Address: 2101 W. St. Paul Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53233
Website: www.jmbrennan.com
Year founded: 1932
Product or service offered: Service-driven mechanical contractor providing HVAC, plumbing, piping, sheet metal, controls and 24/7 service for commercial, industrial and health care customers in southeast Wisconsin.
Projected 2012 revenue: $40 million
Leadership: Matt Brennan, co-president; John Brennan, co-president
Business organization memberships: Mechanical Contractors Association of America, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association, Assocatiated General Conractors of Greater Milwaukee, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Association of Facility Engineers, International Facility Management Association, Wisconsin Healthcare Engineering Association
What has fueled your company’s growth? “Meeting and exceeding our customer’s expectations for quality and service. We are a mechanical contractor performing HVAC, plumbing, piping, sheet metal, controls, and Service. While we have many competitors, we strive to be the first choice. When they need service or have a project at their facility, our customers know that they can depend on us to perform on-time and on-budget.”
What is the biggest obstacle to your company’s growth? “Our biggest obstacle is uncertainty in the economy. Wisconsin’s economy, along with the national economy, is still struggling. We depend on growth in our customer’s business in order to grow our own business. Until our customers are comfortable expanding their business or investing in their processes, our growth will continue to be challenging.”
Do you plan any changes in your company in the upcoming months? “This year (2012) will be the best sales revenue year for J.M. Brennan in it’s 80-year history. We are and have been hiring talented service technicians, construction tradesman, and project management professionals. We are incorporating new technologies such as BIM (building information modelling), lean construction, paperless systems, and GPS dispatching.”
Who are the business people, locally or nationally, whom you admire? And what traits do those people exhibit that make you admire them? “Entrepreneurs. Our grandfather started this business in the heart of the Great Depression 80 years ago, our father built on his legacy, and it has continued to grow throughout the years. We work every day with companies that have started from scratch and are pursuing their vision. They have a passion for their business and work hard to succeed.”
What is the outlook for the business conditions of your industry over the next several months? “Despite a weak overall construction industry, we expect continued growth especially in health care and industrial manufacturing.”
What is your company’s key strategy for rising out of the recession? “J.M. Brennan has succeeded in growing throughout this recession by focusing on our core business, investing in our team, listening to our customers, and exceeding their expectations.”
