Dave Roberts has owned his own company since 1972.  

A hobby soon became Dave’s Refrigeration and then in 1980 became Dave’s Heating & Air.  Dave claims to have always been good at figuring things out when it came to appliances.  To neighbors and friends, he was the one they called when something stopped working and they’ve been calling him ever since.   That is, until this Halloween.  Dave’s Heating & Air is now owned by Thelen Mechanical.   

A Legacy to Continue

When a broker contacted him and explained that Robert’s was selling, Nick Thelen, owner and CEO of Thelen Mechanical, jumped at the opportunity.  As a Big Lake resident himself, Thelen was familiar with Roberts and his business.  

“He’s a legacy guy,” he said. “He’s been here the whole time.” 

Dave’s Heating & Air was around when Thelen Mechanical was founded in April 2019.  Thelen started his company with himself and two other employees, but it quickly began to grow.  

That growth was due to COVID.  As people began spending more time at home, many of them thought it was time to remodel their homes.  Because Thelen Mechanical offered heating, plumbing, and air conditioning, they were in demand.  The company grew to over 30 employees and now handles an area from Minneapolis and St. Paul to St. Cloud and everything in between.   

Much in Common

At first glance, it might seem as if Roberts and Thelen are two different people.  Roberts is older in age than Thelen, but as they say, age is only a number.  They both went to Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis.  Roberts graduated in 1974 and Thelen graduated in 2011.  They both have lived and worked in Big Lake for over a decade.  Dave’s Heating & Air relocated to Big Lake in 1999.  Thelen Mechanical is still located at 19950 177th St, Suite 650, the place they have been since their founding.  

The two business owners also share the same focus – quality service.  Roberts had multiple offers.  He chose Thelen because he believed that Thelen Mechanical would continue to provide the same quality of service and focus on the customer that he has had for the past 62 years.   

Community Minded

Roberts is a member of the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce and the American Legion.  He also volunteers at Riverside Church in Big Lake as a Sunday School teacher.  

Thelen Mechanical sponsors and supports the Big Lake football and wrestling teams, the Wave Youth Center, and the Ruff Start Rescue in Princeton.  Thelen also hires and employs Veterans.  They both believe in being a part of the Big Lake community and have both donated their time and resources to people in need. 

Roberts will continue to work as a PT employee at Thelen Mechanical because he still finds the work enjoyable.  Thelen plans on hiring more employees as his company continues to expand and grow.  No matter how big his company gets, Thelen plans on staying and growing in Big Lake, just as Roberts has done.