Leadership

Justin Hathaway brings over 20 years of experience in the skilled trades and home services industry, with a career built on hands-on blue-collar work, steady leadership, and a long-term approach to growth.Justin began his career in underground construction, gaining early exposure to physically demanding work environments where discipline, accountability, and pride in craftsmanship mattered. His early career spanned a mix of blue-collar roles and retail and commercial sales, experiences that shaped his practical, people-first leadership style. Throughout those years, Justin consistently found himself stepping into leadership roles, earning trust through work ethic and results.

Before joining Howard Air & Plumbing in 2012, Justin served as an Operations Manager for another HVAC and plumbing company. When he joined Howard Air, the business was a smaller organization generating approximately $5–10 million in annual revenue. Over time, Justin progressed through nearly every operational leadership role in the company—Install Coordinator, Sales Coordinator, Marketing Manager, Sales & Marketing Manager, Operations Manager, and now General Manager.

Throughout that journey, Justin has been a key contributor to the company’s growth, structure, and long-term success. He has helped build scalable systems, strengthen cross-department collaboration, and develop leadership teams capable of supporting sustained growth—all while maintaining a strong focus on quality, integrity, and accountability.

Justin believes in leading by example and holding high standards with empathy. His leadership philosophy centers on doing things the right way, prioritizing long-term outcomes over short-term wins, and creating clarity so teams can perform at a high level while delivering an exceptional customer experience.

Family is the most important part of Justin’s life. Outside of work, he is focused on personal growth and building a strong, happy future for his children. During the summer months, much of that time is spent at the lake with family, recharging and creating lasting memories.

Kaylee Taylor brings deep institutional knowledge and operational leadership to her role as Operations Manager, with a career shaped by firsthand exposure to every part of the business.
Kaylee’s professional foundation began early, growing up around Howard Air while her parents built the company. From filing paperwork to tagging along on service calls and new construction sites, she developed an early understanding of how each department connects and impacts overall results.

Throughout her career at Howard Air & Plumbing, Kaylee has held several key roles including Install Coordinator, Sales Coordinator, Install Operations Manager, and CSR & Dispatch Manager. In her current role as Operations Manager, she focuses on ensuring the business runs smoothly day-to-day, resolving issues proactively, and making sure teams have the tools and support needed to succeed.

Kaylee has played an important role in streamlining workflows, reducing reliance on paper-based processes, and implementing more structured systems. These improvements have strengthened communication, reduced errors, and helped operations scale more efficiently.
She believes success is achieved when processes are efficient, communication is clear, teams are aligned, and employees feel supported and empowered to perform at a high level.

Outside of work, Kaylee enjoys spending time with her family, getting outdoors for a hike or a round of golf, and relaxing with her dogs, Cash and Cowboy.

Michelle Padilla brings over 15 years of industry experience and a strong customer-first mindset to her role as Call Center Manager at Howard Air & Plumbing.

Michelle began her career in customer service at a young age, working as a Courtesy Clerk at Safeway, where she developed a deep appreciation for hard work and helping people. She later spent over a decade in the hotel industry before transitioning into the home services industry, where she has spent the past 16 years across multiple organizations.

Since joining Howard Air & Plumbing in 2017, Michelle has held several roles including CSR, PMA Administrator, Service Administrator, and Accounts Receivable Lead before stepping into her current leadership position. Today, she oversees customer service, dispatch, and sales coordination, ensuring calls are handled professionally, appointments are scheduled accurately, systems are used correctly, and company standards are consistently upheld.
Michelle has helped reinforce clear expectations within the call center, creating a more dependable and accountable operation. She believes success is a well-trained, disciplined team that delivers strong customer experiences while supporting operations and reducing errors or escalations.

She leads by example with honesty, integrity, and empathy, and holds her team to high standards through clear communication and follow-through.

Outside of work, Michelle enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.

Maygan Weimer brings a detail-driven, behind-the-scenes leadership approach to her role as Purchasing Manager at Howard Air & Plumbing.

Maygan began her professional career in retail before transitioning into office administration, where her attitude, adaptability, and willingness to learn opened the door to early opportunities in bookkeeping and administrative work. Prior to joining Howard Air & Plumbing, she held roles in office administration, purchasing and claims, and accounts payable across several industries.

Since joining Howard Air & Plumbing in 2018, Maygan has progressed from Billing Clerk to RNC Coordinator and now Purchasing Manager. In her current role, she oversees the purchasing of materials, equipment, office supplies, and ancillary items while working closely with warehouse leadership to maintain inventory levels, manage budgets, and ensure strong vendor partnerships.

Maygan has helped strengthen consistency and communication between purchasing, operations, and accounting—ensuring teams are supported and issues are addressed early. To her, success means everything runs smoothly behind the scenes so others can focus on delivering great service.

She leads with accountability, consistency, and a strong sense of ownership, always focused on doing the right thing for the teams she supports.

Outside of work, Maygan enjoys spending time with her family and pets and recently took up crocheting as a way to unwind.

Chris Litt brings a customer-focused, detail-oriented approach to his role as Service Manager, supported by a diverse professional background.

Chris began his career as a car audio installer while attending Scottsdale Community College and Arizona State University. That early experience taught him the importance of going above and beyond for customers, delivering clean, high-quality work, and treating every job with pride and precision.

Before joining Howard Air & Plumbing in 2024, Chris spent time working at smaller HVAC companies where he gained experience across install, maintenance, dispatch, and management. He also spent over a decade as a financial advisor, giving him a unique perspective on accountability, communication, and trust.

As Service Manager, Chris focuses on supporting the service team, managing daily operations, and ensuring customers receive consistent, high-quality service. He has helped strengthen team culture within the service department and across the organization, emphasizing collaboration and shared accountability.

Chris believes success is achieved when teams are supported, customers are taken care of, and issues are addressed before they become problems.

Outside of work, he enjoys staying active through outdoor activities such as wake surfing, mountain biking, and hiking.

Dusty Strothmann brings hands-on experience and operational discipline to his role as Retrofit Install Manager at Howard Air & Plumbing.

Dusty began his career working for an excavation company, performing manual labor and operating heavy equipment. That early experience instilled discipline, accountability, and pride in doing things the right way. Before joining Howard Air & Plumbing, he worked across food service, retail, construction, and automotive industries.

Since joining the company in 2009, Dusty has held a wide range of roles including Warehouse Associate, Warehouse Manager, Installer, Service Technician, and now Retrofit Install Manager. In his current role, he oversees all retrofit installations, ensuring jobs are coordinated properly, issues are addressed quickly, and installs are completed correctly the first time.

Dusty has helped improve planning and coordination within the retrofit department, resulting in smoother workflows, fewer mistakes, and improved customer satisfaction. To him, success is a department that runs efficiently, delivers quality installs, keeps callbacks low, and supports installers in doing their best work.

Outside of work, Dusty enjoys spending time with his family.

Jim Hitchcock brings over 20 years of experience in the plumbing industry, with a passion for mentorship, quality workmanship, and customer satisfaction.

Jim began his professional career working as a car porter at his family’s dealership, where he learned the importance of preparation, respect for the work, and accountability. He later entered the plumbing industry as a drain cleaner, working his way up into plumbing and eventually into leadership roles.

Since joining Howard Air & Plumbing in 2025 as Plumbing Department Manager, Jim has focused on supporting field plumbers through job readiness, oversight on larger projects, and maintaining a high standard of customer experience. He has helped standardize service call processes and reinforce consistent expectations across the department.

Jim defines success as seeing technicians achieve their goals while customers become enthusiastic advocates for Howard Air & Plumbing. He leads by example with clear expectations, consistency, and ownership at every level—from invoice details to final outcomes.

Outside of work, Jim enjoys spending time with his family, taking walks with his wife and their Rottweiler Kona, visiting casinos, and connecting with friends and family—including FaceTime calls with his granddaughter.

Chris Brown brings over 15 years of experience in the skilled trades and home services industry, with a career built from the ground up through hands-on work, operational leadership, and a strong commitment to doing things the right way.

Chris began working at a young age, starting in a collision repair shop at 14 before working as a vehicle detailer throughout high school. After graduating, he worked as a commercial framer and later in shipping and receiving, gaining a deep appreciation for hard work, accountability, and teamwork. After moving to Arizona nearly two decades ago, Chris worked on a loading dock while attending RSI, eventually joining Howard Air & Plumbing shortly after graduating.

Since joining the company in 2011, Chris has progressed through nearly every field role within the organization, including RNC crew member, service technician, retrofit installer, RNC field foreman, and now New Construction Manager. That hands-on progression gives him a unique, practical understanding of the full construction lifecycle and the challenges teams face in the field.

In his current role, Chris oversees all aspects of new construction operations, coordinating the process from the initial sale through final homeowner turnover. He has played a key role in improving the overall performance and stability of the new construction department, helping transform it into a structured, reliable operation that supports long-term growth.

Chris leads by example and believes success comes from clear expectations, quality and integrity over speed, and consistent follow-through. He values building systems, mentoring people, and driving operational consistency so teams can perform at a high level in a stable, supportive environment.

Outside of work, Chris enjoys spending time with his family, staying active outdoors, and coaching or mentoring others—values that reflect the same discipline and commitment he brings to his leadership role.

John Thompson brings nearly two decades of experience in the skilled trades and home services industry, with a background rooted in hands-on field work, team leadership, and operational support.

John began working early in his family’s business, where he learned foundational management skills and, most importantly, the importance of strong customer service. That early exposure shaped his work ethic and reinforced the value of showing up prepared, working hard, and taking pride in doing things the right way. Prior to joining Howard Air & Plumbing, John gained experience in both fast food and the HVAC industry, further strengthening his understanding of operations and teamwork.

Since joining Howard Air & Plumbing in 2018, John has progressed through several roles including Lead Installer, Install Foreman, and now Warehouse Manager. That progression gives him a practical understanding of what field teams need to be successful and how warehouse operations directly impact daily performance across the company.

In his current role, John oversees the warehouse and fleet operations, supporting all departments by ensuring they have the parts, equipment, and materials needed to operate efficiently. He has played a key role in improving organization, structure, and overall workflow within the warehouse, helping create a smoother and more reliable operation.

John leads by example and believes in clear expectations, follow-through, and putting in a full day’s work. To him, success means every department is properly supported and set up for a productive, successful day.

Outside of work, John enjoys staying active, spending time outdoors, and focusing on fitness—interests that reflect the same discipline and consistency he brings to his role.