Today we’d like to introduce you to Tom Marren.
Hi Tom, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name’s Tom Marren, and I have the privilege of leading First Mate Heating & Cooling, a company that’s been part of the Kansas City community since 1971. Many people still know us by our original name, Sharp-Long 72 Degrees, before we rebranded to First Mate — a name that better represents who we are today while honoring our long-standing commitment to the community.
I didn’t start my career in the HVAC industry, but I’ve always been drawn to businesses that make a real difference in people’s daily lives. Home comfort is one of those things you don’t think much about until it stops working — and that’s when a reliable, honest company truly matters. When the opportunity came to lead First Mate, I saw a chance to preserve a trusted local legacy and continue serving Kansas City homeowners the right way.
Since I became the owner in 2021, our focus has been on building a strong culture, developing great people, and improving how we serve our customers. We’re a small but mighty team based in Lee’s Summit, and we take pride in doing work that keeps our neighbors safe, comfortable, and cared for year-round.
What makes me most proud is the longevity — more than 50 years of service — and the relationships that have kept us going. We’ve had customers who’ve trusted this company across generations, and that kind of loyalty doesn’t happen by accident. It’s earned one home at a time.
Today, First Mate Heating & Cooling continues to grow with the same simple mission: to deliver quality, trustworthy service to Kansas City families while creating a great place for our team to build their careers.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Every small business faces challenges, and ours has been no different. For me, one of the biggest lessons has been learning how to grow while keeping the heart of the company intact.
When you lead a business that’s been around since 1971, you inherit decades of customer trust — but also the responsibility to modernize and move forward. Balancing those two things has been both the challenge and the reward.
In today’s world, homeowners expect speed, communication, and transparency at every step. The HVAC industry has changed a lot, and we’ve worked hard to improve our systems, our training, and our customer experience without ever losing that personal, local touch that built this company in the first place.
Another big lesson has been the importance of people. Our technicians and office team are the face of First Mate every single day. Finding, training, and keeping great people is one of the hardest parts of the business — but it’s also the most fulfilling. When you have a team that genuinely cares about doing right by the customer, everything else falls into place.
Looking back, every challenge has helped us build something stronger — a company that’s more organized, more accountable, and still rooted in the same simple values that got us here: honesty, craftsmanship, and service that we’d be proud to deliver in our own homes.
We’ve been impressed with First Mate Heating & Cooling, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
First Mate Heating & Cooling is a locally owned residential HVAC company based in Lee’s Summit. We’ve been serving Kansas City homeowners since 1971, keeping families comfortable through hot summers, cold winters, and everything in between.
We specialize in heating and cooling repair, maintenance, and replacement for residential homes. Our team also helps homeowners improve indoor air quality and energy efficiency, which have become especially important as homes get tighter and systems get more advanced.
What really sets us apart, though, isn’t just what we do; it’s how we do it. We’re not a franchise or a national chain. We’re a local team that takes pride in doing things the right way. We believe in showing up on time, treating people with respect, communicating clearly, and standing behind our work. Every customer deserves to understand what’s happening in their home and to feel confident in the solution we provide.
We’ve built a culture where integrity comes first, and that shows up in the little things: clean trucks, friendly technicians, honest pricing, and a genuine focus on long-term relationships instead of one-time transactions.
Brand-wise, I’m proud that First Mate represents more than just heating and cooling; it represents trust. The name “First Mate” came from the idea that we are the advisor to the Captain (homeowner). In our world, that means being your partner in home comfort, steady, dependable, and ready to help when you need us.
What I want people to know is that we’re not just in the business of HVAC. We’re in the business of helping families feel safe, cared for, and comfortable in their homes. That’s what we’ve been doing for five decades, and it’s what we’ll keep doing for the next fifty years. ⚓️
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The quality that’s been most important to our success is consistency. In this business, anyone can have a good week or a good month, but building trust with customers over decades requires showing up the same way every single time.
Whether it’s a simple maintenance call or a full system replacement, we want every homeowner to experience the same professionalism, honesty, and care from our team. That kind of consistency doesn’t happen by accident — it comes from setting clear expectations, training well, and making sure everyone understands that doing the right thing is non-negotiable.
I also think humility plays a big role. We’re always learning, improving, and trying to do better for our customers and our team. The HVAC industry changes fast, and the families we serve deserve a company that’s willing to adapt while staying true to its values.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://callfirstmate.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/callfirstmate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/callfirstmate
- Twitter: https://x.com/callfirstmate
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@callfirstmate
