Family Values & Everyday Home Comfort
At Intelligent Service, our story starts with family and continues with the way we care for yours. In this video, owner Joe shares how the company grew from his parents’ business in Mount Prospect into a team focused on comfort, safety, and integrity. That history shapes how we show up in your home today, from the way we solve problems to the way we treat your time and space. When homeowners get to know Joe’s background, they see the connection between our roots and the way we work on every job.
Joe learned the plumbing trade from his father, whose company, Kerr Mechanical, laid the foundation for what would become Intelligent Service. That experience started long before our current name, going back to 1959 when his father entered the trade and built a reputation for hard work and doing right by people. As Joe and his business partner began making house calls, they often met families who had dealt with the same issue for years. After finally getting lasting solutions, customers joked that they were “genius plumbers” and “Einstein plumbers,” inspiring the Intelligent name and the focus on thoughtful, problem-solving service.
Our values today reflect the example Joe’s father set, both on and off the job. In the video, Joe shares a story about his father buying a car for a painter who had no way to get to work, simply because it was the right thing to do. That kind of quiet generosity still guides how we approach each visit and every recommendation. We believe plumbing, heating, and cooling are about more than equipment; they are about helping people live comfortably and safely in their homes. That is why respect, reliability, and neighborly care sit at the heart of everything we do.
“Core values, you know, demonstrate the highest level of integrity. Do what’s right when nobody’s looking.”
Integrity for us means fixing issues the right way and explaining what we are doing so you can make informed decisions. Joe talks about how we reassure homeowners in stressful situations by reminding them that this is what we do every day and that our goal is to get them safe and comfortable again. That mindset shows up whether we are handling a plumbing emergency, a heating repair, or scheduled maintenance. We focus on long-term comfort instead of quick, surface-level fixes.
We also put care into the details of your experience from the moment our technicians arrive. Joe describes our approach as “rolling out the red carpet,” and that starts with simple, respectful actions inside your home. You will see shoe covers, clean work areas, and clear identification so you know who is in your home and what they are doing. We provide documentation such as certificates of insurance and licenses so you have confidence in the team at your door, and we leave your home as clean as we found it.
“I would describe the Intelligent Service customer experience as rolling out the red carpet. Five star experience.”
Joe is in the building every day in downtown Mount Prospect, and that daily presence matters. It means there is an owner who is directly involved, available to listen, and committed to keeping standards high. He invites homeowners to stop by and talk through issues or concerns, because we see every service call as the start or continuation of a relationship, not just a transaction. That local, approachable leadership helps keep our team aligned with the values the company was built on.
“This is my family, serving your family.”
That simple line captures what Intelligent Service is all about. We bring family history, trade knowledge, and a customer-first mindset into every home we visit. When you watch the video, you get more than a behind-the-scenes look at our story; you see why integrity, care, and thoughtful service guide every job we take on. If you prefer to read, we hope this glimpse into Joe’s journey and our values helps you understand what to expect when you invite us into your home.