ACHR News
search
Ask ACHR NEWS AI
cart
facebook twitter instagram linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Subscribe
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
ACHR News
  • NEWS
    • Breaking News
    • New HVAC Products
    • Featured Products
    • Manufacturer Reports
    • HVAC Data
    • Legislation
    • ACHR NEWS Centennial
  • RESIDENTIAL
    • Air Conditioners
    • Furnaces
    • Residential Heat Pumps
    • Ductless
    • Residential IAQ
    • Testing, Monitoring, Tools
    • Components & Accessories
  • COMMERCIAL
    • Air Handlers
    • Rooftop Units
    • Chillers and Cooling Towers
    • Commercial Heat Pumps
    • Boilers and Hydronics
    • VRF/Ductless
    • Commercial IAQ
  • REFRIGERATION
    • Refrigerants
    • Refrigerant Regulations
    • Leak Management
  • CONTRACTOR PRO
    • Geothermal
    • Homeowner Study
    • VRF and VRV Ductless
    • Unitary Trends
  • EDUCATION
    • Training and Education
    • Business Management
    • Service and Maintenance
    • Continuing Education
    • Market Research >
      • HVAC Brand Awareness Report
      • VRV, VRF, VRVZ Report
      • Unitary Trends Report
      • Water Heat Professionals Report
    • Webinars
    • Sponsor Insights
    • eProducts Info
    • White Papers
  • EVENTS
    • HVAC Contractor Forum
    • Industry Events and Webinars
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
    • AHR Expo 2025 Videos
    • Podcasts >
      • ACHR News Podcast
      • HARDI Podcasts
      • AHR Expo Podcasts
      • ACCA Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Quizzes
    • eBooks
    • HVAC Talkback
  • HVAC GROUP
    • ACHR NEWS >
      • Current Issue
      • Digital Edition
      • Subscribe
    • Distribution Trends
    • SNIPS NEWS >
      • Join SNIPS NEWS
    • Engineered Systems News >
      • Join ES News
    • HVACR Directory
    • Contests
    • Newsletters
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • My Account

Blue Dot contractor holds successful career night

By John R. Hall
May 9, 2000
LIVONIA, MI — At first glance, one would think Dan Bergstrom was giving away a free car or a trip to Europe. The lunchroom of his Blue Dot business in this western Detroit suburb was packed.

It was Career Night at Bergstrom’s Inc./Blue Dot.

There was more than just a passing interest in what Bergstrom and his staff had to say. The event was aided greatly by a well-placed article in the previous Sunday’s Employment Section of the local Detroit newspaper.

Instead of the typical small, hard-to-read ad, the newspaper ran a two-paragraph article describing the Career Night and what types of positions were available.

Bergstrom and residential service manager Chris Elder acknowledged that it may have had something to do with the fact that Bergstrom’s is a regular advertiser in the newspaper. (Hint: This may be just the leverage contractors need if they, too, are advertisers in local newspapers.)

The meeting room was stuffed with management and field technicians including plumbers, service techs, and installers. Sandwiches and refreshments were served while videotapes of Blue Dot’s national TV advertisements were played on a video screen.

Residential field supervisor Terrance Miller shows attendees around the company's sheet metal shop.

Working the room

The crowd was warmed up by staffers who asked a series of non-hvac trivia questions. Winners received Blue Dot travel coffee mugs.

The session continued with a brief welcome from Elder, who then turned the discussion over to Bergstrom.

Bergstrom talked about the roots of Blue Dot and how the company is represented in the metro Detroit area. A large residential contractor, Kast Heating & Cooling, in the northern Detroit area of Oakland County and another soon-to-be announced contractor in the Detroit market will form a triumvirate of businesses that new workers could choose to locate to.

Looking for quick answers on air conditioning, heating and refrigeration topics? Try Ask ACHR NEWS, our new smart AI search tool. Ask ACHR NEWS →

“People will have the opportunity to move back and forth within the Detroit market and can also move to a different region of the country,” Bergstrom said.

He played up the advantage of working for a national consolidator, citing the ability to move about in the company and choose a career path. He also referred to the company’s three types of training programs: commercial service, residential service, and corporate-management training.

“There are many growth opportunities in management,” he said. “We look to grow from inside.”

Bergstrom also told would-be workers that they have the chance to help out in some very unique situations, citing crews that were sent to Puerto Rico after recent hurricanes, to repair damage to Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores.

“We also sent some crews to Cleveland to work with service people there who were doing some special duct-cleaning work,” he said.

Bergstrom turned the discussion back over to Elder, who gave a brief overview of company benefits. She also told the audience that her company was looking to hire some people immediately, granting interviews on the spot, and keeping other resumes on file for future job openings.

The attendees were given a tour of the facility and had the opportunity to quiz employees on the company and the work they perform. (Hint: They made would-be applicants feel comfortable and willing to open up with straightforward questions.)

Judging from the turnout and the response by the attentive crowd, Bergstrom appeared to have made a good, lasting impression on people who knew little about him or his company prior to that evening. That’s probably the goal of many contractors who want to put their best foot forward — and keep it there.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

 

John Hall is the Business Editor. E-mail him at johnhall@achrnews.com.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • HVAC-enrollment

    The Trades Are Back: HVACR Programs See Nearly 30% Enrollment Spike

    A new wave of future technicians is entering the pipeline.  
    Training and Education
    By: Matt Jachman
  • 2025 Top 40 Under 40

    2025 Top 40 Under 40 HVACR Professionals List

    The 11th annual Top 40 Under 40 list highlights those...
    News
    By: Hannah Belloli-Oster
  • LG Ductless Mini-Split Systems

    The 9 Types of Heat Pumps

    As the U.S. moves toward electrification, heat pumps are...
    Ground Source Heat Pumps
    By: Joanna R. Turpin
Subscription Center
  • Create an Account
  • Start a Subscription
  • Manage My Account
  • Sign Up for Newsletters
  • Visit Customer Service
  • Update Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to The News audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of The News or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Piggy Bank
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Energy Prices, Inflation, and HVAC: What Today’s Homeowners Care About

  • Refrigerated Food
    Sponsored bySolstice Advanced Materials

    R-455A Refrigeration: A Cold Storage Solution for the Future

  • Airex Rooftop Units
    Sponsored byAirex Manufacturing Inc

    Consolidating Roof Penetrations: A Growing Trend in Multifamily HVAC Design

Popular Stories

HVAC-Price-Increase-graphic

HVAC Price Increase List: June 2026

Trump-Section-232.jpg

Trump Reduces Section 232 Tariffs on HVAC Equipment to 15%

R410A-Refrigerant-Cylinder.jpg

Refrigerant Recovery is a Revenue Opportunity

Heat-pump-cutaway.jpg

PFAS Rules and A2L Building Codes Continue to Evolve

Midea-training.jpg

HVAC Workforce Crisis Expands Beyond Technicians to Instructor Shortages

View The ACHR NEWS
Centennial Anniversary Timeline

The ACHR News Timeline Chart
Submit a Letter
Submit a letter to our editors.

Events

November 6, 2025

Next-Gen Data Center Cooling: HVAC Innovation and Real-World Solutions

On Demand As AI workloads and high-density computing push traditional cooling methods to their limits, the data center industry is accelerating the adoption of next-generation HVAC technologies.

June 17, 2026

Decarbonization Without Disruption

This webinar will explore practical HVAC decarbonization strategies that minimize disruption while maximizing long-term performance and ROI.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Summer Staff

Are you fully staffed for the summer season?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

BNI Mechanical/Electrical Square Foot Costbook, 2026 Edition

BNI Mechanical/Electrical Square Foot Costbook, 2026 Edition

See More Products
Decarbonization Without Disruption - Free Webinar - 6/17/2026

Related Articles

  • Blue Dot Demise Ripples Through Communities

    See More
  • Two Texas Contractors Among Nine Blue Dot Acquisitions

    See More
  • Blue Dot: Banking on a Bright Future

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • contractor-soft-skills-dvd.png

    Contractor Soft Skills DVD

See More Products
×

Sign Up. Stay Informed.

The #1 trusted source for the HVACR industry since 1926

SUBSCRIBE
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Advisory Board
    • Classifieds
    • Submit a Letter
    • Directories
    • Store
  • ACCOUNT CENTER
    • Create an Account
    • Start a Subscription
    • Manage My Account
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Visit Customer Service
    • Update Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing