Superior Plumbing and Heating celebrates 40 years, new name

By AMY MENEREY-Frontiersman reporter

ANCHORAGE -- Superior Plumbing and Heating Inc., one of the leading contractors currently working on the new Valley Hospital construction, celebrated 40 years in Alaska on Oct. 23.

The expanding company currently has a satellite office at the hospital construction site and anticipates approximately 50 craftsmen in the field when the project is fully staffed, according to spokesperson Joanne Parkin. The company is expected to be on site for the next two years.

Expansion has prompted a number of changes within the company. The new company name is The Superior Group Inc., managed by Jan Van Den Top, and consisting of four operating companies: Superior Plumbing & Heating, Mike Blake, general manager; Alaska Sheet Metal, Darrell Koontz, general manager; Superior Mechanical Service, Fred Griffith, general manager, and Haakenson Electric, Tim Haakenson, general manager.

The company was originally formed as Superior Heating Service Inc. in 1964 by Marion Fox and Bob Pope, and operated from a leased basement in Anchorage. Ten years later the company outgrew its basement office and the business grew, earning nearly $1 million and a change in name to Superior Plumbing and Heating Inc.

"Our challenge has been to grow our business fast enough that we keep up with demand and technology, and slow enough so we don't spread ourselves too thin," a company release stated.

"There are [always] problems on the horizon, but to us they are opportunities," Van Den Top said, "and [our] company has seldom been in a better condition to work the opportunities."

According to Parkin, 32 of Superior's employees are Valley residents. The company has also been contracted to work on the new Alaska Sales and Service facility on the Parks Highway, with Ken Brady Construction. The project is expected to be under way soon and complete by mid May.

The Superior Group Inc. serves general contractors and building owners as a full-service, turnkey operation in Anchorage and surrounding areas, as well in the Alaska Bush. Superior provides mechanical contracting, in-house design, sheet metal fabrication, installation and service.