800-355-7061It’s All About Relationships
We enjoy building relationships with people. Our company culture is built on honesty, integrity, teamwork, service, fun, fairness, and looking out for each other. We extend that to our customers.
We are more than just order takers. We strive to be the first place to go to for answers, where we know your name and anticipate your needs, where we only carry the best product lines, and where you’ll be wowed by our outstanding customer service. Meet the people who come to work every day to fulfill that promise.
Dennis O’Shaughnessy Founder and President
After 12 years as the Central Regional Sales Manager for PERMA-PIPE, the largest pre-insulated piping manufacturer in America, an opportunity presented itself to start a Manufacturer’s Representative business for PERMA-PIPE in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Dennis jumped at the chance to launch his own business and opened the doors in 1999. With the help of many more people than he can possibly list here, Dennis and his team have successfully grown the company by building on the industry knowledge of his mentors and fellow workers at PERMA-PIPE and are putting that business acumen to good use. Dennis is very proud of the people that he works with and of the company they have built together. Mechanical Equipment enjoys a reputation for being fair, friendly, delivering what we promise, when we promise, and standing behind everything we sell! Mechanical Equipment is a recognized leader in our marketplace.
Ed Sales Engineer
With a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Ed started his career with a small engineering firm working his way from pump design engineer to Vice President gathering valuable experience in design, production, sales and marketing. He then switched to the plumbing side of the business before joining Mechanical Equipment in sales. We and our customers are lucky to have access to his knowledge.
Pat Sales Engineer
Pat has a long, successful history in the commercial HVAC business. He began as a pipefitter apprentice right out of high school and worked his way up through the ranks quickly, becoming a Superintendent at a major mechanical contracting company. He was also recognized as the youngest superintendent in Local 597’s history! Pat later decided to take a position at a manufacturer’s representative company and went on to become a Vice President, before joining Mechanical Equipment. As a Sales Engineer, Pat helps our clients with sales, design, installation and start-up for all heating and cooling projects. His experience in contracting provides him a great perspective of our customers’ needs, allowing him to offer money-saving ideas and suggestions, along with excellent customer service. Pat’s design and installation background helps assure a smooth and profitable job for our customers.
Chip Sales Engineer
Chip is an experienced industry expert in the HVAC industry. After obtaining his Mechanical Engineering degree and going on to become a licensed P.E., Chip worked for several prominent Chicago area mechanical contractors, including the position of Vice President. Eventually, he opened a contracting business and became one of Mechanical Equipment’s best customers for many years, serving clients in the commercial, industrial, healthcare, and institutional industries. When we were presented with an opportunity to add Chip to our team, we didn’t have to think twice! Now serving as a sales engineer at Mechanical Equipment, Chip brings so much more to the table than most people. With his strong experience in the industry and a B.S. in thermal and environmental engineering, Chip can offer our clients firsthand knowledge from the contracting/installation perspective as well as consulting advice on project design and challenges. He’s seen it and done it all!
Jeff Sales Engineer
Jeff has always had a passion for buildings and how they operate, specifically the systems within. After graduating from Marquette, he began working in engineering, designing HVAC and plumbing systems at engineering firms, corporations and architecture firms. Over 23 years, he accumulated an intimate understanding of HVAC and plumbing equipment. Moving from design to implementation, he has worked for several contractors, problem solving and providing consultation for solutions that maintained or restored the integrity of internal building components and systems. By specifying Taco products for most of his career, he had experience working with Mechanical Equipment, who he felt had always been an outstanding partner for system design. His expertise, solution-oriented mind set, and familiarity with how ME treats their customers made him the perfect fit. We are lucky to be able to offer his expertise in the industry to our customers and are thrilled he’s on our team.
Darrell General Manager of Administration / Human Resources
As General Manager of Administration, Darrell is the glue that keeps our office running smoothly. After serving in the Army, he began a career in the graphic arts industry starting out as an inside sales assistant and working his way up to outside sales, before opening his own company along with a partner. After selling his portion of the business, Darrell began a second career, specializing in finance and real estate investing. When Dennis suggested he join Mechanical Equipment, Darrell immediately put his business owner/office management skills to good use, helping us grow the Mechanical Equipment Brand. He directs all employee benefit functions, A/R & A/P, marketing, insurance requirements and many other functions that keep Mechanical Equipment running smoothly and make it a great place to work.
Dean General Manager of Operations / Inside Sales
Dean began his successful career in the heating business in 1973 as a sheet metal worker. Working in a variety of positions and companies, he was promoted several times over 40 years up to Vice President of Operations and Senior Vice President of a large, local mechanical contractor. He retired in 2013 before Mechanical Equipment convinced him to un-retire and bring his management and industry expertise here. Dean serves as our General Manager of Operations, providing leadership and management to the warehouse and distribution team. He schedules service/start-up calls, deliveries, monitors inventory levels, and manages our parts sales, mainly for Taco and Patterson-Kelley Boilers.
Amanda Contract Administrator / Sales Assistant / Customer Service
Amanda started her career with Mechanical Equipment as the lead estimator for project bidding. She helped prepare submittals and served as the main communications coordinator between Mechanical Equipment, our clients, and the manufacturers we represent. As Contract Administrator she now uses her tremendous product knowledge to coordinate orders with our manufacturers. She is a tremendous resource and favorite of our customers, able to answer almost any question related to the quality products and brands we carry. Amanda has a Finance degree from the University of Illinois, and helps out wherever needed.
Jessica Estimating Manager
Jessica has a wealth of hydronic heating and plumbing experience. We dare you to find an area of our industry that Jessica isn’t an expert in, or darn close to it. She’s a tremendous asset, offering to pitch-in wherever needed, not just for estimating. She helps us obtain large project/order opportunities by consistently going the extra mile and offering ideas that provide us with competitive advantages!
Debby Parts / Customer Service
Debby, also known as D1, got her start in the HVAC business in 1990 as an Inside Sales Assistant at another Rep firm. She joined the Mechanical Equipment team in 2013, and has progressively taken on a larger role assisting with inside sales for parts and pumps, and providing customer service too.
Debbie Contract Administrator / Sales Assistant / Customer Service
Debbie, also known as D2, graduated from Northeastern University in Chicago in 1998 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. In 1996, she began working for Perma-Pipe in contract administration and worked there for 20 years where she became a Project Manager for Dennis O’Shaughnessy’s region, in the Midwest and Southern states. Debbie joined Mechanical Equipment in 2016 looking for different opportunities and is a Project Manager here. She enjoys working for us and looks forward to growing with the company.
Sean Warehouse Attendant
Sean joined Mechanical Equipment initially as our delivery driver in 2020 after health issues forced our former driver, Keith, into early retirement. Sean has driven for several contractors in our industry prior to joining the ME team, and understands the needs and protocols of our industry. After a year with the company, Sean moved into the warehouse as our main order fulfillment and shipping clerk after our long-time warehouse manager, Bryan O’Shaughnessy retired at the end of 2020.
Justin Deliveries
Justin joined us this past spring, and is the son of Sean, our warehouse attendant. Justin has taken over the delivery driver duties for his father. Justin also understands the protocols and needs of the jobsite customers and does a great job making sure that they receive what was ordered on-time. He is also learning about our essential inventory, shipping, and warehouse activities whenever he is caught-up on deliveries!