J.M. Brennan, Inc.
Address: 2101 W. St. Paul Ave., Milwaukee
Year founded: 1932
Product or service offered: Mechanical construction and service for industrial, commercial, and health care customers in southeastern Wisconsin. Our core competencies include HVAC, plumbing, piping, sheet metal, controls, and service for industrial, commercial, and health care facilities.
Projected 2014 revenue: $60 million
Presidents: Matt Brennan and John Brennan
Target clientele: Industrial, commercial, and health care facilities that are interested and concerned about the proper operation of their facility, the quality of their indoor environment, reducing energy consumption, and maintaining their capital investment in mechanical equipment.
Business organization memberships: Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, International Facility Management Association, Association of Facility Engineers, Association of General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin Health care Engineering Association, Mechanical Contractors Association of America, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association
What has fueled your company’s growth? “J.M. Brennan’s growth has been fueled by our customers’ demand for service, quality, and workmanship—on time and on budget. Our customers are growing and they need contractors that continually meet and exceed their needs. J.M. Brennan does this by putting our customers first.”
What is the biggest obstacle to your company’s growth? “Our biggest obstacle to growth is adding high quality people to our team to meet our continued growth. We continually need high-quality, motivated project managers, foremen, tradesmen, and service techs to service our customers.”
Do you plan to make any changes in your company in the coming months? “Since my brother John and I purchased the company in 1997, we have expanded our capabilities, invested in our team, and hired additional project managers, foremen, and tradesmen. We have grown our team to 300 employees and this requires additional investment in service vans, equipment, technology, and tools. At the same time, we are investing in safety to make certain we continue our award-winning safety record.”
Who are the business people, locally or nationally, whom you admire? And what traits do those people exhibit that make you admire them? “John and I took over a very successful business from our father, John Brennan Jr. He took it over from our grandfather, John Brennan Sr., who started the business during the Great Depression in 1932. I admire both my father and my grandfather, who built this business and its reputation for John and I to continue.”
What is the outlook for the business conditions of your industry over the next several months? “The construction and service economy in Milwaukee is growing once again. However, the long-term outlook is still in question. The economy needs stability in order for our customers to commit to investment and growth in their facilities, processes, and mechanical equipment.”
What is your company’s most important growth strategy right now? “Take care of the customer. Our customers are businesses, factories, universities, commercial buildings, and health care facilities. They demand quality, service, and workmanship—on time and on budget. We provide. it.”
