Our Story
A family-owned business serving the tri-state area since 1997
History of Top Notch
Plumbing, Heating & Electrical
In 1997, after countless long hours on the job, Mark Uthe and Fred Kuhl decided to pursue a dream of their own after years of following someone else's. In May of that year, with the unwavering support of their families and friends, Top Notch was no longer just a vision they shared, but had quickly become a reality.
The Early Days
As the business began, Mark and Fred operated out of a pole shed, acting as both its owners and only employees. Once a week they would meet in their "office" which also happened to double as the kitchen, to discuss operations. However, as trust was established between Mark, Fred, and their customers, their work load increased. As a result, in January of 1998, they were able to hire their first employee, and their 2nd in April 1998.
Growing Pains
As Top Notch continued to grow, the pole shed building was no longer able to accommodate the business. In October of 1998, Mark and Fred purchased a lot in the Galena Industrial Park and began building a new home for the business in November. The new building housed a warehouse, showroom, and an office where the daily operations graduated from being jotted down at the kitchen table to being managed on their first computer system.
Expanding Our Reach
In July 2002, in an effort to broaden their services to a larger area, Top Notch opened a second location in Cuba City. However, after much consideration, the physical location of Top Notch in Cuba City was ended in October of 2006. Although still serving the Wisconsin area, Wisconsin Top Notch and its employees began operating out of the Galena home office in order to more efficiently serve the entire tri-state area.
10 Years and Beyond
In 2007, Top Notch celebrated its 10 year anniversary. With much of its business being from repeat customers and homeowner referrals, clientele was increasing daily. Once again, Top Notch had outgrown its current facility. Although the economy in general was poor, Mark and Fred put their faith in their customers and employees and began the renovation of Top Notch in December 2008.
Our Facility Today
Top Notch headquarters in Galena Industrial Park
The addition was recently completed in January of 2010. The original building had a 6,000 square foot lower level with a 3,000 square foot upper level warehouse. Currently, the lower level is 14,000 square feet with a covered outside storage area, and the upstairs consists of 5,200 square feet of office area and a 2,600 square foot warehouse.
The upper level now accommodates Mark and Fred themselves along with the office staff and department managers. For the convenience of our customers, you are now greeted as you enter the front door and quickly assisted with your questions, concerns, or scheduling needs. The lower level is able to house the fleet of company vehicles and areas for the plumbing, heating, and electrical departments to operate separately and more efficiently versus all three being previously combined. Although currently there is no showroom on site, we hope to bring this convenience back to our customers in the near future with a virtual showroom.
Our Team
As you can see, Top Notch has grown even beyond the expectations of Mark and Fred back in May of 1997. Top Notch currently employs 4 office personnel, 3 shop personnel, 8 plumbers, 6 heating technicians, and 8 electricians. In addition to its onsite employees, each department is now overseen by an experienced project manager that works closely with the technicians who are in the field. From beginning to end, teamwork is used to approach every project in order to complete it in the most efficient and cost effective manner for our customers.
Your One-Stop Shop
Top Notch is a one stop shop for all of your plumbing, heating, and electrical needs from residential through commercial. With a 24 hour a day service team, emergencies can be quickly resolved. Top Notch has stepped up to satisfy their customers with all of the latest in technology, most recently geothermal, home automation, and environmentally pleasing (green) options have become available.
Our Promise
Here at Top Notch, we pride ourselves on the honest, respectful, and fair treatment of our customers and employees. We are not afraid to go above and beyond and raise the standards of service to give our customers and employees the satisfaction they deserve. Without our loyal customers and dedicated employees, Top Notch would not exist as we know it today. For that, we thank each and every one of you for your support throughout this journey and our continued journey into the future.
"Call us today for your new construction, remodeling, or repair needs and we will send a qualified technician to meet and exceed your expectations. Find out for yourself that our service and technicians are Top Notch!"
- Fred Kuhl, General Manager
Top Notch by the Numbers
Years in Business
Team Members
Emergency Service
States Served
Our Commitment to You
Family-Focused Service
We're a family business serving families. Your comfort and satisfaction matter to us because we understand what it means to keep loved ones safe and comfortable.
Quality You Can Trust
From the products we install to the service we provide, quality is never compromised. We partner with industry-leading brands like York to ensure your complete satisfaction.
What Sets Us Apart
Expert Knowledge
Decades of combined experience serving the tri-state area
Local & Trusted
Rooted in Galena, serving our neighbors with integrity
Customer First
Your satisfaction drives everything we do
Authorized York Dealer
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