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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
After Jake Lambourne learned about the benefits of soft water, he sensed there was a business opportunity in it.
He launched his company in March 1956 with a small office on Guest Ave. in Salt Lake City. Since that time, the company has experienced phenomenal growth to include over 130 employees and 86,000 residential and commercial customers statewide.
The name of Jake's company is Superior Water & Air, and its employees seek to do just that — be superior in all aspects of their business. From its state-of-the-art water treatment systems to heating and air conditioning services and devices, the family-run company has become a leader in the industry.
Rob Anderson, who runs the company with Jake's son Mark Lambourne, says Superior Water & Air is also distinguished by its unique approach to service calls. Employees travel to homes and businesses to offer free service estimates. If you don't want it fixed, you don't pay. If they can't fix it, you don't pay, and if they're not on time, you don't pay.
In a training course from the Arbinger Institute, all Superior employees were taught to see each other and clients as people rather than objects. This mindset governs all dealings inside and outside the company. Rob says Jake has left a strong legacy for both him and Mark to live up to, which is the real reason for the company's success.
As a part of the celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2006, the company formed a non-profit foundation called Safe Water for Utah Kids and donated water filtration systems for drinking fountains at schools around the state. Currently, Superior systems are keeping 14,000 drinking fountains in 450 Utah schools lead- and chlorine-free.
The future of Superior Water & Air looks bright, and Rob is committed to continuing the company's reputation for excellence.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.








