about Nichols & phipps
Our Team
A great customer experience depends on the people behind the Nichols & Phipps brand name.
We would love to introduce you to some of our team members.
Leadership Team
Fred Petrus, CPA, MBA
President
Master Plumber | Master HVAC | Master Gas | Master Electrician
President and COO, Fred Petrus has knowledge and experience in all business areas. You can feel good about hiring Nichols & Phipps because it is under the leadership of a Master HVAC tech, Master Plumber, Master Electrician, Real Estate professional, and Certified Public Accountant in Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey.
This wide range of knowledge and experience, plus a passion for doing things the right way, means that Nichols & Phipps has the best leadership possible. Sit down and talk with Fred, and you’ll realize how important great customer service is to him too. One of his biggest pet peeves is when companies use free repair call offers to get in the door with the goal of finding things to sell the customer and to pad the bill to pay for the “free” service call. This will never be the case at Nichols & Phipps. The free repair call tactic does not fit with the company values. Honesty is more than just a buzzword; it is the way we run the company.
If you have any questions or concerns for our management staff, feel free to contact me today at (703)-670-8519. Our team is looking forward to working with you and fixing what needs to be fixed.
Nicholas Petrus
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Master Plumber | Master HVAC | Master Gas | B.S. Accounting
Nick oversees the day-to-day operations of Nichols & Phipps, bringing together extensive technical expertise, business knowledge, and a strong commitment to quality. As a Master Plumber, Master HVAC professional, and Master Gas Fitter, he understands how the various mechanical systems within a home or building work together as one complete system—not as separate trades.
Nick also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Delaware, giving him a unique perspective when it comes to estimating, project planning, budgeting, and overall job profitability.
In his role as Chief Operating Officer, Nick is focused on delivering projects efficiently, accurately, and to the highest standards. He emphasizes detailed estimates, thoughtful project planning, proper code compliance, and quality workmanship designed to perform reliably for years to come.
His combination of hands-on trade experience, licensing expertise, financial knowledge, and operational leadership allows Nichols & Phipps to provide customers with practical solutions that balance quality, performance, and value.
Mary Lieu
Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary & Treasurer
Mary is responsible for all aspects of the Company’s Accounting, Treasury and Financial Analysis Functions. She brings over 31 years of accounting/financial experience, including positions as Controller for a commercial and residential central heating and cooling specialists, plumbing services and piping contractors for over 16 years. Mary also served as an Accounting Manager for a builder/developer, a Senior Accountant for a regional bank’s real estate finance division and an Accountant with a national financial services corporation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Heating & Cooling Division
Christian Price
Residential HVAC Service Manager
Christian has 15 years in field experience with a majority of that time spent doing customization in the layout of zone controlled systems on fully communication geothermal, conventional forced air, heat pump, and hydronic systems, as well as Solar setups on roof, mounted and ground grid setups. Always willing to go out of the way to make sure any work done is completed with a 100 percent expectation at a minimum.
Plumbing Division
Brent Burwell
Plumbing Service Manager/Water Treatment Specialist
Brent has been with us for 7 years bringing 18 years of expert experience with Water Treatment Service and Installation of all types of Water Filtration Systems. He has experienced in Residential and Commercial Systems and addresses problems in both municipal or well water. Honesty and Fair Pricing are his work trademarks. Always ready to offer Free Water Analysis and provide services for your Water Treatment needs.
Luke Haley
Plumbing Operations Manager
As Plumbing Operations Manager for Nichols & Phipps and CFS Service Corporation, he plays a key role in overseeing and coordinating the companies’ plumbing operations. His responsibilities include managing day-to-day plumbing activities, coordinating field personnel, supporting project scheduling and execution, and helping ensure that work is performed efficiently, professionally, and in accordance with applicable standards and requirements.
He works closely with customers, technicians, project managers, contractors, and company leadership to keep projects and service operations organized, productive, and on schedule. His position requires strong leadership, practical knowledge of the plumbing trade, attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and a commitment to providing customers with quality service.
He is also continuing to advance his professional credentials and is currently working toward obtaining his Master Plumber and Gas Fitter licenses in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. His commitment to continuing education and professional development reflects his dedication to the plumbing industry and to expanding his knowledge and capabilities.
Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outdoors and on the water. His favorite hobbies include golfing and both offshore and inshore tuna fishing. Whether on the golf course or out on the water pursuing tuna, he enjoys the challenge, competition, and time spent with friends and family.
His combination of operational leadership, plumbing experience, professional ambition, and genuine passion for the trades makes him a valued member of the Nichols & Phipps and CFS Service Corporation teams.
Electrical Division
Charles “Cary” W. E. Ritchey, III
Vice President, Electrical Operations Manager and Senior Estimator
Cary heads up our Electrical Contracts Division for 10+ years. He has 29+ years of Commercial and Residential Electrical experience, including running and managing his own company and preparing estimates for electrical contracts. He works with general contractors, engineers, county inspectors, architects, superintendents and other subcontractors to ensure the field projects run smoothly and get completed in a timely manner. Cary actual works with his technicians on a daily basis. He believes everyone needs to carry their own weight and they will respect you more if you show them the same respect as you would want yourself. Cary is a licensed Master Electrician and holds Certifications in Edwards FSA fire alarm systems, Leviton structured systems and Leviton Vista RF lighting controls. He has been married for 28 years with 2 children. Family has always come first for Cary and he carries that value to the workplace.
Office / Support Staff
Cathy Cleveland
Operations & Dispatch Manager
Cathy has worked in the Customer Service and Dispatching industry for over 5 years. She handles our Residential HVAC and Plumbing Service invoices and purchase orders as well as our Residential Comfort Club Agreements. When it comes to Customer Service, she knows how to listen, by giving her full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. She empathizes and solves all customer related issues efficiently. She has a great ability to multitask, work under pressure and meet deadlines in a timely manner.
Karen Forget
Operations & Dispatch Manager
Karen Forget brings more than five years of experience in customer service and dispatch operations. She coordinates service calls, schedules and dispatches technicians, communicates appointment details, ensures technicians have the information needed for each job, and manages residential service invoices, purchase orders, and Residential Comfort Club Agreements.
Karen is known for her ability to listen carefully, communicate clearly, and understand the needs of both customers and team members. She takes the time to understand concerns, asks appropriate questions, and works to find effective solutions to customer-related issues.
In her dispatch role, Karen manages the daily coordination between customers, technicians, and the office, helping ensure that service calls are scheduled efficiently and that technicians have the information and resources they need. She is comfortable managing changing priorities, multitasking in a fast-paced environment, meeting deadlines,