Ernest V. Ongaro opened his plumbing company in 1932 – right in the middle of the Great Depression. Ernie knew it wasn’t the ideal time to start a business, but he also knew he had a valuable service to provide. Over the years, Ongaro & Sons Plumbing has grown into a highly regarded HVAC, plumbing, and electrical company serving the greater Marin and Sonoma counties.

Four generations of Ongaros have worked for Ongaro & Sons, including Ernie’s great-grandsons, Ernest and Donald Ongaro, who now run the company. Ernest remembers cleaning the warehouse when he was young, and he and Donald always knew they wanted to work in the family business. That responsibility has included expanding into their new headquarters, financed through Bay Area Development. From this new space the company will continue to create jobs and provide its services to even more customers. Ernest has a sense of pride for the support his family’s company offered over the last 90 years and believes his great-grandfather would be proud to see how his legacy has flourished.