Dairyland Peach Sections Business Profile 2019 | Page 28

Dairyland Peach Business Profile 2019, Page 28
Trisko plumbing business spans six decades
Sixty years have passed since Ray Trisko returned
home from service in the U.S. Army and needed a job.
He signed up for the 52-20 clause of the Federal GI
Bill, which allowed servicemen $20 a week for 52 weeks
while looking for work. A local plumbing shop owner
contacted Ray and offered him a job.
The rest is history.
Since that simple beginning in 1959, Trisko Plumbing
and Heating has changed ownership twice, passing to
two younger generations. Ray and Irene’s son, Dwayne,
bought the business in 1987, and 17 years later sold it to
his son, Josh, the present owner since 2004.
“Only 8 percent of businesses make it to the third
generation,” smiles Josh. “We defeated the odds.”
In fact, Trisko will continue on to a fourth generation
within the next decade, when Caleb Schneider’s turn ar-
rives. Caleb is Ray’s grandson, and son of Juleen Trisko
Schneider.
Ray’s early plumbing history began with a partnership
with Leo Imdieke in April of 1959. After four months,
that partnership was dissolved, and Ray founded Trisko
Plumbing and Heating, leasing a former grocery store
building on Sinclair Lewis Avenue, just west of the Cor-
ner Bar. When the city wanted that lot for a parking lot,
Trisko Plumbing moved to a Pine Street location.
That building was also sold to the city for a parking
lot, and Trisko settled in one door south at 320 Pine
Street. The location now includes offices, showroom,
pipe room and expanded warehouse space. The adjoin-
ing lot includes a new cement wall for designated stor-
age, landscaping and driveway to the warehouse.
Dwayne Trisko started his plumbing career in the family
business in October of 1971.
“My first job was at Heartland running a 2-inch gas
line into the building,” Dwayne recalls. “It was a lot of
work.”
When Dwayne bought the business from Ray in 1987,
a slight name change occurred. It became Trisko Heat-
ing and Plumbing, to separate the old and the new own-
erships.
Three generations of Trisko plumbing owners are
shown at the business location at 320 Pine Street.
From left, Josh Trisko, present owner; Ray Trisko, business
founder; and Dwayne Trisko, second generation owner.
Trisko Heating and Plumbing staff includes, seated, Ray Trisko, founder; back from left, Alex Hooper, office
manager Denise Jennissen, owner Josh Trisko, Dwayne Trisko, and Caleb Schneider. Not pictured are Ben
VanGorp and Sarah Trisko.
Dwayne Trisko takes the plumbing business seriously.
“People should know just how important the plumbing
industry is. It separates the drainage system from the
water system to keep the water clean and pure and safe
in our society,” Dwayne said. “It does more for disease
and control of illnesses than any other industry.”
Plumbing has changed considerably in six decades.
Ray recalls using cast iron, then galvanized pipes.
“I used a ton of lead connecting pipes,” Ray said.
“Now it’s all plastic pipes.”
But not only have the materials changed in the plumb-
ing business, Trisko Heating and Plumbing has joined
the electronic generation including Wi-Fi and digital
programmable equipment such as thermostats.
Trisko also has a new website on the internet, and
maintains a Facebook site.
Training is stressed, and Ray and Dwayne are both
master plumbers. Each put in the required hours in
water distribution, piping, drainage, etc., to cover the
codes. Training takes about four years, including test-
ing for journeyman status, before proceeding onto the
master plumber testing.
All of the Trisko staffers have earned their refrigerant
licenses. Ben VanGorp is a certified heating and cooling
technician.
“My goal is to get all of the employees licensed while
they work here,” Josh said.
Trisko Heating and Plumbing offers 24/7 on-call ser-
vice.
“Just call the shop number, and after hours the call
rolls over to whoever is on call,” Josh said. “After hours,
holidays, everything.”
That is a good thing for someone whose plumbing
springs a leak at 11 p.m. on a Saturday night!
Trisko does new construction, remodeling and ser-
vice work for both commercial and residential locations.
They sell and install heating, ventilation, air condition-
ing (HVAC), plumbing, and water conditioning systems.
“We are the only plumber in all of Stearns County
licensed for well work,” Josh said.
Trisko has carried Lennox furnaces, boilers, anything
HVAC related, since Ray Trisko adopted the brand 60
years ago.
The Trisko business fleet includes four updated
trucks, and two brand new trailers.
Trisko Heating and Plumbing is located at 320 Pine
St. South, Sauk Centre, and can be reached at (320)
352-2168 for estimates, repairs and maintenance. See the
website at triskoheatingandplumbing.com.
Sauk Centre, MN
320.352.2168
www.triskoheatingandplumbing.com