Jeff Farlow, CMCO

Work History

Many of you may remember my father, Phil Farlow, who served as VP at JMP and was active in the HVAC and Plumbing industry. He once told me that I needed to learn to do something with my hands since he had put me through college. That advice turned out to be invaluable. I began my career in 1983, building control panels for Conservatrol Inc., a Greensboro-based BMS contractor focused on the textile industry. After a year of learning the ropes, I was promoted to General Manager of the Birmingham, AL office at 25. This experience was a trial by fire, but it taught me invaluable lessons about business, employee management, and the industry.

In 1987, I joined Environmental Air Systems, Inc. as Division Manager, overseeing their mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and controls departments. There, I had the privilege of being mentored by Big Jim Bullock Sr., the founder of EAS, who taught me the subtleties of contracting, vendor and client relations, and the importance of maintaining professional integrity. This was a time when the "gentleman contractor" was still a prevalent figure, and I was fortunate to learn from some of the best in the industry.

In 1990, after obtaining my NC H1, H2, H3, and Plumbing licenses, we spun off the controls, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing service departments from EAS and founded Envirotrol, Inc. As President, alongside my partners Jimmy and Willie Bullock, we embarked on an exciting journey, focusing on emerging industry technologies and applying them to the rapidly growing microelectronics sector in RTP.

In 2012, EAS and Envirotrol were acquired by Comfort Systems USA, where I continued to serve as an Operating Group President until 2016. During this time, I received extensive business training from CSUSA, which enhanced my management and accounting skills and shifted my perspective on service delivery within our industry. My time with CSUSA was both enriching and transformative.

After leaving CSUSA, I founded Infrastructure Professional Services and Equipment, LLC, taking on projects across the U.S. During this period, I managed various mechanical and plumbing projects, including rainwater reclamation and other technical energy initiatives. Two years ago, I sold 55% of my interest in InfraPros to my current partner, Kevin Cooper, an incredibly talented property manager in Greensboro. Together, we continue to bring new talent into our industry, planting seeds for future growth. At this stage in my career, that's a deeply satisfying endeavor.

I've been involved in various professional organizations throughout my career, including serving as VP for Legislative Affairs of the PHCC, Executive Director of the Carolinas branch of the 7x24 Exchange International, and others. I'm particularly proud of my work with 7x24 Exchange, where we grew a small gathering into a standing-room-only convention with a successful annual golf tournament that supports the development of mission-critical (data center) operators.

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On a personal note, I've passed down the valuable advice my father gave me to my son, Adam. After graduating from UNC with a degree in Psychology, Adam worked with me at Envirotrol, earning his H1, H2, H3, and Plumbing contractors licenses. He now works for Aptitude (a division of JE Dunn), managing tech subcontractors to provide smart communication networks for their clients.  My eldest daughter, Leah, worked for Envirotrol during my tenure and then as Global Marketing Manager for Commissioning Agents, Inc. (CAI) and is now with us at InfraPros as Director of Marketing for our team.  My youngest daughter, Cara, lives and works in NYC with her husband.  I have two grandsons, 6 and 3 years old, and my wife Lora and I will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary in September.  I couldn't be prouder of the accomplishments of my family.

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In addition to my NC licenses, I am also licensed by exam in SC and VA for mechanical and plumbing contracting and as a General Contractor in Virginia.