For 80 years, Warner Service has been giving its loyal customers advice and service for all things HVAC and plumbing. As one of the oldest companies in Frederick County, we’re proud that our name has become synonymous with value, quality, and integrity.
In our third generation of ownership and beyond, we promise to stay committed to those morals and provide the best service possible. To see where it all began, review our hometown history:
1937: Reese William Warner and his friend open Warner and Winpigler, a local plumbing business, out of the Warner household. The company eventually moves to South Market Street in Downtown Frederick due to finding an abundance of work in the area.
Fun Fact: Following World War II, R.W. Warner worked on some of the area’s first post-war housing projects.
1951: R.W. Warner’s son, Bill, gets into the family business while in high school, and the company name is changed to R.W. Warner Plumbing & Heating. Bill becomes part of the full-time staff, showing interest in commercial, industrial, and government contracts. The shop moves to 5th Street.
1961: Bill’s interest pays off, and the company begins contracting commercial, industrial, and government jobs.
1973: Bill becomes president of the company, and his father becomes chairman of the board. Because there is a continuous influx of contracts and work, the company moves to its current location on Monroe Avenue.
1980s: R.W. Warner retires from daily business operations but continues to serve on the board of directors and is appointed to the Maryland State Plumbing Board by the governor.
1986: R.W. Warner, Inc. continues its expansion and purchases long-time subcontractor Kaempf & Harris, a sheet metal fabrication and installation business. This helps establish R.W. Warner, Inc. as one of the premier mechanical contracting companies in the region.
Fun Fact: For years, Warner Service has been next-door neighbors to The Great Frederick Fair, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1987. Today, it’s home to country concerts, agricultural contests, demolition derbies, carnival rides, and food vendors.
1988: Bill’s son, Matt, graduates from Mount St. Mary’s with a bachelor’s in business and finance.
1989: Joseph Frank joins the Warner business as senior accountant. (Currently, he’s the secretary-treasurer and corporate controller.)
1993: Matt establishes Warner Construction to support the mechanical division of the company to ensure that technology stays up-to-date.
1997: The Warner Memorial Endowment Fund is founded in memory of R.W. Warner, Sr. and Mary J. Warner.
1998: Matt becomes Project Manager then General Manager. Fred Niehoff also joins the business as Chief Financial Officer, a certified public accountant, and Executive Vice President.
1999: Rex Camden joins R.W. Warner, Inc. as a general manager.
2001: Matt becomes President and Chief Executive Officer of R.W. Warner, Inc.
2004: Warner Service wins the ABC STEP Gold Award in safety. The company wins again in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Josh Via is hired as an apprentice. (He’s currently Installation Coordinator.)
2005: The company receives the ABC STEP Platinum Award. The company wins again in 2007 and 2009.
2012: Warner Service wins the ABC Health and Safety Director of the Year award. The company is also a sponsor in a successful golf tournament at PB Dye Golf Club for St. John’s Catholic Prep athletics.
2013: Matthew Brunner is hired as one of our residential comfort consultants.
2016: Barry Shirey is promoted to General Manager, and Jason Lawrence is hired as Commercial Account Manager. Warner Service places in Frederick Magazine's Best of Frederick for plumbing.
2017: The company participates in the Home Show of the Frederick County Building Industry Association on March 18 and 19. The company celebrates 80 years of business.
We’re honored and proud to share our heritage with you. From our humble beginnings in the Warner home to every move, we're grateful for our dedicated customers throughout the years.
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