It was the beginning of summer when 13-year-old Cody Jensen was suddenly awoken. “It’s time to go to work!” his dad, Tracy Jensen, declared. Groggily, Jensen joined his father in Williamsburg, where they worked on the heating and cooling systems of a retirement campus.
“It was 6:30 AM and I was planning to go to the golf course or swim because it was summer,” laughs Jensen. “But after a few more projects, I was as happy as a clam to go, even if the service calls were at 2 or 3 in the morning.”
His parents, Tracy and Vicki Jensen, started their company, Jensen Heating and Air Conditioning, in a small apartment in September of 1987. Under his parents’ guidance, Cody learned all the tricks to the trade. Once he left college, he began working as a wholesale HVAC dealer in Des Moines, selling tools to companies similar to the Jensen’s. “For those few years, Cody was learning how other businesses run and what makes a successful one,” says Tracy.
Eventually, he met his wife, Megan, and wanted to start a family back in Grinnell. “But I needed something to fall in love with, and once I started working with my parents again, that happened very quickly.” In five years, Cody’s parents helped transition the company under his leadership, stepping back, but answering any concerns or questions.
Today, the Jensens celebrated Cody as the new head of the company as Tracy and Vicki sail into retirement! With new leadership came a new name change — the company is now operating as Jensen Mechanical to cover an exciting addition to the business — plumbing.
So far, the Jensens have hit the ground running. They have installed much of the HVAC work on the Reserve apartments by Grinnell’s Walmart and the Stella Townhomes on Bliss Street. Plus, he and his team are the ones behind the service work of 48-unit retirement homes in Knoxville and Oskaloosa.
“But I am most proud of our first ever design build project at the Knoxville Raceway,” says Cody. “We were the ones who designed its ventilation, heating, and air conditioning system.” Cody’s design was approved by an engineer as following local codes and requirements and then drew it out to be officially built. “Sometimes, people don’t expect someone from Grinnell, Iowa to do that kind of work. But it was my baby from the ground up.”
Jensen Mechanical has a team with a robust list of services, particularly within residential housing. “So far, I’ve hired a journeyman and a plumber who is building a base in Iowa.”
Jensen’s whole team is exceptionally qualified — his team underwent robust education and training, many of which have multiple licenses for HVAC, plumbing, and more. Oftentimes, you’re likely to hire someone who has been working with the Jensens for over a decade, and each team member commits to 8 hours of annual continuing education.
Kistie Johnson, who “basically has been running the place for the last 15 years,” says there is no better place to receive service than with the Jensen’s. “The Jensens are also so great to work for and makes it such a family friendly environment. Because of this, it just makes us want to work that much harder for them.”
If you are in need of any heating, cooling, or plumbing service, call 641-236-7337, or visit their website, jensenheating.com, for a full list of services! As their website states, they are more than a service — they’re your neighbors! Stay in the loop by following their Facebook page, Jensen Mechanical.
And you might be wondering: what’s on the horizon for retirees Tracy and Vicki Jensen? Well, they’re off in their new camper, to explore America’s finest national parks.
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