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Brennan & Associates Inc. Making Homes Energy Efficient, One at a Time
By Linda Bloom What's it like to work for a company for 20 years and wind up owning it? Ask Dave Masciarelli, president of Brennan & Associates, commercial/residential heating and air conditioning specialists. He as his partner, George Trappe, took the helm in March 2001. Formerly a vice president, Commercial Installation Manager, Masciarelli reflects on now owning the company, "It makes me feel wonderful. I worked for the company like it was my own before. I am very fortunate to have been in a position to do this." Masciarelli, now president, manages the company and still runs all commercial installations, bidding, and makes sure that projects get done on time. He has hired an assistant to handle day-to-day project management and labor management. Now, he can focus on overall general running and operation of the company. Masciarelli's motivation is always job quality and finishing projects right on time for his customers. He defines his firm as a "very reputable, honest contractor." Masciarelli earned an Associates' degree from West Side Institute of Technology, a heating and air conditioning trade school. It gives basics to get started in the industry. However, Masciareli emphasizes, "Nothing replaces field experience. I worked my way up the ranks in preventative maintenance, primarily installations; that's how I got my experience." Brennan & Associates is a member of the Refrigeration Service Engineering Society. The company was founded in 1977, originally specializing in the fabrication and installation of HVAC systems in medium to large industrial and commercial buildings. The area's most successful real estate builders, developers, and industry giants were attracted to Brennan & Associates' mechanical program. Brennan & Associates has an exciting new division that installs residential new construction, add-on and replacement heating and air conditioning systems. That is the responsibility of Vice President of Sales and Marketing George Trappe. Trappe brings 25 years' experience to the company, with a solid background in commercial and residential product application. He most recently was employed at Refrigeration Sales Corp. For the past 17 years. His current career focus in improving residential home thermal performance and making homes more energy efficient. Trappe is and "Energy Star Auditor," for the Home Energy Raters of Ohio and Department of Development. He can certify that homeowners have upgraded homes to certain specifications. There is a small organization statewide that consists of about 20 actual raters. Experience pays. Trappe shares, "This new opportunity allows me to take everything I have learned over the years about energy-efficient buildings and homes and all the right ways to make people comfortable, using fewer resources for utilities. It allows me to take that knowledge directly to the consumer, providing quality service and quality installations. To be able to feel like you are really contributing to you industry-to be able to take all this knowledge and provide, what I think is the best service possible, is exciting." Brennan & Associates with a customer base covering the state of Ohio, has grown to a formidable and effective business with 34 employees, boasting great employee longetivity. Most employees have been in place for 12 years. Two former employees, when apprised of the new ownership, returned to the company. Balance is the theme at Brennan & Associates. Masciarelli explains, "We have a solid, stable, and professional customer base that makes us successful. We provide and excellent product and reliability" Accordingly, there is no large turnaround of customers. Brennan & Associates belongs to the Cleveland and Akron Home Builder Associations. Whole house comfort specialists, they can point out insulation deficiencies. They try to solve problems in houses that affect people who live in them-related dust problems, allergy problems and moisture. Brennan & Associates address issues relating to comfort in residential structures, explaining to homeowners how they can improve "quality of life" through new installations. Trappe who called on Brennan & Associates as a supplier with heating and cooling equipment for their jobs, says, "The exciting thing is that Dave and I have been friends for a while. We've known each other since the 1980s. Buying the business was a great opportunity." In the spirit of real partnership, Trappe explains, "We wouldn't go into this with anybody else. That's the nice party about it. I am really happy that we were able to now go off in the direction where we want to go." A first-time business owner, Trappe, is "still overwhelmed" by the opportunity. Both partners, Dave Masciarelli and George Trappe, enjoy having their business located in the heart of Cleveland and plan on staying there. Cleveland will be developing and redeveloping, and "we want to be a part of it," Trappe emphasizes. Masciarelli is much more relaxed as president, being able to make all of the decisions. Having George on board is assuring. You hear a lot of people say, "I should have done this and that, and all their life they stew about it. George and I just sat down and said, Let's just do it, and i could not be happier."
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