our history
Lee Mechanical began over 40 years ago.
Lee Mechanical was started in the basement of Bob Lee Sr. and Natalie Lee’s home in the summer of 1976. Natalie told Bob that spring that he should put effort into starting his own company – and off they went. Projects that other plumbing companies had no time for or did not want is what helped get this new company off the ground. The following year brought two new employees: Ole Jensen and Bob Lee Jr., who started his plumbing apprenticeship at the age of 18 in 1977. Plumbing work expanded into new homes for several local developers along with remodel work. Mike Lee started his plumbing apprenticeship in 1981.
Bob Sr. was never one to shy away from projects. He was always looking to expand into other areas of piping. He would stop at industrial settings and ask if there was a project he could look at to prove that he could provide as much quality, timeliness, and cost effectiveness as the “big boys.” His favorite saying to an engineer was “How did the big contractor get that way unless someone gave them a chance?” All Bob Sr. was looking for was a chance.
Bob Sr. was given that chance in 1983 by the AMC engineering department when AMC was merging with Renault to produce Alliance Auto. The engineering department at AMC gave Bob Sr. that chance. Working seven days a week for months, Bob Sr. gathered the finest bunch of pipefitters, welders, and plumbers in the area to complete our portion of work on time and on budget. This was a major stepping stone for our company and it opened many doors.
Through the years our employees have been the ones that have made our company what it is today. From being selected for the Chrysler expansion of 2001 to our involvement in some of the top projects in the state, it was our professional and dedicated team that provided the foundation for our growth and success.
Plumbing, welding, pipe fitting, and site utilities was our company’s original focus. In the early 2000’s HVAC was added into the mix; and then in 2008 electrical was added. Adding electric and HVAC was a good fit for us; a chance to offer clients a one stop shop.
However, it was not until Brandon Quinn and Frank Ruffolo became a part of Lee that HVAC and electrical really took off. Both Brandon and Frank went on to become not only a key part of the company but owners as well. While expanding our mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) group, we have stayed true to our service department, being one of the largest in SE Wisconsin to service plumbing, HVAC and electrical.
In the summer of 2019, we expanded into Milwaukee and opened the doors of our Oak Creek office.
Then, after 40-years in business, our company continued to evolve in the clients we serve and talent we wanted to attract to join our team. Our growth fueled us to expand our leadership, ownership and overall company brand to become inclusive of the commercial and industrial building systems that we serve. In the fall of 2019, we rebranded to become Lee Mechanical.
We look forward to what the future holds!
