Superior Duct Fabrication Trust. Hard work. Quality. By / Robin Brunet • Photos courtesy of Superior Duct Fabrication
Mike Hilgert
Taylor Hilgert-Mortensen
© Can Stock Photo / IMaster
When Mike Hilgert opened Superior Duct Fabrication in Pomona, California, in 2002, his primary goal was to excel in his chosen trade and provide for his family. “I’d always wanted to own a small sheet metal company and run it well,” he says. “I just had no idea where it would take me.” Now, as Superior edges closer to its 20th anniversary, Hilgert pauses to consider his current circumstances. Superior is the leading manufacturer of ductwork and sheet metal products for the HVAC industry on the west coast, with a growing presence in Las Vegas, Idaho, Colorado, and Oregon. Over 275 employees have facilitated the company’s growth, aided by being members of Locals 105 and 88 in Nevada, and Local 104 in Camarillo, California. Over the years, Hilgert and his team have completed a wide array of notable projects in California and Nevada, including the Morongo Casino, Allegiant (Raiders) Stadium, and Tesla Giga Factory. Other clients have included Disneyland, Paramount and Universal studios, a variety of airlines, automotive giants, major universities, and hospitals.
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SMACNA-SOCAL INDUSTRY REPORTER
Ashley Hoppe
Hilgert discusses his company in an amiable and easy-going fashion, and he laughs when he is reminded that he has achieved all this and is still a young 55. “I was obliged to work hard: I’ve got five daughters!” he says. “Fortunately, two of them—Taylor and Ashley—are now heavily involved in the sales side of the business.” Taylor Hilgert-Mortensen, Superior’s sales director, says, “The key to our success is to never deviate from our core values. As Dad has stated many times, we don’t just want a client’s next job. We want the next ten years’ of jobs, and in order to get them we need their trust. We earn trust by providing outstanding work. It sounds easy on paper, but it takes time and a lot of effort.” Hilgert was introduced to the sheet metal trade at 19. “I wanted to be the best at whatever I did,” he recalls. “I liked working with my hands, so I went through apprenticeship.” The birth of his first daughter a year later doubly motivated him to forge a career.
