History

A Little About Us

A Family Owned and Operated Business since 1951

PSC Distribution is a fourth generation, family owned and operated business located in Iowa City, Iowa.

Jim Nesmith was a state senator for Jasper County living in Kellogg, Iowa, in the 1940s. In the middle of his state senate term, Jim took a job as a salesman with A.Y. McDonald, a wholesale distributor based out of Des Moines. Iowa City was a location on Jim?s route and he saw an opportunity to establish a wholesale plumbing distributorship in the community with a growing university and hospital. Plumbers Supply Company opened for business on May 1, 1951.

Jim, along with his wife, Gladys, and several employees, began selling plumbing supplies out of a small warehouse at 2020 S. Riverside Dr. (the location of our current showroom), and quickly became known as a wholesaler who would have product in stock when you needed it.

Nora Lee and Wayne Balmer, Jim's daughter and son-in-law, assumed control in 1969 and guided the growing business for 30 years. During that time, the company expanded into HVAC products and hired another long-term employee, Kevin Schmitt, who manages this growing line of business.

Retiring in the late 90s, Wayne and Nora Lee were succeeded by their two oldest sons, John and Jim Balmer, as CEO and President of the company respectively. John and Jim continued to expand the business and in 2008, the company moved from 2020 S. Riverside to 72 Commercial Dr. (just across the tracks) into a new warehouse and office building.

Continuing the family tradition, three new family members have joined the business and look to continue building on the successes of the prior generations. John?s son, Tom Balmer, along with Jim?s daughter and son-in-law, Jennie and Ben Wunderlich, came on board in the late 2000s and are excited to bring a new perspective to the business as they learn from their predecessors.

The Balmer Family is blessed and excited to have been in business for 65 years with such quality employees, and look forward to many more years of family tradition.

Awards

PSC Distribution has received many awards over the years for leadership and achievement. In addition, PSC's strong ties and commitment to the community continue, as we actively support the Ronald McDonald House, Iowa City Community School District Foundation, Table to Table, Optimist Service Club, Rotary, and we were one of the original investors in ICAD. PSC also supports our employees? service efforts with several organizations including: Iowa College Foundation, the Chamber of Commerce board of directors and the Iowa City Homebuilders Association.

Roots Award

In 2011, PSC was selected as a recipient of the Roots Business Award from the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce as an anchor business of the Iowa City area for over 60 years and an example of a successful relationship between a small business and its community.

National Single-branch ICP Distributor of the Year

In 2012, PSC was named the single branch Comfortmaker/Keeprite Distributor of the Year, a national award given by International Comfort Products (ICP), a leading manufacturer of HVAC equipment.

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