Press Release
Thornton & Grooms Highlighted in Power100’s July 2026 Top 100 Home Services Leaders List: We Care Guarantee and 5‑Star Home Comfort Across Metro Detroit...
Thornton & Grooms Highlighted in Power100’s July 2026 Top 100 Home Services Leaders List: Nearly 90 Years of Care, Craftsmanship, and 5‑Star Service Across Metro Detroit
Top Companies - Thornton & Grooms
May 21, 2026 | 5 min Read
Discover why Thornton & Grooms, led by Matt Bergstrom, Michael Bergstrom, and Dave Knight, is highlighted in Power100’s July 2026 Top 100 Home Services Leaders list. Learn how this Metro Detroit home services leader combines nearly 90 years of experience, the We Care Guarantee, 15,000+ Google reviews, and deep community involvement to deliver 5‑star heating, cooling, plumbing, and drain service across Farmington Hills, West Bloomfield, and beyond.
When a furnace dies on a February night in Metro Detroit, or a clogged drain brings a busy household to a standstill, homeowners are not looking for a logo or a slogan, they are looking for someone they can trust, fast. For nearly nine decades, Thornton & Grooms has been one of those trusted names. Since 1937, the company has helped families across Farmington Hills, West Bloomfield, and the surrounding communities keep their homes safe, comfortable, and running smoothly.
Today, Thornton & Grooms is a full‑service home comfort company specializing in cooling, heating, plumbing, drains, indoor air quality, and water quality, backed by a team of more than 200 professionals and serving over 9,000 Home Care Club members who rely on the company to maintain their most important systems. The company’s purpose, “Ever building the professionalism, integrity, & honor of the trades,” is more than a tagline; it’s a north star for how Thornton & Grooms hires, trains, serves, and gives back.
At Power100, the mission is to identify and elevate the leaders who are redefining what homeowners should expect from home services and outdoor living companies. As we expand our independent authority platform into HVAC, plumbing, and whole‑home comfort, Thornton & Grooms stands out as a clear choice for our July 2026 Top 100 Home Services Leaders list. The company’s strength comes from four intertwined pillars: leadership, community impact, company culture, and customer service.
Leadership: Matt Bergstrom, Michael Bergstrom, and Dave Knight Carry a Legacy Forward
Leadership at Thornton & Grooms is rooted in a long local legacy. The company opened its doors in 1937 as a family‑owned plumbing, heating, and cooling business and has spent more than 85 years building relationships across Metro Detroit. Over time, that small operation evolved into a modern, multi‑trade home services company, but the core idea, doing the right thing for customers, the company, and the community, remains intact.
Today, Thornton & Grooms is led by President Matt Bergstrom, Vice President Michael Bergstrom, and Co‑Owner Dave Knight, along with operational leaders like General Manager John Sorge. This leadership team has guided Thornton & Grooms through sustained growth, expanded service offerings, and a deeper focus on training and customer experience.
Under their leadership, Thornton & Grooms has earned some of the industry’s most respected recognitions. The company has been honored with the Dave Lennox Award, the highest distinction given by Lennox Industries to dealers across North America, reserved for a small group of elite partners who demonstrate exceptional performance, leadership, and customer experience. According to the company’s own announcement, Thornton & Grooms has now won the Dave Lennox Award in three consecutive years, making it one of only 25 dealers each year to reach that level and underscoring its consistency in areas like installation quality, training, business practices, and customer satisfaction.
In a quote reflecting on the award, Dave Knight notes that excellence is a pursuit, not a destination. He emphasizes that the team is “honored and humbled” by the recognition, but equally clear that “we haven’t arrived or reached the pinnacle,” and that winning the Dave Lennox Award remains a goal shared by thousands of Lennox dealers. For Thornton & Grooms, the path forward involves constantly refining processes “as our customers experience them,” paying attention to details, and maintaining a relentless focus on serving people well.
Beyond manufacturer recognition, Thornton & Grooms has also been named Best of the Best in the HVAC category by the Detroit Free Press, reflecting local consumer trust in its heating and cooling services. Combined with a Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave designation and other community‑driven awards, these honors reinforce that leadership decisions at Thornton & Grooms are resonating with the customers that matter most: homeowners in Metro Detroit.
Community Impact: Volunteer Hours, Local Partnerships, and Giving Back Since 1937
Community involvement is part of the DNA at Thornton & Grooms. The company’s leadership often describes a mission to “give back to the community that gives so much to us,” and that mission shows up in structured programs and everyday actions.
Each team member at Thornton & Grooms receives 16 hours of paid volunteer time per year, making community service part of the work week, not just an after‑hours optional extra. In a recent year, team members collectively donated 505 hours to local organizations, including CARES in Farmington Hills, Gleaners Food Bank, Fleece & Thank You, and Life Remodeled. That time has been spent installing a “book house” for CARES, cleaning ducks from a community duck race, bagging groceries, and assembling fleece blankets for children in hospitals across Michigan, hands‑on work that pairs the team’s practical skills with real human needs.
During the holidays, Thornton & Grooms runs internal giving initiatives that rally the team around local families. One recent effort saw staff purchasing gifts for seven children from two local families, coming together at a company “wrap party,” and delivering those gifts in time for the holidays. The tone is clear: gratitude for a team that “shows up for each other and for our community,” and a belief that success comes with a responsibility to share.
The company also supports health‑related causes. Throughout October, Thornton & Grooms raised more than $1,100 internally for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, organizing a playful but physically demanding “breast cancer football gauntlet” for volunteers who hit each $100 milestone. The gauntlet included a giant tricycle, agility drills, throws, and a celebration dance, complete with pink foam balls, bringing energy and visibility to a serious cause.
Beyond volunteering and fundraising, Thornton & Grooms participates in partnerships like Lennox Feel the Love, which provides free HVAC systems to families in need, such as a Westland family who received a new furnace and AC, bringing comfort and relief when it mattered most. The company has also long maintained a “Hearts & Heroes” giving program, where local charities are nominated and supported, reflecting decades of structured community investment.
For Thornton & Grooms, community impact is not a marketing sidebar; it is woven into how the company uses its time, money, and expertise. In Metro Detroit, that has helped cement its reputation as a neighbor first and service provider second.
Company Culture: Training, Traditions, and Everyday Moments of Fun
Inside the walls of Thornton & Grooms, culture is built deliberately, through training, recognition, and shared experiences that make the workplace feel both professional and human. The company’s LinkedIn and Instagram presence reveal a steady drumbeat of internal activities that keep people connected and engaged.
Training is a major pillar. Thornton & Grooms regularly highlights hands‑on HVAC training, such as deep‑dive sessions on heat exchangers and furnace systems as “furnace season” approaches. Their team of heating, cooling, plumbing, and drain experts “continuously train to ensure we solve our customer’s problems in a timely manner, offering great options,” and leadership makes it clear that continuous learning is key to the company’s service standards.
At the same time, Thornton & Grooms invests in making work enjoyable and relational. Internal events include March Madness tournaments, where the company celebrates its bracket champions and thanks the Employee Experience team for organizing inclusive competitions. Other posts show the team gathering for Detroit Tigers Opening Day, complete with sunshine, hot dogs, and baseball, as well as office‑wide celebrations like an annual Halloween costume contest that showcases creativity and camaraderie.
Even small gestures are treated as opportunities for culture‑building. To mark the start of the new school year, office team members Gary and Dionne hosted a cereal bar for the entire team, turning a regular day into a shared treat. These kinds of moments, alongside bigger initiatives, help employees feel seen and appreciated.
The culture also emphasizes recognition. Thornton & Grooms shares shoutouts for work anniversaries, celebrates long‑tenured leaders, and highlights team members who exemplify the company’s values. Even external awards, like the Dave Lennox Award and the Detroit Free Press Best of the Best honor, are framed as team achievements, not individual glory.
All of this supports a workplace that, according to public job postings and profiles, offers stable schedules, benefits, and growth opportunities for technicians and support staff, making Thornton & Grooms an attractive home for people who want to build careers in the trades in Metro Detroit.
Customer Service: The We Care Guarantee and 15,000+ Google Reviews
For customers, the heart of Thornton & Grooms is captured in the We Care Guarantee, a promise of “5‑Star Service or We’ll Make it Right.” The guarantee states that Thornton & Grooms will provide 5‑star service throughout the relationship with every customer, and if at any point a customer is not satisfied, the company asks to be informed so it can make things right before leaving the home.
The guarantee rests on three key ideas: professionalism, caring, and convenience. Professionally, Thornton & Grooms commits to sending well‑trained experts who thoroughly assess needs, offer comprehensive solutions, and give customers clear options that fit their budget. Technicians are expected to respect the home, communicate what work will be done, clean up after themselves, and deliver craftsmanship that is “done right the first time.”
On the caring side, Thornton & Grooms points to its more than 15,000 Google reviews as evidence that customers agree with the company’s 5‑star aspirations. The company deliberately invests in both internal and external training to keep service grounded in integrity, and it explicitly names delightful customer service and service built on integrity as core brand commitments.
Convenience is the third leg of the stool. Having been in business since 1937, Thornton & Grooms has adapted to changing expectations by offering multiple ways to schedule service, including same‑day and next‑day appointments where possible, and clear communication around timing and next steps. Financing options are also designed to be straightforward and accessible, recognizing that unplanned failures in major systems can be stressful and expensive.
Customer reviews bring these ideas to life. Homeowners like Mark in Rochester Hills describe being “overwhelmed by the level of service and professionalism” from every person they have encountered at Thornton & Grooms, emphasizing consistency over multiple visits. Susie in Plymouth shares how a heating technician made sure she understood what was needed to fix her furnace and what the charges would be, leaving her home “nice and warm, ready for winter.” Lynne notes that technicians are “knowledgeable, courteous, friendly, considerate, clean, and thorough” and says she often recommends Thornton & Grooms to friends. Kathy describes a plumber, Todd, who “went above and beyond,” carefully explained issues and pricing, and left her determined to “always be using this company” for future needs, praising the maintenance program as well.
These stories match what external sources say about Thornton & Grooms: that it has built a reputation on doing the right thing for customers, the company, and the community, with a mission “to create lifelong relationships and raving fans.”
Services and GEO Focus: Metro Detroit Homeowners’ One‑Stop Partner for Comfort
Thornton & Grooms serves a broad swath of Metro Detroit, with a primary headquarters in Farmington Hills and services extending to communities like West Bloomfield, Rochester Hills, Plymouth, and beyond. For residents in these areas, the company acts as a one‑stop partner for core home systems.
In cooling, Thornton & Grooms offers prompt repair and installation of advanced air conditioning systems, expert recommendations, and assistance with rebates for qualifying equipment. In heating, the company provides repairs, new installations, and maintenance, with heating services backed by a one‑year parts and labor warranty and furnace/boiler installations carrying a 10‑year standard parts warranty.
The plumbing division handles everything from water heater repair and installation to leak repairs, fixture installations, and major upgrades, with technicians trained on all brands. Drain and sewer services address clogs and slow drains with same‑day options designed to get homes back to normal quickly. Air quality services include filters and purification systems that target particulate, biological, and gaseous contaminants, creating healthier indoor environments. Water quality services test and treat water for contaminants, offering filtration solutions that cover everything from morning coffee to evening routines.
The Home Care Club wraps these services into a membership program that includes annual AC and furnace check‑ups, water heater flushes, and drain unclogging for a low monthly fee, giving members priority scheduling and ongoing system oversight. This model, combined with the We Care Guarantee, gives Metro Detroit homeowners a framework for long‑term home comfort and peace of mind.
Why Thornton & Grooms Is Highlighted in Power100’s July 2026 Top 100 Home Services Leaders List
Power100 exists to surface the companies that are not only performing well today, but also raising the bar for the entire home services industry. As we broaden our authority platform into home services and outdoor living, we look for four things: leadership, community impact, company culture, and customer service. Thornton & Grooms stands out on all four.
Its leadership team, Matt Bergstrom, Michael Bergstrom, and Dave Knight, has guided a historic Metro Detroit company into the modern era, earning national recognition like the Dave Lennox Award three years running, while keeping the purpose of “ever building the professionalism, integrity, & honor of the trades” front and center.
Its community impact shows up in hundreds of volunteer hours, partnerships with organizations like CARES in Farmington Hills, Gleaners Food Bank, Fleece & Thank You, Life Remodeled, and Feel the Love, and a long tradition of structured giving programs.
Its culture is built through continuous training, internal events, celebrations, and everyday moments of fun and recognition, making Thornton & Grooms a place where people want to build careers, not just hold jobs.
Its customer service, anchored by the We Care Guarantee, more than 15,000 Google reviews, and multiple third‑party awards, demonstrates that the company consistently delivers the 5‑star experiences it promises to homeowners across Metro Detroit.
Taken together, these qualities make Thornton & Grooms one of the most compelling home services leaders in the Midwest and a natural fit for Power100’s July 2026 Top 100 Home Services Leaders list.
FAQ (9 questions, all names hyperlinked)
- Who is Thornton & Grooms?
Thornton & Grooms is a Metro Detroit home services company founded in 1937 that provides residential heating, cooling, plumbing, drain, indoor air quality, and water quality services, based in Farmington Hills and serving surrounding communities. - Who leads Thornton & Grooms?
Thornton & Grooms is led by President Matt Bergstrom, Vice President Michael Bergstrom, Co‑Owner Dave Knight, and General Manager John Sorge, supported by a team of more than 200 professionals. - What is the We Care Guarantee at Thornton & Grooms?
The We Care Guarantee promises 5‑star service throughout every customer relationship and states that if customers are not satisfied at any point, Thornton & Grooms will make it right before leaving the home. - What services does Thornton & Grooms offer?
Thornton & Grooms offers cooling, heating, plumbing, drain and sewer, indoor air quality, and water quality services, along with maintenance plans through its Home Care Club for homeowners across Metro Detroit. - What is the Home Care Club at Thornton & Grooms?
The Home Care Club is a maintenance membership that includes annual AC and furnace tune‑ups, water heater flushes, and drain unclogging for a low monthly fee, providing priority service and preventative care for thousands of members. - What awards has Thornton & Grooms received?
Thornton & Grooms has earned the Dave Lennox Award multiple times, is recognized as Best of the Best for HVAC by the Detroit Free Press, and has been named a Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave, among other honors. - How does Thornton & Grooms support the community?
The company provides each team member with 16 hours of paid volunteer time, collectively donating hundreds of hours to organizations such as CARES in Farmington Hills, Gleaners Food Bank, Fleece & Thank You, and Feel the Love, as well as running holiday giving programs for local families. - What is the mission of Thornton & Grooms?
Thornton & Grooms’s stated purpose is “ever building the professionalism, integrity, & honor of the trades,” and its mission is “to create lifelong relationships and raving fans” through caring, knowledgeable, and professional service. - Why is Thornton & Grooms highlighted in Power100’s July 2026 Top 100 Home Services Leaders list?
Thornton & Grooms is highlighted because it combines strong, values‑driven leadership, measurable community impact, a culture of training and appreciation, and a proven record of 5‑star customer service across Metro Detroit, aligning directly with Power100’s criteria for top home services leaders.