BY Nicole Krawcke
What do logging and plumbing have in common? Jon Hatch for one. After a friend told him about a plumbing apprenticeship opening 15 years ago, Jon Hatch made the jump to the plumbing industry. And after working for other companies for nine years, he decided to open his own plumbing contracting business. Jon Hatch founded Linn Benton Plumbing six years ago with the help of his wife, Kelly Hatch, who is the company’s chief financial officer.
“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, so when the time felt right, I figured I would toss my hat in the ring,” Jon Hatch says. “In our area, Linn and Benton are sister counties, so this is a common name to see. We wanted something easy to remember.”
Linn Benton Plumbing operates solely within the residential service market and prides itself on its customer service.
“Our wraps feature a picture of a mountain skyline with our awesome logo, which has a bit of a retro look. We also wanted colors that would stand out in our local market. We found something we really liked and felt represented us. We love spending time in the mountains.” – Jon Hatch
“Our company takes the time to connect with each customer to build a relationship of trust and longevity,” Jon Hatch notes.
The company has seven employees with three fleet vehicles, including a 2002 Ford E450 Box Truck, 2003 Ford E450 Box Truck and 2019 Mercedes Sprinter 170. The back end of the trucks is supplied by Grumman Olsen.
“I like my 2003 Ford E450 box truck the best,” Jon Hatch explains. “The back is roomy and spacious, and the 7.3L diesel engine provides plenty of power with low maintenance costs, great economy and longevity.”
When it came time to create a truck wrap for his fleet, Jon Hatch went to the experts — Dan Antonelli and his company, KickCharge Creative.
“We worked with KickCharge Creative to come up with a logo and design we liked,” Jon Hatch says. “Our wraps feature a picture of a mountain skyline with our awesome logo, which has a bit of a retro look. We also wanted colors that would stand out in our local market. We found something we really liked and felt represented us. We love spending time in the mountains.”
All three Linn Benton Plumbing fleet vehicles feature the truck wrap design.
“We were hoping to create a brand that connected with our clients and represented us as well,” Jon Hatch explains. “Our customers love it.”
Linn Benton Plumbing’s slogan is “Always going above and beyond,” and the company does whatever it can to meet and exceed client needs, Jon Hatch notes.
“We usually can get to our clients same day,” he adds. “We try to have a consistent presence on social media. There are a lot of small plumbing companies in our area, so our trucks really help us stand out.”
Nicole Krawcke is chief editor of Plumbing & Mechanical.