As Chuck Munson explained it, he started as a cabinet maker in the town he grew up in, Fort Lauderdale, But...

"I grew tired of eating sawdust," he said when explaining why he came to Eustis and embarked on a new career. After working on traffic lights for the county for 1 1/2 years, he changed direction again. "I thought air conditioning would be interesting, " he said.

He spent four years working for other people, learning the craft and eventually getting his state license. And, although he enjoys working, he does admin, "Nobody told me about the 140-degree attics I'd be working in or crawling under trailers." But it was the limitations in advancement afforded him that were most troublesome.

"All my life all I'd done was work, and people would say, 'Is this your business?' and I'd say, 'No, it's Larry's' or 'No, it's Al's'," he recalled. "Add they say, 'It should be yours the way your 're carrying on.'" The idea was born. In 1994, Munson started his own business, Independent Air, now on Laurel Oak Drive in Eustis. And it's still going well.

"It started with me and an S10 pick-up", he said. Now he has "four vans and my pick-up", employing two service technicians, two installation men, a maintenance man and, in the office, his wife and two others.

While many other businesses have slowed to the the struggling economy, Independent Air continues to do well. "It's affected me some, but not like other people", Munson said. "New construction has died, and other things have slowed a bit." But as Munson pointed out, his business keeps going. The reason, he said, is simple enough. "If I treat you fairly and honestly, you'll be back," he said, summarizing his philosophy. "We've been in business since 1994, and we give honest service. We treat everyone the same. "There's no shenanigans."

Not that he hasn't heard his share of the same. "I've heard so many stories, like your air conditioner could go any time or the parts you need are in short supply. "I don't know how they sleep at night." Munson is in the business to make a living, of course, and he'll do what you want if you insist - but not without a discussion. "if you want a new air conditioner, I'll sell you one, if that's what you want," he said. "But I won't if you don't need it. That honest approach is what makes his business successful. "There are not set prices in our business," he said. "We're not the most expensive and we're not the cheapest.

"The key is how we treat people. We're as honest as the day is long. We're not perfect - everybody make mistakes." But while his simple equation to success - honesty leads to trust, which means improved business - is not embraced by all enterprises, it's always worked for Munson.

WRONG IS ALWAYS WRONG
Wrong Is Wrong Even If You Don't Get Caught
Wrong Is Wrong Even If You Do It For A Good Cause
Wrong Is Wrong Even If Others Are Doing Worse
Wrong Is Wrong Even If It Doesn't Bother Your Conscience
Wrong Is Wrong Even If It Is Considered Acceptable
There Is Never A Right Way To Do Wrong

Independent Air
1 West Laurel Oak Drive, Eustis, FL 32726
(352) 357-9678 ~ Email

State Lic. # CAC056944