VHV, a staple mechanical construction and service company serving Vermont and New Hampshire, celebrates its diamond jubilee this September.
“Honestly, all of the company’s success and longevity can be attributed to our people. Their ambition, curiosity, and commitment to excellence have helped us stand the test of time,” says VHV’s CEO Tom Dacres.
VHV has a storied history full of family legacy, entrepreneurial spirit, and an unrelenting thirst for innovation.
Three generations of Browns sat at the company’s helm, guiding it to achieve unprecedented levels of success.
The impetus for VHV began in 1949 in a humble garage in Burlington, VT. Nathan Brown had a vision that took him from framing to building heating and ventilation systems.
Nathan’s son, Jerry, turned VHV into a household name for education and training both for internal team members and statewide, molding Vermont’s sheet metal trade apprenticeship program. The company garnered many accolades during this time, including the Labor Investment for Tomorrow (LIFT) America Award for education and the Deane C David Outstanding Vermont Business Award.
Jerry’s nephew David took the reins in 1997 and had a singular vision—transforming VHV from a sheet metal contractor to becoming a full mechanical and service contractor, providing a comprehensive, end-to-end experience for customers. Through out-of-the-box thinking and practical design, VHV stood out in a crowded industry and cemented permanent residence as a leader of mechanical contracting in Vermont.
Even today, VHV is a place for family. Dacres says, “My dad worked here. My son works here. It still retains its family business roots. Ultimately, it’s a place of connection.”
In 2017, the company made a historic move and became 100% employee-owned.
“Now, you’re not just working for ‘the man’,” Dacres remarks. “Everyone is an owner. Everyone can share ideas, implement changes, and explore innovations—this is the future.”
The shift to being an employee-owned company has dramatically impacted VHV’s culture.
“We’ve always been all about our people, so we weaved it into the very structure and operations of the company.”
Dacres describes culture as cultivating a thriving garden. You need the right conditions, tools, and habits to keep it nourished. He and his leadership team have taken the challenge to tend to that culture and ensure that employee-owners know their voices are heard, their suggestions are welcomed, and their ideas are implemented.
“If there’s a new or better way to do something, let’s do it! We don’t subscribe to the ‘we’ve always done it that way’ adage; that’s not how we’ve stuck around this long. We’ve thrived because of new ideas and the agility to pivot smart,” says Dacres.
Today, VHV has 184 full-time employees (owners) across 8 departments—and they’re primed for more growth in the future.
This move to employee-ownership was profitable in more ways than one.
As of last year, the company was 100% debt-free and increased in value by 23%.
It takes a concerted effort, creative thinking, and visionary leadership to reach a 75th business anniversary.
And VHV displays all three.
From the Brown family legacy to the employee-owned model, VHV has been synonymous with innovation in the mechanical contracting industry.
In addition to all the advancements in education, training, and market exposure, of late, VHV is most proud of its new technology approach.
They’ve built a robust Virtual Design Construction process that’s very cutting-edge in their area.
They’ve also invested a lot of resources in prefabricated ductwork, plumbing, and piping systems. Building these systems in a safe, controlled environment has led to product uniformity, operational efficiencies, and reduced labor costs. Most importantly, this model is set to dramatically increase safety for skilled workers.
When witnessing their facilities, processes, and team, prospects have dubbed VHV “the whole package—no one is doing what they’re doing.”
VHV is a people-first company, serving its employee-owners, customers, and the people of Vermont and New Hampshire.
When establishing the company’s values, they didn’t want to manufacture them, they wanted to discover them, leaning on their roots and the unique cultural DNA of their organization.
And that’s exactly what they did.
Their core values are:
VHV pays homage to the people, communities, and ideas that helped them achieve this momentous milestone.
They also keep their eyes on the future and have ambitious plans for the next decade to ensure this company continues bringing value to its owners and communities.
While they have a strong footing in the construction side of the business, their loftiest goals sit in the services side of the business, aiming to grow it by about 300% in the next 10 years. This move will help them serve their customers in an even more robust way, which is something leadership is really excited about.
“Is this goal big? Yes. But we’ve got the team to make it happen,” Dacres states.
A 75th business anniversary wouldn’t be complete without a party, and VHV has planned a celebration for the past and present of the VHV legacy.
September 12-13, 2024, the VHV team will host their 2-day celebration at the Vermont Jay Peak Resort.
The festivities begin with a charity golf event and dinner to raise money for the Vermont Children’s Hospital.
“As an employee-owned company, making meaningful financial contributions to our community is so important to us,” Dacres says.
To recognize former VHV employees, the company has decided to do a “hall of fame” induction ceremony, where they recognize former VHV employees who have been with the company for ten or more years and put their photos on a wall in the company’s headquarters. Over 50 people share this honor, and they are delighted to add several more this year.
They will also host its apprentice graduation ceremony, ushering in a new generation of talent.
With meaningful keynote speakers like Cindy Turcot, Chair of the Employee Ownership Foundation, and Lindsay Kurrle, Secretary at Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, this will surely be a must-attend event.
In closing, Tom Decras brought the conversation back to the most treasured part of this company: the people. “Yes, all of this technology and all of this innovation is great—it’s cool stuff. But for me, VHV was, is, and will always be about the people: the owners who make this company great and the community we serve along the way.”