O’Hare Engineering: Client relationships key to continued business during pandemic

In 1972, O’Hare Engineering got its start in the Chicago market as a Trane Comfort Corps dealer. “When the business started, our primary projects were small restaurants, strip shopping centers and tract housing developments,” said Bob Guth, co-owner. “The focus of our business has always been the design build marketplace, and as we gained construction expertise, we developed relationships with general contractors who were active in that segment of the business.”

Now, the HVAC contractor specializes in installations for build-to-suit office buildings, distribution centers, light industrial and big box warehouse facilities, as well as senior living and multi-family residential projects.

Guth, who joined the company in 1975, has spent the past 11 years as co-owner with Steve Petrowski, who joined the firm in 1991.

“Steve and I combined have over 75 years of contracting experience,” Guth said. “Our customers have relied on us for knowledgeable HVAC design, ethical business practices and high-quality workmanship. They rely on our services and are confident in our ability to deliver.”

Last year, when American businesses began realizing the long-term economic effects of the sudden pandemic, O’Hare Engineering felt lucky to count on e-commerce projects as a dependable source of business.

“Over the last several years we’ve completed 14 e-commerce facilities, both fulfillment and delivery centers, and are currently involved in three active projects for that client,” Guth said. “That’s been something that has sustained our business during the pandemic because some of our traditional work has not been as readily available. It’s helped our business move forward during tough times.”

O’Hare Engineering’s service department was initially impacted by COVID-related restrictions when client companies closed or reduced the amount of non-essential people on their premises. But business began to stabilize across the board as the year wore on.

“Particularly as we got into the cooling season, companies realized they had to maintain their equipment,” Guth said. “As a company, our philosophy has been to maintain a lean and agile operation. This has paid dividends for us during the pandemic, as not one of our salaried staff had to be furloughed or take a reduction in pay. Our business remained profitable throughout 2020, and we’re projecting it will be profitable in 2021.”