IERNA’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing boosts employee morale through engaging, COVID-19-safe company event.

IERNA’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing (Lutz, FL) hosted their second Chili Cook Off in over eight years on January 28th. Their first event brought together local small businesses from around the area, however in compliance with CDC guidelines, the HVAC and plumbing company sought a smaller, more familiar scale for the second time around.

“IERNA’s prides itself on its employee-centric values and initiatives,” said Charlene Ierna, Owner and President of the company. “From Christmas parties and backyard barbecues to company cruises to Cozumel, we really strive to show our employees how much we value them and their hard work.”

The contest was judged by three locally known celebrities and friends of the company. Anthony Becht, former tight end for the New York Jets and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Veronica Alfaro, former WQYK radio personality and voice actress, and Chad Wetzel, President of Carrier Enterprise Florida. They each tasted the twelve chilis to determine the 3 top winners of the $850 in cash prizes (plus some extra swag).

“It was a great event with awesome food,” Chad stated. “Charlene’s philosophy is that the employees are at least as important as the customers and she finds ways to take care of them. It shows in the camaraderie that the employees exhibited in the competition and excitement striving for the number one prize.”

Anthony commented that “Charlene does an excellent job giving back to the community and clearly giving back to her employees. There’s a reason why her business has grown the way it has. Ierna’s has been a great partner with me and my events over the past 10 years and I’m just happy to help and glad to be here.”

“This was a ton of fun,” Veronica added. “Not only is Ierna’s terrific in the community but you can tell that their employees are like a community and a family the way they come together and cheer each other on. They’re all really good cooks by the way. The chili was delicious!”

Megan Schwarz placed 1st, Steve Walters 2nd and Rob Kress 3rd.

Founded in 2003, IERNA’s Heating, Cooling and Plumbing is a Tampa-based and family-owned company providing expertise in every aspect of HVAC and plumbing. IERNA’s business has been built by establishing long-term relationships with customers and the communities it serves. The company serves five counties: Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk, offering routine maintenance and same-day emergency service 7-days a week. For more information, visit iernaair.com and follow them on social media: https://linktr.ee/iernaair — “IERNA Your Trust. IERNA Your Business.”

Additional photos available here.