J.A. Croson L.L.C. was founded in 1959 by Jim Croson in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. The date, January 1, marked both the start of a new year and the beginning of a new business consisting of Jim, a 1950 red pickup truck, and $500 borrowed from his mother, Anna. Three months later, joined by his brother Stanley, Jim embarked on the venture without an existing customer base. It was up to them to build their plumbing business from what seemed like nothing. “Seemingly” proved to be the operative word, as hard work, integrity, and the ability to recognize and act on opportunities became invaluable assets. By 1962, J.A Croson Co. had become the largest plumbing contractor in Central Ohio, specializing in new home construction. Three years later, the company expanded into apartment construction and, by 1967, had become one of the two largest plumbing contractors serving the apartment construction market in Central Ohio. That same year, J.A.Croson Co. added HVAC services. High demand resulted in the installation of HVAC systems in more than 1,500 apartment units during that year alone. Jim’s practical foresight positioned the company to successfully shift its focus toward commercial projects as the multifamily housing market began to decline. By 1973, most of the company’s work had transitioned into commercial construction. By the mid-1970s, J.A.Croson Co. had become the largest non-union mechanical contractor in Ohio. In 1978, Jim was joined in the business by his son David, following David’s graduation from Purdue University with a degree in mechanical engineering. Soon after Jim’s retirement, David assumed leadership of J.A.Croson Co. However, Jim’s retirement was short-lived, and he later launched a Florida division of J.A.Croson Co. in Naples, Florida. In 1987, the Ohio and Florida divisions became separate companies. The strategic and disciplined growth of both companies attracted the attention of a national organization that later became AMPAM. In 1998, the Florida and Ohio companies became part of the national organization, which was then the largest plumbing company in the United States. In 2004, one year after AMPAM filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Jim and David purchased the Florida company back. Today, as J.A. Croson L.L.C. the company that began with humble beginnings has grown into one of Florida’s premier mechanical contractors. With expansion underway throughout Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, J.A.Croson L.L.C. continues to build upon its reputation for hard work, integrity, and dependable service while establishing new opportunities for future generations. In Jim’s own words, "50 years is just a good start."