With their combined experience and talents, it was only natural for their ideas to merge into a business, working together as a team to service their community, support their family and turn their dream into a reality. That opportunity came in 2009, when the economy took a turn for the worse: Brion found himself laid off just two weeks after Tracy discovered she was expecting. With a growing family of three teenagers, a baby on the way and the unemployment population in Washington County topping 14% — they decided to take control of their situation. They were no longer going to place their livelihood in the hands of another. That’s when they decided to turn lemons into lemonade, and opened Ahrens Heating & Cooling.
Though they knew it wasn’t going to be easy to achieve, they didn’t fear the hard work ahead.
They valued the lessons learned in those tough times and knew the importance of being independent and positive. They earned degrees in record time while working full time with kids at home before taking the leap to launch the business. This was a true testament to their hard work and resolute.
Tracy shares, “We sure hope our kids learn from our example!”
Contributing generously to their community is very important to the Ahrens. Brion enjoys coaching little league even when he didn’t have his own child on the team, and Tracy has always been the “Team Mom.” She was an active member of the West Bend Booster Club for both East & West High Schools for the 2006-2009 school years and served as president. Presently, they both play a large role with the youth wrestling club.
They both look forward to many more years of community involvement especially in youth sports while developing more substantial relationships with people they meet through the West Bend Chamber events and other local happenings.
Brion and Tracy feel fortunate to have such a wonderful support system in their family, friends, colleagues, neighbors and community. Kind words, suggestions, assistance and referrals are always very much appreciated. In a time when they’ve heard so many reasons not to pursue “their dream,” they’ve had even more support from their peers who have offered their assurance that this was their path.
So with a little money in their pockets, a great vendor, lots of hard work, the support of wonderful family and friends, their undying determination and a prayer, Ahrens Heating & Cooling was born and continues to provide quality Heating & Cooling service.