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Zak Downing

Owner, Second-Generation

Years with the Company: 15

I have been a part of GSMS for as long as I can remember, growing up in the family business that my dad, Mark, founded in 1987. While I’ve worn almost every hat imaginable over the years, I officially transitioned into my current leadership role as the Second-Generation Owner to carry our family's legacy forward. Today, I am incredibly proud to work alongside my dad, my mom (who handles our financials), and my brother, Jack (who leads our service team).

Inside the company, I am the "guy with many hats." I personally handle all of our marketing, brand design, and internal system creation. Out in the field, I act as a Project Designer, working directly with clients on system design and project management. My absolute specialty is client education—I am fiercely passionate about our "education over sales" philosophy and our transparent, "no haggle" approach. I want to ensure homeowners truly understand their home systems so they can make empowered decisions.

I graduated from the University of New Hampshire's Peter T. Paul School of Business & Economics in 2017 with a custom, "student-designed" degree in Business Administration & Mechanical Engineering. However, beyond formal education, my true expertise stems from a lifelong, hands-on apprenticeship in the HVAC and plumbing industry. I learned the technical, operational, and ethical sides of the trades directly from my dad since childhood.

"I've never understood companies that treat homeowners like numbers; if you come to us, you are a client we are going to take care of, not just a customer we are selling to. Great service is about doing the right thing when no one is looking and doing whatever it takes to make a situation right."

Certifications & Credentials:

  • EPA 608 Certified
  • OSHA 10 Certified
  • Lennox Certified Comfort Advisor
  • NH Gas License
  • EPA/HUD RRP Certified Renovator

Awards & Affiliations:

  • Winner of the 2026 BBB Torch Award for Ethics
  • Vice President of the Swains Lake Association
  • Active Volunteer and Board Member with the Barrington Chamber of Commerce
  • Lennox Premier Dealer & Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer

Featured In:

  • Business NH Magazine (August 2026 Edition)
  • BizNH Podcast (Guest, Summer 2026)

Areas of Expertise & Speaking Topics:

  • Implementing transparent "no haggle" pricing in the trades
  • Community-based marketing for local service businesses
  • Second-generation leadership in family-owned contracting
  • Transitioning from traditional sales to an education-first approach
  • Custom residential HVAC system design
  • Building an award-winning ethical culture in home services
  • Navigating residential heat pump incentives in New England
  • In-house brand design for small business growth
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