We are happy to report that our contributing group of merchants kept up their amazing work in the first half of 2019–withholding as little as $10 per funded sale, our merchants collectively amassed $24,120 in just the first half of 2019! This brings the total contribution to HFOT to $359,620 total since 2012 when we began our involvement with Homes For Our Troops. Though our merchants haven’t asked for recognition, we’d like to thank them here.
Author:stephanie
ISPC employees enjoy a Tampa Bay Rays game with friends and family
ISPC employees had a fun-filled day enjoying a Tampa Bay Rays game, making memories with friends and family.
Generous Merchant Contributions to Homes for Our Troops in the second half of 2018
Special thanks to our generous merchants for your contributions to Homes For Our Troops (HFOT)
Our contributing group of merchants kept up their amazing work in 2018 and we are happy to report that, withholding as little as $10 per funded sale, our merchants collectively amassed $30,050 in just the second half of 2018! This brings the total contribution to HFOT to $335,500 total since 2012 when we began our involvement with Homes For Our Troops. Though they haven’t asked for recognition, we’d like to thank them here (in alphabetical order).
• Aqua Life
• Acquatek Water & Energy Solutions
• Bottle Free Water
• Century Water Solutions
• Clean Water Texas
• Elite Water Systems
• Emerald Coast Environmental
• EPI Water
• Hydroclear Water Treatment
• IQ Power
• Guardian Water
• Reps H2O
• South Carolina Savings Co.
• Sun State Water
• Sun-Tec
• Water Equipment Technologies (WET)
• Water Treatment ServicesThank you for your generosity!
Special Thanks to our Home For Our Troops Contributors
ISPC and The LeverEdge began supporting the charity Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) in 2012.
Our contributing group of merchants and dealers kept up the amazing work in the first half 2018 and we are happy to report that, withholding as little as $10 per funded sale, our merchants and dealers collectively amassed $32,070 in the first half 2018! This brings the total contribution to HFOT to $305,450 total since we’ve been involved with Homes For Our Troops.
Though they haven’t asked for recognition, we’d like to thank them here.
- Aqua Life
- Acquatek Water & Energy Solutions
- Bottle Free Water
- Century Water Solutions
- Clean Water Texas
- Elite Water Systems
- Emerald Coast Environmental
- EPI Water
- Hydroclear Water Treatment
- IQ Power
- Guardian Water
- Reps H2O
- South Carolina Savings Co.
- Sun State Water
- Sun-Tec
- Water Equipment Technologies (WET)
- Water Treatment Services
Thank you for your generosity!
ISPC turns 35 years old today. Thank you for helping us get here
ISPC Celebrates 35 Years
Florida-based ISPC is a 100% employee-owned finance company that has been providing consumer-friendly loans to homeowners since May 3, 1983. Here’s a brief historical journey.
ISPC was originally established as the financing subsidiary of Solar City, Inc. To fully appreciate ISPC, one needs to also understand Solar City and how the two symbiotic companies grew alongside each other. Solar City emerged from a fledgling company started in 1977 by two pioneering young men, Robert “Bob” Schabes, and Charles “Ben” Bentley, who sold solar water heaters door-to-door. Like many undercapitalized startup businesses, they started small; working out of Bob’s garage. By 1979, based upon that company’s success, the two proprietors identified a need for the creation of the state’s first wholesale distributor of solar equipment, which became Solar City. To breathe life into the company, the two young men borrowed from a family member to purchase an old, reconditioned gas station in Tampa, Florida to be the distribution office.
1977 – Bob’s garage, where it all began 
1979 – Solar City’s first distribution office Just as Solar City was created to meet a market need, so too was ISPC. To successfully sell solar water heaters to consumers, this budding industry needed financing options. ISPC was formed in 1983 to meet this need. Being a capital-dependent operation, ISPC started as a partnership between Solar City and Mor-Flo Industries, which at the time generated $200MM in annual revenues and was the third-largest water heater manufacturer in the U.S. More than a decade later, Solar City bought out Mor-Flo’s interests to make ISPC its wholly-owned subsidiary.
In the early 1990’s, Solar City bought out multiple competing solar distributors who had locations in Florida. Current ISPC President, Robert W. “RW” Schabes, son of co-founder Bob Schabes, began his career with Solar City in 1990 as manager of one of the newly acquired offices in Largo. While working for Solar City, RW was part of the project in the late 1990’s that created a manufacturing facility to build solar pool heating collectors. That project was later formed into a new subsidiary, named Solar World, Inc. That company, named Solar Hydronics Corp. today, is still a vibrant part of the company. RW also crafted the business plan that led both Solar City and ISPC into the water treatment industry in 2001.
Originally named The Independent Solar Plan Company, the company name was changed to The Independent Savings Plan Company in 1986 (and later shortened as a dba to just ISPC) to support ISPC’s diversification to other products and services, including residential heating and air-conditioning (HVAC), water conditioning/drinking water systems and other home improving products. Similarly in 2001, Solar City created a dba name, The LeverEdge, to demonstrate its commitment to enter the water treatment industry, and made its big move by buying an existing distributor in that industry. Water treatment would grow to become a major part of the companies’ futures.
ISPC was selected as a semi-finalist for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious Small Business of the Year Award in 2004, made the Inc.5000list of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies in 2007, and received the Industry of the Year Award from the Pasco Economic Development Council in 2009as the company continued to grow and provide consumer financing through an ever-expanding network of select merchants.
2007 – Inc. 5000 – America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies Despite the economic turbulence of the Great Recession, in 2008 ISPC completed construction and moved into its largest home yet, a 40,000 square foot People’s Choice Award-winning building for its architecture. ISPC persevered through the years of tough market conditions without having to lay off any employees, as many other businesses did during that time. From the beginning, company leadership has made the success of their employees a priority. The vast majority of ISPC employees have been with the company for five years or longer, more than half of those having worked for the company for ten to thirty plus years. ISPC is a place where employees make their career.
2008 – ISPC completed construction and moved into its 40,000 square foot People’s Choice Award-winning building Together with their merchants, the companies began jointly supporting Homes for Our Troops in 2012. Homes for Our Troops is a privately funded nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post – 9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives. The companies are honored to be able to give back to those who have served in our military through this remarkable organization.
Since 2012 – Home for Our Troops – Groundbreaking at a local home site and check presentation A signature program of the companies that marks their success is the annual incentive program provided to their highest performing merchants and dealers. Incentive trip winners have been awarded group summer visits to locations like Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, Aruba, Jamaica, Barbados, and Italy/Greece. Every year for 23 years, merchants and dealers have been inspired to achieve at their highest levels so they may earn these exciting trips.
ISPC is proud of the company’s 35-year history of being a top-quality employer in the greater Tampa Bay area while supporting many other small businesses by providing consumer loans nationwide. The company aspires to do even greater things in its next 35 years!
ISPC Volunteers Time for Marine Corp. Justin Gaertner
On the beautiful, yet rather warm, Saturday morning of September 21st, many of ISPC’s fabulous employees donated their time and effort to volunteer and install the landscaping on Justin Gaertner’s new home in Lutz, FL. Justin is being given a new home from Homes for Our Troops, custom built for his specific needs. ISPC has been actively involved, both with volunteer and fundraising efforts for Homes for Our Troops for the past year and we’ve enjoyed supporting Justin as we’ve watched his project go from groundbreaking to near completion this year. Justin’s Key Ceremony is scheduled for December 4th so he’ll be in his new home before Christmas. ISPC is proud to be involved by supporting our heroes through Homes for Our Troops.
ISPC Shifts to Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Tampa, FL
ISPC is now a 100% employee-owned company. Since its inception, ISPC has been a privately held S corporation, but under the new structure, now operates under an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The company has always provided a rich retirement plan for its employees and under the new ESOP; employees will be provided shares in the corporation every year.
ESOP’s were developed to encourage capital expansion and economic equality by distributing the benefits of a company’s growth back into its workforce. ESOPs have been credited with providing retirement security, job stability and worker retention due to the cultures they create and productivity gains associated with employee ownership.
Robert W. Schabes, ISPC’s President had this to share: “Completing this change in the company’s structure is a tremendous achievement. ISPC deeply values its talented employees and strives to provide them not only with an excellent culture and place to work, but also rewards them for their contributions and productivity with clear financial benefits. This is a proud and exciting time in the company’s history.”
ISPC Makes Donation to Justin Gaertner
On December 12, 2012, ISPC hosted a special donation ceremony at their location in Odessa, FL. The donation was made to Homes for Our Troops to help build combat wounded veteran Justin Gaertner a new home specifically adapted to his needs. Special guest speakers in attendance were Army Sergeant Austin Burchard of Lutz and Marine Corporal Justin Gaertner of New Port Richey, FL.
The total donation of $10,000 was largely raised from a joint venture corporate sponsored golf tournament in November hosted by The LeverEdge and ISPC. This marks the beginning of an on-going commitment from ISPC in fundraising and volunteering on behalf of Homes for Our Troops.
“We feel honored to have the opportunity to give something back to the brave men and women who have served in our military. Homes for Our Troops provides us with the opportunity to get involved in a meaningful way with local veterans whom we are proud to assist.” – Mark Schabes, ISPC Director of Marketing.
Small Business of the Year Awards
Small Business of the Year Awards! In 2004, ISPC was nominated and later selected as a semi-finalist for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious Small Business of the Year Awards. We owe this honor to the dedication and commitment of our fine staff.