Mike Cottle sets a high standard of business at Cole Services in Garden Grove, Calif. His dedication to the trades began right after high school, when he entered trade school to be a plumber. Over the course of the next 13 years, Cottle spent his time honing his skills, learning HVAC, and working for local service-and-repair companies. In 1996, he purchased Cole Services. Just as he transformed his career through training and expertise, Cottle converted the company, which started with five employees and $200,000 in revenue into a one-stop home-comfort resource. The investment continued to grow, as Cottle boosted the business’ revenue five-fold, earning $1 million in his first year.
And, more than 15 years later, the contractor hasn’t looked back, boasting a staff of 55 employees across two California branches. For his dedication to business and the trades, Cottle has been named The NEWS’ Best Contractor to Work for in the West region.