R.J. Olmen Company:
A Glimpse Into The Longstanding Company’s Rich History
The earliest roots of The R.J. Olmen Company can be traced back to the Krieger-Jamar Company back in 1913. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, the company’s principal business was asbestos goods and insulation, with a Sheet Metal fabrication capability added some years later. In 1917, the company’s name changed to the Walker Jamar Company (W. J. Co.).
Stan and Wendy Olmen, owners, have wonderful letters written to them from the originating W. J. Co. owner about his company’s history and the Jamar-Olmen merger. According to these family historical documents, the W. J. Co.’s Chicago branch opened sometime in the late 1920s with Phil Olmen operating as Manager. The letters indicate W. J. Co., like many during the Depression Era, struggled through financially tough times. However, as they helped build and construct “The Skyride” (with its sheet metal siding of the two towers and its head houses) as part of the “Century of Progress” Exhibition at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair — they were offered payment terms. Because financing at that time was quite difficult, W. J. Co. was offered stock in “The Skyride” — which was the most popular attraction at the Fair due to its proximity to the scandalous Sally Rand Show (as she was scantily clad, except for two large feathers). W. J. Co. was paid in full, and quickly for their portion of the sheet metal work!
By the late 1940s, the Chicago branch had become a separate entity, operating under the Jamar- Olmen Company name with offices in Chicago, New York City, Houston and Kansas City. By this time, Jamar-Olmen Company had established itself as one of the largest HVAC firms in America. The post-World War II Industrial Boom then saw Ronald J. Olmen as sheet metal worker and subsequent Manager of Chicago’s Jamar-Olmen Company, working proudly alongside his uncle, Phil Olmen. Shortly after Phil retired and Ron worked his way up to Vice President, he and his wife, Patricia, realized their dream of becoming business owners.
In 1972, they took out a second mortgage on their $15,000 home and proudly founded R.J. Olmen Company based on the same core values as it operates today: Hard work, integrity, quality and trust. “It’s important to capture the beginning, middle and in-progress phases of our sheet metal industry to understand who we are today,” Wendy Olmen said. “In short, our industry cannot be anywhere but ‘Made in America.’”
In April 2022, R.J. Olmen Company commemorated 50 years as a full-service commercial HVAC contracting company. With its forth and fifth generations on their way up, they have come a long way from their World’s Fair days. They provide a wide range of ventilation contracting services to customers, including plan and spec work, ductwork fabrication, replacements of rooftop air handling units and all aspects of HVAC general contracting.
Their team can be found performing work for some of Chicago’s most prestigious universities, hospitals, school districts and more. “We are represented today by the proud and hardworking sheet metal workers from Local Union 73, who train in an exceptional educational facility,” Wendy said. “It is because of their experience and commitment that the R.J. Olmen company has earned an unparalleled reputation and trusted presence in the sheet metal industry.”
The Olmen family is deeply proud of their storied history and, in keeping with tradition, they continue to operate under the same philosophy of original founding fathers Walker Jamar, Phil Olmen and Ronald J. Olmen: “Get a good customer and work hard to keep him.”