Service Experts Welcomes First Franchise Conversion with Corona, California Couple

After serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1998 to 2002, Chris began his HVAC and plumbing career as an apprentice at a small, family-owned company. He rose from technician to advisor and outside sales for nearly 20 years before launching Authority Plumbing, Heating and Air in 2024, but he knew he had more to accomplish.

When Chris was introduced to Service Experts at an HVAC convention in Las Vegas in January 2026, he was already running a successful business. What he found was a franchise system that could help established operators, like himself, reach their goals faster through a proven operating model and a brand whose values and goals closely aligned with his own. For the Griffins, joining this system meant the best of both worlds: the resources of a national brand with the freedom to keep running the business as their own.

Support from Nick Ridgway, Vice President of Franchise Development at Service Experts, and Matt Lefler, Service Experts' Vice President of Franchise Operations, ultimately gave them the confidence to take the next step.

“Nick and Matt having done this countless times before is going to help us reach our goals much more efficiently than on our own and get the best return on investment,” said Chris Griffin. “The expertise, knowledge, and leverage they have with marketing teams who know how to allocate funds correctly is really going to help us grow exponentially within our local market.”

"Chris and Corina already knew how to run a great business and what they were looking for was the infrastructure and resources to take that business to the next level," said Ridgway. "That's exactly what makes conversion opportunities so compelling. We can bring an established business and an experienced owner into a proven platform while giving them the support, technology, and national resources to grow within their community."

As they transition into the franchise system, the Griffins bring complementary experience that will help them build the business together. In addition to Chris’s military and HVAC experience, Corina brings 20 years of retail experience, including work in health and safety loss mitigation, customer service, and multi-store management. She also oversaw a $10 million store and a 12-store district, giving her extensive experience in managing people. Chris’ career in the trades provides the couple with deep plumbing and HVAC expertise, creating a complementary foundation for the business.

The Griffins foresee strong growth ahead, both within their company and community. Corina is a lifelong Corona resident, and the couple has deep roots in the local community. As Service Experts franchisees, they intend to continue to build upon their established connections and build a business that people recognize and trust.

"We want to be the family-owned company with a real person behind the phone, someone people recognize and trust because they had a good experience," said Corina Griffin. "We've lived in this community for years, our kids are growing up here, and we want to build something that gives back to the place we call home. Being able to grow the business while keeping that local connection is really important to us."

Service Experts continues to seek qualified entrepreneurs interested in building businesses within the residential HVAC industry with the support of an established national platform.