Huckestein has been a respected name in the mechanical contracting industry for nearly 70 years.
The company began operations in 1948 as the C. L. Fallon Corporation and was primarily a sheet metal fabrication and installation company. In 1978, James E. Huckestein, an active member of Steamfitters Local Union 449, expanded the business under his name to include mechanical contracting in addition to sheet metal work.
Ten years later, with the addition of partner Jim Jennings, the company entered a phase of aggressive growth, adding full HVAC, energy management, refrigeration, controls and service to its portfolio. In 1994, a plumbing division was added to accommodate additional customer requirements. In 2004, Messrs. Huckestein and Jennings sold the company, and the new owners explored new avenues of work, increasing capabilities for project size and scope.
The economic downturn of 2009 created significant challenges for the company, however. The country experienced the worst economy since the Great Depression. Margins started shrinking, banks weren’t lending, costs were increasing, and work was slow. Previous management had not prepared for lean times, and the owners decided to sell the company.
On January 1, 2010, Huckestein Mechanical Services, Inc. was purchased by Wendy Staso, who re-envisioned and resurrected the company to become a thriving small business with steady margins and growth. As an HVAC industry newcomer, she was not constrained by history or how things “should be” done.
Nothing was off limits. She instituted a new culture of discipline and integrity that permeates every facet of the business today, focusing on the company’s core competencies and strategically outsourcing unprofitable service lines. She expects professionalism, respect and honesty in her dealings with others and offers the same in return. After laboring under a severely damaged brand, employees are once again proud to say they work for Huckestein. It was, and continues to be, a time of unprecedented change yielding record improvement.
Our Vision
Financially secure and independent, Huckestein Mechanical is a key steward in the communities we serve, and a preeminent participant in the resilience of our region.
Our Purpose
Huckestein designs, builds, services, and maintains non-residential HVAC systems, efficiently moving projects from concept to reality and services from reactive to proactive, optimizing our customers’ investment in and ownership of valuable mechanical assets.
Our Values
Our values align our organization with industry best practices to deliver consistent, repeatable quality competencies.
Integrity matters
Conduct yourself in the highest ethical manner in all relationships, both inside and outside the company.
Everyone’s job is critical
Every person has a role on the team. Count on everyone to do their part flawlessly as you would expect them to count on you.
Out-think the competition
Ask the right questions. Intelligently solve problems. Create an unforgettable experience. Become irreplaceable.
Make each customer an evangelist
Clarify expectations. Always deliver what you promise. Go above and beyond. Engage at a personal level.
Be accountable
Deliver on your commitments, be transparent about progress and outcomes, and be equally willing to reap the rewards or pay the consequences of your performance. Don’t make excuses or place blame on others.
Always be kind
Respect everyone. Be professional with every interaction. Treat people the way you would want to be treated.
Adapt to rapid change
Continually evaluate your path and proactively correct course.
Begin with the end in mind
If you don’t know where you want to go, you’ll never get there. Plan your work. Think before you act.
Above all be safe.
Everyone goes home whole and healthy every day.
Our Facility
Our office, warehouse and fabrication operations are located in a newly renovated facility in Pittsburgh’s historic North Side. Our space was once a frozen food distribution center and we’re proud to have renovated it with a commitment to stewardship, environmental compliance and sustainability.
To do our part to protect the environment for future generations, our facility includes:
LED lighting
a Samsung energy recovery variable refrigerant flow (VRF) HVAC system
flooring made with recycled materials, and
a DIRTT Wall reusable wall system
Huckestein is proud to be a member of the Green Building Alliance.
