Bennings has served central Arkansas 40 years
Bennings Heating & Air is a family-owned and operated business in Prattsville that has expertly served the heating and air conditioning needs of residential and commercial customers throughout central Arkansas since Clarence “Poodle” Bennings started the business out of his makeshift garage office in 1972.
Poodle’s hard work and dedication to his customers helped him grow from a one-man operation to one of the most respected heating and air businesses in the state. Poodle recruited his son, Mark, early on to help him install and service the equipment, and after Poodle’s retirement, Mark moved into the lead role.
Mark and daughter Shannon are the ones currently in charge of the daily operations. Shannon said the business thrives because they serve their customers with a hands-on approach that Poodle embraced and taught to his son, who still works closely with the staff every day to ensure their customers get the best service available.
“My dad is here pretty much every day, on jobs every day, making sure that things are quality,” Shannon said. “And then, you know, if things happen, you make a mistake, you try to make it right because that’s just part of life, you’re gonna make some mistakes so just making sure when you do, you make it right.”
Shannon is a dietician by trade but came to work at the family business after her dad’s secretary left several years ago.
“I think it’s just a really hands-on approach and being really involved, and not just turning everybody loose without caring what the end product is,” Shannon said.
Shannon said she has enjoyed working with her dad ever since she was little, and although she didn’t plan to work in the family business, she wouldn’t want it any other way.
“I’ve been here full-time since 2014,” Shannon said. “But I mean, my whole life I rode around with him, handed him tools on all his service calls and used to go get, like in the summer when I was out of school, I’d go get all our equipment and take it to jobs and go get parts for the guys and deliver it to them.”
Shannon said her dad never forced her to work for the business, it was just a natural progression in life that she enjoyed fully. She didn’t foresee spending her adult career at Bennings Heating & Air, but wouldn’t change her situation one bit.
Shannon and her husband Timothy Culp, who also works for Bennings Heating & Air, work closely with father Mark to provide the best heating and air conditioning service and parts in central Arkansas to their loyal customers, who inevitably spread the word about the quality work and service Bennings provides. Their flawless reputation has kept the business thriving for 50 years, and Bennings Heating & Air show no signs of slowing down or cutting back on the excellent service, customer care, and hands-on approach Poodle employed from the beginning.
Bennings Heating & Air is located at 334 Hwy. 291 N. in Prattsville. Office hours are Monday-friday, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Emergency services are available outside the normal hours of operation. Call Bennings Heating & Air at 501-254-7502.