Cardinal marks 40th anniversary with re-branding, Sun Prairie Chamber ribbon cutting

For immediate release

April 1, 2024

For more information, contact
Cameron Day
Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce
608-837-4547
cameronday@sunprairiechamber.com

Cardinal marks 40th anniversary with re-branding, Sun Prairie Chamber ribbon cutting

The business formerly known as Cardinal Heating on April 1 launched a re-branding effort with a new logo and touting its additional services of cooling, plumbing and electrical that also featured a Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony that also featured Sun Prairie Mayor Paul Esser.

The mayor noted his wife, Carol, and he have been loyal Cardinal customers since the early days of the business.

“We're always very satisfied with the people who service us, and we keep coming back to that -- even though others are encouraging us to do something else -- because we like the people who come, the professionalism. When we need something, you're always right there, you respond to us. All those reasons we appreciate, and I bet that's part of why we're here 40 years later, that you did that from day one, and that's the culture of the organization,” Esser said.

“It's very for you nice to say,” said Rick Ouimette, co-founder with his wife, Sharon, of Cardinal Heating which is now rebranded with a new logo to be Cardinal Hearing, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical. “We appreciate that.”

Statistically, startup and family businesses don't make it past the fifth year, according to Christina Williams, executive director of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce.

“So for you to be here in our community for 40 years, it’s a testament to the fact that hard work, determination, a fantastic support system — in your case, your family — that it can be done and in a really amazing way,” Williams said. “You are very well known in our community and we just appreciate that you’ve been here all this time and that you continue to make Sun Prairie your home. And with your new rebranding, that's pretty exciting, very different, and we’ll all get used to that very quickly.”

Ouimette outlined the expansion of the business, which moved to its current Brooks Drive location on Sun Prairie’s west side in 2016 with 27 employees. Now, Cardinal has 155 employees. And with its Cardinal University, new employees are trained to do things “The Cardinal Way” with professionalism.

“And it's so awesome to see young people — 18 year olds 19, 20, 21-year olds — that are really very, very professional people now and they take it seriously,” Ouimette said, referring to the Cardinal University trainees. To date, Cardinal University has 21 graduates, with another seven beginning their training semesters soon.

“Again, I thank everybody -- I thank Sun Prairie for giving us this opportunity to grow with them,” Ouimette said, recalling that the business started in 1984 with a $500 used gas truck in a one-car garage. “And for just watching this company grow. It's just been awesome. Thank you.”

Learn more about the services offered by Cardinal Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical by stopping by their office located at 3361 Brooks Drive or finding them online at cardinalhvac.com.