Pictured are Drew McCurry, director of retrofit projects; from left, Chris Besancon, director of field operations; Mark McCaslin, senior vice president; Eric Hook, director of business development; and Blake Middleton, the third generation of the Middleton family to lead the company. (Photo by Jamie Lee)
Becoming the best does not happen overnight, and staying the best is no easy feat. Yet Middleton Heat & Air has taken on that challenge, and it has paid off in many ways, including inclusion in Arkansas Money & Politics’ “Best of 2025.”
What started as a small family business run out of a garage in Bryant has now turned into a powerhouse in the heat and air service market both for residential and commercial jobs. The company is headquartered on a large facility in Bryant right off Interstate 30. The company also has offices in northwest Arkansas, Little Rock, Hot Springs and Conway.
“People will pay for bottled water because they think it is healthier, but they don’t put the same consideration into the air they are breathing in their homes or offices,” said senior vice president Mark McCaslin. “The air you breathe is as or more important, and there are many ways we can improve the air quality for a healthier, safer environment for your family or team members.”
For that reason, he added, people should only trust their heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems to the best, who are on the cutting edge of technology and care about the service they give.
“For us, everything comes down to people, quality, trust and education,” said Blake Middleton, the third generation of Middleton family leaders at the company.
The team sees what they do as not just a job but a responsibility to keep customers comfortable and safe in their homes by properly installing and maintaining heating and air systems. That is what staff consider “the Middleton Way.”
“It’s how the business operates day in and day out,” Middleton said.
At Middleton, employees and customers alike are treated like family because the firm is a family company through and through.
“Middleton is near and dear to our hearts,” Middleton said. “We take pride in taking care of our customers, our employees and the company we continue to build together.”
While Middleton is ushering in the future of HVAC systems and accessories, the company continues to stay grounded in the values that build its foundation.
Chuck Middleton, co-founder and Blake’s grandfather, was known for saying, “I’ll take care of that,” the longtime slogan of the company.
“We live and breathe that promise every day. We’ll take care of that,” Blake said.
Middleton Heat & Air also takes trust very seriously, requiring every employee to pass a background check. Also, when technicians come into a home, they wear coverings on their shoes to avoid tracking anything in.
“It’s a people business,” McCaslin said. “Great systems and equipment matter, but it’s people who make the difference.”
With trust also comes availability during emergencies. That is why Middleton offers 24/7 heating and air conditioning services to its maintenance customers. The company also has a team that constantly monitors the automated sensors now in many commercial and even residential buildings, which alert staff to changes or unusual things happening with the HVAC systems. That way, Middleton can get help to customers even before they may notice the issue.
“We often hear from customers who appreciate the professionalism and care our technicians bring to every job,” McCaslin said.
While technicians are well trained to correctly install systems into homes, the unexpected can still happen. That is why Middleton has a full warranty department to make sure customers are not paying for parts or repairs that they should not have to.
When a call comes in, the phone is answered by one of the dedicated staff members. With the click of a few buttons, a file for the client tells the team about every service Middleton has done for that client, helping to increase continuity and make getting services done easier for both clients and technicians.
Gaining a customer’s trust also requires using quality equipment and doing quality work. Every morning, the work trucks are stocked from an on-site warehouse with the best equipment on the market that a technician may need to complete a job. That helps to minimize wait times for customers.
The high-quality, trustworthy service that customers receive from Middleton does not happen by chance or accident. It all starts at Middleton University, an HVAC education facility on-site at their headquarters. There, leaders train new employees on the Middleton Way, which includes not only how to use and fix systems but also soft skills to make sure customers are comfortable when technicians enter their homes. The education does not stop when a technician starts in the field.
“We’re always learning and finding ways to improve how we operate,” Middleton said.
To stay on the cutting edge of new HVAC technology, Middleton leaders and technicians train directly with manufacturers, deepening their expertise and strengthening the service they provide to customers.
If working with Middleton Heat & Air feels like a breath of fresh air, that is likely why the company has continually been recognized as the best by AMP and industry peers.
Nearly 50 years in, Middleton Heat & Air takes pride in what has been accomplished and remains focused on building an even stronger company in the decades ahead.
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