Bergstrom - Elder Consulting Group

Dan Bergstrom, Chairman of the Board

Dan’s many years of experience include management and operations in the plumbing, heating, and air conditioning industry.

1962-1969

During Dan’s high school and college years, he worked with his Father in the family plumbing and heating business on a part-time basis. The customers were primarily homeowners and small businesses. The work consisted of repair and remodeling. Dan attended Michigan State University where he graduated cum laude, with a B.S. degree in construction management.

 1969-1972

After graduation from Michigan State, Dan worked for the Trane Company, on of the largest manufacturers and distributors of heating, air conditioning, and ventilation equipment. He spent six months in an intensive training program, learning the technical and sales aspects of the HVAC equipment business at Tranes' headquarters in Lacrosse, WI. Dan was assigned to Atlanta, Ga.; where he was a sales engineer, working with contractors, design engineers, owners and maintenance supervisors designing, and selling HVAC equipment. The primary uses were for commercial and industrial applications.

 1972-1998

Dan and his wife Lynn returned to the Detroit area to run the family business, as Dan’s parents were retiring to Florida. During this time the business grew from a home based operation with only one employee to nearly 8 million dollars in sales with close to a hundred employees. The company, Bergstrom’s Inc., serviced residential, commercial, and industrial accounts, doing service, remodeling, and replacement work. The services included plumbing, heating, air conditioning, ventilation, duct cleaning, drain cleaning, and maintenance agreements. Dan owned and operated this corporation, developed managers, systems, marketing, operations, and performing all senior management tasks.

1998-2001

The decision was made to sell the business to BlueDot, a national consolidator of HVAC/plumbing companies. BlueDot was a wholly owned subsidiary of Northwestern Corporation. The decision was based on an exit strategy for Dan and future opportunities for Dan and Lynn’s two sons, Matt and Mike. Dan remained on as an employee of BlueDot. He was the President/General Manager of Michigan operations for BlueDot. His duties included selecting other companies for acquisition, integration of the companies, operations, and managing of the profit center. The combined operations in Michigan topped 22 million dollars, with over 100 service vehicles, and 220 employees.

2001-Present

After nearly three years of working for BlueDot, Dan and BlueDot agreed to separate over differences in direction of the company and the Michigan operation. Dan took a year off to enjoy travel and relaxation. In 2002 Dan and Chris Elder formed the Bergstrom – Elder Consulting Group. Chris was one of Dan’s managers at Bergstrom’s and at BlueDot. With Dan’s experience and talent for the management side and Chris Elder’s experience and talent on the Human Resources side, the formed a team to help HVAC/plumbing businesses find profitability and success. They helped several companies move from near bankruptcy to profitability in less than 18 months. They help clients find talented technicians to grow their businesses, and they helped businesses market their products with success. In 2004 Chris Elder enjoying the experience of working with one of our clients, accepted a position with that company. Dan and Lynn travel several times a year to work in the mission field. They have traveled to Guatemala, Montreal, North Carolina, Mississippi and Alaska to help on construction for those in need.

Personal

Dan has been married to Lynn for 37 years. They have three grown children and two grand children. Dan and Lynn’s two sons have purchased a successful plumbing and HVAC firm and are also following in their father and grandfather’s foot steps. Dan has gone through the chairs and been President of the Western Wayne Association of Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Contractors. He has also gone through the chair and been President of the Michigan Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association. Dan was a Redford Rotarian, a Paul Harris Fellow, An elder in his church, service several terms as a Ruling Elder, and a member of several trade associations. He holds licenses in the state of Michigan as a Master Plumber, Mechanical Contractor, Licensed Boiler Installer, a Licensed Backflow Tester, and a Licensed Builder. He enjoys travel, golf, his family, and their second home in Florida.