NFIB Louisiana Member Profile: Mike Mitternight

Date: May 19, 2015

President of a commercial HVAC company, Mitternight has been an NFIB member for 40 years. See what issues he has faced over the years.

Factory Service Agency Inc., a commercial HVAC company that services and installs air conditioning systems, was founded in 1975 by Mike Mitternight’s father-in-law, E. Reid Powell. Mitternight, now president, joined the company in 1978 after 11 years working with the Louisiana State Department of Health.

“I decided to join my father-in-law because I saw his passion to use his expertise to solve problems that were difficult to analyze and correct, and to install specialty A/C systems for difficult applications,” Mitternight says. “I wanted to help him grow the business and create an enterprise that was ethical, profitable, dependable and durable. As a second-generation owner who is planning to pass the business on to a third generation, my son, I hope that the durable aspect leads him to embrace the other goals.”

Factory Service Agency has focused on providing quality service at a reasonable price, not being the biggest company in the industry, so the business has enjoyed steady, yet contained, growth—about a tenfold increase since the company’s founding. The business employs around 10 employees and uses subcontractors for sheet metal, drayage and other specialty work.

“The most enjoyable part of being a small business owner is the independence,” Mitternight says. “Having worked for a state agency for 11 years and being required to wait lengthy periods to even initiate actions was frustrating. As an owner, you are able to take action immediately. Even if it’s a failed idea, you can make a decision, take action and move on.”

Self-reliance can also be the most difficult thing about running a business, however. It’s a lot of pressure to tackle everything yourself when problems arise, cash flow slows down or the economy struggles while there are multiple families relying on you, Mitternight says.

In addition to running his business, Mitternight spends a lot of time advocating for other small businesses by serving on various boards and commissions that are working to improve business conditions. He’s actively fighting for tax reform, repeal of the health insurance tax, modification or elimination of the Affordable Care Act’s mandate requirements, the retraction  of several Department of Labor rulings and much more.

His belief in the importance of these issues is what led him to join NFIB 40 years ago.

“Even [then], government regulation and intrusion into day-to-day business operations caused wasted time, effort and money in compliance,” Mitternight says. “Today’s cost to small businesses of almost $11,000/employee for regulatory compliance is an issue that needs to be eliminated. NFIB provides a statewide and national platform for that fight.”


Related Content: Small Business News | Louisiana

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