“My employment at Winkler Plumbing started unintentionally. I stopped by to pick up parts for a project I was working on and jokingly asked if they were hiring. Abe Kauenhofen (founder of WPH) asked me to come for an interview, and the rest is history.
Like everyone else, I started as a grunt. I was behind the shovel and did a lot of digging. It included a lot of the not so fun things that you do when you start new a new job, but I learned so much. I enjoyed the physicality of it, making things from scratch and meeting new people. And every job was different.”
This is how Henry Schmitt describes his first job at Winkler Plumbing & Heating twenty years ago.
Since his humble beginnings, he has grown as much as the company has.
After tagging along for some time with the journeymen, he received his first promotion — the responsibility of having his own work van (which he still has today, though it’s in rough shape by now and no longer active) and tools to tackle plumbing jobs in the community.
Some time after that, Schmitt became a shareholder in the business, and finally, in November of 2024, he became the sole owner of Winkler Plumbing & Heating.
Today, with his affinity for hard work, Schmitt sets the pace of the service that he and the rest of the team at Winkler Plumbing & Heating offer.
Whether it’s residential or commercial service, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, filtration, geothermal installs & service, or one of the many other services the friendly business provides, from the beginning to the project to the end of it, attention to detail and a passion for serving the community characterize the company’s policy.
Making a move in faith
It’s clear that Schmitt’s journey to the helm of Winkler Plumbing & Heating was one that took patience and time.
It also took sacrifice. In the beginning, he was working full time, building a house in the evenings & weekends and somewhere in between completed his schooling in becoming a red seal plumber, and raising a young family. And in the later stages, learning how to transition from a laborer/co-worker to owning a business and making the best decisions for it and its employees.
One might ask then, what spurred the final jump to full ownership.
For Schmitt, it was his faith.
“It started with an accident I experienced on the job in 2019. A ladder slipped out from under me, and I landed on the concrete, badly injuring my shoulder. This kept me from fully performing my duties in the field, so I started helping Steve Kauenhofen (my business partner at the time) in the office and familiarizing myself more with the business end. Over the course of the following months, I think Steve noticed I was picking it up quickly. He’d always had dreams of returning to university to further his education in counselling and he called a meeting with the shareholders who were Mike Penner, Abe Peters and myself at that time.
It was decided that I would purchase their shares. As we were about to complete the deal, LUX (a local development company) showed interest in investing with WPH, and thus became my new partners until November 2024.
I am thankful for the experience. I learned valuable insights from each of the partnerships. With each step of the process, I could see how God had directed me. And now I felt like He was calling me to take the next big step. I reached a point where I felt more equipped to do this job, and so I felt a calling that it was my turn.”
The journey so far has been more than Schmitt could have imagined.
“It's been amazing. I have a very talented and dedicated crew. The good Lord has blessed me with an amazing wife and family. Her patience, prayers and strong support are keys to my success.”
Building community bonds
When it comes to the community, Schmitt, who is originally from Mexico, says it’s “loyal and hard working,” which is as much a positive experience for him as it is an indication of the quality of his service.
While on the surface, Schmitt’s is an enterprise of helping with emergency repairs, upgrades, installs and aesthetic enhancements in homes, he is really in the business of lending a friendly, dependable hand to a community that he respects.
“I believe at the core, we still have the foundations of the values this community was built upon, ... and growing up with that, I was taught to work hard, and to earn what you have,” he says.
“I think this community is like-minded in that sense, they just push forward when times are tough, and so that's what I like about it. We have such an amazing community of innovative people, you don't have to go far to get what you need right here in Winkler.”
Schmitt says he appreciates that the people in Winkler “are generous and willing to lend a hand” when someone is struggling.
Quality staff
The genuine care that Schmitt shows to the community is one that he also applies to his employees, a group that includes his two brothers and his cousin.
They emulate the mission of Schmitt and his business in the community, and they do a good job of it.
“My staff is great because they understand what Winkler Plumbing is about. We're here to serve God through the work that we do in serving people,” he says. “They understand that we need to work with integrity and kindness if we want to sustain this.”
Whether Schmitt’s staff is doing the routine maintenance or complex installations for which Winkler Plumbing & Heating is known, he says that they are “such a blessing.”
“They’re so good at what they do. They know what our standards and expectations are, and that's to treat people as you want to be treated. And just be a light in these dark times. They're pretty good at doing that,” he says.
Asking for guidance from above
Schmitt says that he has assembled his staff through a special means — prayer.
“When we need help, ... I pray about it,” he says. “I put the word out there and talk to people, and it has never failed that God has sent me that person that I needed. Sometimes it takes a while, but His timing is perfect for when He sees fit.”
The business owner says that even if the person that comes along isn’t exactly what he’s searching for, “it makes it easier to work with somebody that wants to work.”
His strategy from that point is to “treat them fairly and show them love, respect and encourage them." As a leader, he says he delegates according to the strengths of his team.
Another strength of the staff at Winkler Plumbing & Heating is that there is an atmosphere of cooperation and teaching rather than competition. Not only does this create a positive environment, but it also ensures top-of-the-notch knowledge from a team that consistently supports one another.
Services Provided
When it comes to the more standard services, there are plenty to choose from.
“Our main services would be most commercial work, any residential like heating and plumbing, heat pumps, air conditioners and endless service work, both commercial and residential,” says Schmitt. “We also do geothermal service and complete design & installs.”
In the end, Schmitt’s message to the community is that Winkler Plumbing & Heating is there to help.
“And if there's anything that we need nowadays, it’s kindness,” he says. “We strive to be a light wherever we go, and that's the message we want to give to people — be a light. Be kind to the people around you. Give people a reason to hope.”
Thank you
“I want to thank Abe Kauenhofen, for taking a chance on a reckless “know-it-all” 20 years ago. Thank you to all my prior business partners, for the knowledge you shared. Thank you Albert (Flash) Klassen, you were a great teacher. Thank you to Val Dyck, my secretary/bookkeeper/whatever else needs to be done. Thank you to my staff, you guys are fantastic, keep it up. Thank you to my loving wife Nettie/business partner/cleaning lady/therapist/many other hats you wear, for your endless support. And most importantly, thank you Lord, for your blessings to us. All glory belongs to You, forever and ever.”
To learn the difference a faith-centered, positive service creates, visit Winkler Plumbing & Heating at 329 Manitoba Rd, where the business has been for the last 35 years and hopes to stay for many, many more.
Winkler Plumbing & Heating can also be reached at 204-325-7591 or visited online here. The business also has a Facebook and Instagram page.