have been tough recently, the business has expanded in the last 15 years and is gearing up for bigger projects such as 12” wells like the one they placed for the city of Garrett.
Through the years, they have tried to be supportive of the Columbia City and Whitley County area by contributing to numerous high school sports & 4-H projects as well as being a long-standing members of the Columbia City Chamber of Commerce.
Kim Wheeler has also served on the county council and says that he wouldn’t have been able to keep the business going and serve in that way without having strong, long-term employees such as Kent Rethlake, Randy Judd and Dan Richey. And with tough economic times, they will be fighting hard to stay here and be competitive for the 100’s of people that they serve who count on them to be here!
As part of their January Business of the Month award, DQ Grill & Chill will be presenting the business with an ice cream cake in honor of their award.