Behind the Business: After Nearly 50 Years, Bob’s AC & Roofing Is Still Building Its Name Close to H
Nearly five decades after Bob’s Air Conditioning began serving Central Florida, the company is trying to solve an unusual problem for a business with that much history: making sure local residents know just how much it has changed.
The company now known as Bob’s AC & Roofing has expanded beyond air conditioning to offer roofing, electrical work, gutters and generator services, giving homeowners one company to call for several of the major systems that keep a home comfortable, powered and protected.
At the same time, Bob’s is putting more emphasis on becoming a visible part of the Mount Dora business community.
“We didn’t have a strong community awareness in Mount Dora about Bob’s,” said Kristin Sullivan, marketing manager for Bob’s AC & Roofing. “We wanted to really engrain ourselves in the business community.”
That effort may sound surprising for a company that has already served the area for nearly 50 years.
“Mount Dora is our home,” Sullivan said. “We’ve serviced this area for 50 years.”
From Air Conditioning to Full-Service Home Care
Bob’s history in Central Florida dates back to 1977, when the company began as an air conditioning business. Over time, its service offering grew well beyond HVAC.
Today, the company handles air conditioning repair and installation, roofing, gutters, electrical work and generator services. That expansion reflects a broader shift toward becoming a full-service home contractor rather than a company known for only one trade.
Sullivan said Bob’s is also deliberate about the type of customer it wants to serve.
“We know we aren’t everyone’s contractor—and that’s okay,” she said.
Rather than competing primarily on price, Sullivan said the company focuses on workmanship, dependable service and long-term support.
“We aren’t a ‘Chuck in a Truck’ operation competing to be the cheapest,” she said. “We’re focused on providing the level of service, support and reliability that brings real value to our customers.”
Growing Without Losing the Small-Town Brand
That philosophy also influences how the company thinks about growth.
Bob’s is currently preparing to open a new location in The Villages, expanding its footprint while trying to maintain the smaller-community identity Sullivan said is central to the business.
“The success isn’t in the money,” she said, “but the brand that we develop to become a small-town brand people love and trust.”
For a company approaching its 50th year, that means balancing expansion with the reputation it has built across Central Florida.
Finding—and Keeping—the Right People
Finding the right employees has been one of the biggest challenges in reaching that goal.
Sullivan said Bob’s has focused on identifying strong talent and creating an environment where employees want to stay and contribute to the company’s growth.
Her advice to other local business owners is straightforward.
“Take care of your staff. Treat them well,” she said. “If they are passionate about the success, then your company will thrive.”
The company views its employees as an important part of the customer experience, particularly as Bob’s expands into more services and communities.
Becoming More Connected in Mount Dora
That emphasis on relationships extends outside the company as well.
Sullivan said Bob’s involvement with the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce has helped the company develop stronger connections with local businesses, support community events and create partnerships.
“Being part of the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce has helped Bob’s build genuine relationships with other local businesses and become more connected to the community we serve,” she said. “We want to be a neighbor and an active part of the Mount Dora community.”
For Bob’s, increasing its presence in Mount Dora is less about entering a new market than becoming more visible in a community it has already served for decades.
Giving Back Across Lake County
Community giving has become another part of that effort.
Bob’s regularly supports events and organizations connected to teachers, first responders and veterans. Sullivan said the company gave more than $25,000 to Lake County teachers in August.
The company also donates a roof each year to a Habitat for Humanity home build.
Those efforts are part of Bob’s broader push to be known for more than what happens when a homeowner needs a contractor.
From Bob to Billy
Despite the company name, there is one detail that may surprise some longtime customers.
The original Bob has retired.
“The original Bob retired and the new owner is Billy,” Sullivan said. “Bob to Billy.”
The name, however, has remained.
So has the company’s focus on Central Florida, even as its services and footprint continue to expand.
For Bob’s, the next chapter is less about reinventing the business than making sure the community understands what it has become: a nearly 50-year-old company offering a wider range of home services while continuing to build its reputation one customer, employee and community connection at a time.
Quick Insights
Why Mount Dora?
“Mount Dora is our home. We’ve serviced this area for 50 years.”
What does Bob’s do?
Air conditioning, roofing, gutters, electrical and generator services.
Biggest challenge:
Finding the right employees and creating a workplace where talented people want to stay.
Biggest lesson learned:
Bob’s does not need to be everyone’s contractor and does not try to compete solely on price.
Definition of success:
Building a small-town brand people know and trust.
Something people may not know:
The original Bob retired, and the company is now owned by Billy.
Advice for other business owners:
Take care of your staff and give them a reason to care about the success of the company.
What’s next?
A new Bob’s location in The Villages.
