Origin and The Ranch: A Homegrown Partnership Rooted in Family, Trust, and Community

In Larimer County, small businesses have long shaped the landscape and the lives of the people who live here. One of them began nearly 30 years ago with a single truck and a simple mission: to take care of people.

 

That business was Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning, founded by Glenn Frank, a third-generation tradesman continuing his family’s legacy and tradition of craftsmanship and honesty.

 

Today, that same company has grown into Origin, a full-service plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling provider serving communities across Northern Colorado.

 

For Frank, the philosophy behind the growth has always been simple: people matter most. That belief has guided every decision the company has made, from how it serves its customers to how it invests back into the community.

 

“Origin was born out of the necessity of expanding Fort Collins Heating and Air Conditioning’s reach and the additional services that we offer,” Frank said. “It’s a brand that better describes all of the services we offer and the geographic area we serve. It’s not limiting.”

 

The addition of the Origin brand wasn’t just about adding services. It was about creating a name that reflected where the company came from and how it continues to grow.

 

“We wanted a name that would embody the legacy of a family-owned business,” Frank said. “We looked for a name that represented our roots, and Origin came out on top.”

 

Carrying the Family Legacy Forward

 

Frank represents the third generation of his family in the trades. His sons, Anthony Taylor, Jesse Frank, and Mitchell Frank, now help lead the business as the fourth. Together, they’ve carried forward the same principles that defined its beginning: integrity, quality, and long-term thinking.

 

“We’re a family-tradition business,” Frank said. “It’s really cool to see the next generation take ownership and want to keep growing.”

 

That long-term mindset shapes how Origin serves customers. Instead of chasing short-term profit, they focus on trust, one home and one experience at a time.

 

When customers schedule service, they receive a photo and a short bio of the technician arriving at their door. It’s a small detail, but one that shows how much Origin values trust and comfort the moment a technician walks in.

 

“Usually when people call us, they’re stressed out,” Frank said. “They’ve got water leaking or no heat or cooling. We want to bring calmness, a feeling of ‘Hey, you called the right place."

 

Inside the company, that same compassion defines the workplace culture.

“I’m five weeks in,” said Jim Drobnick, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, “and I can already see how much they care about customers and each other. It really is a family business.”

 

A Partnership Rooted in Shared Values and Community Impact

 

When the opportunity to partner with The Ranch Events Complex surfaced, Frank and his team immediately recognized the fit. Both organizations share deep Northern Colorado roots and a commitment to serving the surrounding community.

 

“The Ranch is a long-term, established venue,” Frank said. “It’s a go-to place, a central focal point for concerts, hockey games, and rodeos. For us, it gives good exposure and lets us be part of such a successful complex that’s been a great addition to Larimer County.”

 

For Origin, the partnership is both practical and purposeful. It brings meaningful visibility to a homegrown company while directly supporting programs that benefit local youth.

 

“By moving money from one area of our marketing plan to this, we’re helping the 4-H community offset their costs,” Frank said. “It’s local money. It’s not some outside corporate sponsorship. I was born in Fort Collins, and the money I’ve earned has always gone back into this community in some way.”

 

The partnership will be celebrated with a Ribbon-Cutting and Community event on November 4 at The Origin Arena at the Ranch Events Complex.

A Shared Connection with 4-H

The sponsorship became even more personal when the team learned the facility they would sponsor was home to 4-H, a program close to several employees’ hearts and to Frank’s family as well. Glenn’s wife participated in 4-H growing up, an experience he says helped shape her sense of community and responsibility, values that have long guided their family and business.

Frank also sees a natural connection between 4-H and the trades. He says both teach accountability, hard work, and pride in doing things the right way, qualities that have built Origin’s reputation across Northern Colorado.

 

“I was a 4-H kid,” said Todd Harding, Marketing & Advertising Coordinator. “I showed pigs until I was a senior in high school.”

 

For others at Origin, the program was just as formative in their younger years and remains a point of pride today.

 

“I was also in 4-H,” added Donja Medina, Marketing Manager. “I did the county fair and was in the national horse bowl competition.”

 

Those shared experiences made the partnership feel less like a marketing move and more like a continuation of the company’s roots.

 

“We’ve always given back to the community,” Frank said. “More times than not, it has something to do with kids. They’re the future of our community. So it’s a good partnership overall. It just fits.”

 

The newly named Origin Arena, formerly the 4-H & Youth Community Building, reflects that shared purpose.

 

“We don’t want 4-H to feel like we’re just taking over,” Frank said. “It’s their building. We have our name on it, but it’s theirs. We just want to partner with them, respect their space, and hopefully draw more attention to 4-H in the process.”

 

“We’re coming from a position of support, not competition,” Medina added.

 

A Local Partnership with Shared Benefits

 

Every year, Larimer County invests more than half a million dollars to sustain 4-H programs. Origin’s sponsorship strengthens that commitment while creating valuable brand awareness for a company built right here in Northern Colorado.

 

It’s an arrangement that works on both levels. Origin gains visibility in a space that reflects its values, and 4-H and The Ranch gain a partner whose investment stays local.

 

“We want to be a company that’s looked up to as a leader that’s doing it the right way,” Frank said. “Successful and honest, with integrity. Doing the right thing.”

 

Rooted Here, Growing Here

 

As The Ranch continues advancing its Master Plan, focused on sustainable growth and community investment, partnerships like this one show how public projects and local businesses can thrive together.

 

Origin’s story mirrors that of The Ranch itself: rooted in family, grounded in community and tradition, and focused on building something that lasts.

 

Read more community stories and Master Plan updates at treventscomplex.com/about/master-plan