Employee Spotlight! Larry Rivlin
April's Employee Spotlight is Larry Rivlin! Larry's had a storied career here at Abt. As an HVAC sales department manager, he loves helping people find exactly what they need, get it installed and know that they'll feel comfortable in their own homes. But he's tackled other positions here at Abt, and before he worked here, he had a full career as a police officer. Larry is now in his tenth year at Abt, and we're certainly glad that he moved from retirement to his second career here.
His Second-Ever TV From Abt
So, how did Larry and Abt first meet? When he was just 14, Larry went out to buy his own TV ... but not from here. He went to a Montgomery Ward in Randhurst and shopped there. When he came home with his new television, his father wasn't happy. "My Dad made me return it, only to take me to Abt on Dempster instead!"
"I ended up getting a better TV anyway thanks to Abt. My Dad was a big Abt fan, and that's where we shopped as a family." We're glad to have been there for Larry's family, and it was the perfect way to get off on the right foot with a future employee ... even if he did have to return his first-ever TV. We're proud to have given him his second-ever TV, instead.
From Police Officer to Abt Employee
Larry worked as a police officer for 30 years and was headed for retirement at the end of his career. But anyone who knows this man (or has even chatted with him on the phone) knows that he's not one to rest on his laurels. He was invited to come work at Abt as his career was coming to a close. "In fact, I was going to say no. Then I went home and told my wife about it, and she said, 'Are you kidding me? Try it. What have you got to lose?'"
From Trucks to Appliance Sales
We asked Larry where he first began at Abt, and it wasn't in the HVAC department. "I spent my first year on Trucks delivering appliances, as well as mattresses and fitness equipment. I wanted to learn, and I was a police officer, what the heck did I know about appliances?" That first year, he was the third man on the truck. He was there to help where possible, cut styrofoam and learn as much as he could. "I had a great time working with the guys, even if they treated me like the old man on the truck. After that, I was told that it was time to come inside and start in appliance sales."
Larry had spent a full year on Trucks working with appliances, so making the transition to selling them wasn't a difficult one. "I was in appliance sales for three years before I was invited to move to HVAC. I said 'I don't know anything about HVAC!' and they said 'You didn't know anything about appliances, either.'" Larry was ready to try something new as a salesperson with our in-house HVAC department.
Welcome To HVAC, Larry
From there, our Employee Spotlight moved on to work within our HVAC sales department, one of the most specialized departments within Abt. If you've ever explored our appliances in-store, you've likely seen our collection of window air conditioners—but our HVAC department handles much more. Whole home air conditioners, furnaces, water heaters and boilers can all be found at Abt, and we install and service everything we sell with our own in-house team. Larry's happy to work with a team of specialized products ... and special people. "What I love about it most is that we're specialists. Everyone works together. If one person doesn't know the answer, then someone will, and we work with a lot of specialty items." It's true that helping a customer choose a new HVAC system for their home isn't as easy as selling them something like a microwave or a refrigerator, but our Employee Spotlight was up for the challenge and exceeded expectations. He's now an HVAC sales manager. "Whether it's a generator install, a water heater install, a tankless water heater, etc, we're the specialists in the store, and I find it challenging and rewarding."
His Favorite Abt Memory: A Rewind
One of our facorite questions to ask employees, especially ones with a lot of experience working at the store, is "What is your favorite memory from your time at Abt?" Larry smiled and gave us a memory from before his time at Abt, when he still worked as a police officer.
"One of my favorite memories was when I was assisting with Private Sale traffic while I was still a police officer. A man walked right onto Milwaukee Ave toward us while I was directing traffic. I signaled for him to stop for his safety, but he kept coming, only to realize it was Mr. Abt bringing lunch for us! He was smiling and thanking us for being there." Larry now works inside the store during our bustling sales. Instead of standing out on Milwaukee Avenue every year, he helps customers choose new AC units, water heaters and more.
True Gratitude
That dangerous lunch delivery set the stage for more that Larry would do at Abt, and how he could be instrumental in forming his own team—and fostering a culture of gratitude. When he needs a new employee or two on the HVAC sales team, he can easily promote from within Abt. "It makes me feel really good, especially when it comes to finances. These folks are supporting families, and I'm able to further their careers and increase their salaries. That makes me feel really happy, and that's what's rewarding to me."
That's just one of the reasons why we're glad to have Larry on our team; he's a great leader and puts the needs of his customers and his team first. There's no better marker of a great manager, whether they work in our HVAC sales department, appliance sales, or are riding across town on a truck. Larry's done all three, and that's just during his second career, after he spent decades serving the public as a police officer. Next time you come into the store, why not take a look at some of the HVAC upgrades, like mini-split air conditioners and dependable home generators? You might catch Larry there. He and his team will be happy to help you find what you need, or better understand some of the newest products that can help you feel more comfortable in your home.
