First Place: James River Heating & Air Conditioning Co

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Second Place: Woodfin Heating

Third Place: Mode Comfort & Air Quality

James River Heating & Air Conditioning returns to first place this year, and owner Hugh Joyce is pleased about that. But he’s in this for the long haul. Back in 1967, when his father founded the business, air conditioning wasn’t the necessity it later became to many Richmonders. “When we started, we started with the vision: comfort, efficiency and reliability,” says Joyce, who took over as president in 1993. “Dad was a marketing guy, not a technical guy.” While technology — including central air and heat pumps — has changed what James River employees do daily, marketing continues to be important, especially with the advent of online reviews. “There are no secrets anymore,” Joyce says. “I like it. If something is said about us on the internet, we feel it’s a blessing, so we can get it fixed.”