TP Mechanical:

A Home Away from Home

for Jerry Welte

These days a company that treats its employees like family is hard to find. That’s why when Jerry Welte, a shareholder and the lead Cincinnati estimator, began with TP Mechanical 28 years ago, he knew he’d found something special. Jerry remembers how Bill Teepe set the tone on the jobsite by stopping by and making it a point to talk to every person on the job. His brief visits infused the atmosphere with positive energy and established company expectations that people conduct themselves in a friendly and respectful manner. Jerry experienced TP Mechanical teamwork at its finest when he worked as the project manager on the Boonshoft Hospital project in Dayton early in his career. For that project, offices in Cincinnati and Columbus collaborated. Jerry was working for the Cincinnati office, the superintendent was in Columbus, and the workforce hailed from both cities. “The project was a true testament to teamwork and sharing resources,” Jerry says. TP Mechanical was founded on strong core values and the powerful bonds of a family-owned and operated company. As we’ve grown beyond the Teepe family to become a company of more than 300 employees, the importance of sincerity, trust and of investing in the safety and well-being of others are still the hallmarks of everything we do. Jerry believes, “A company with such a strong bond among employees can succeed on any project and overcome any adversity.” One such example stands out in Jerry’s mind as his favorite memory of working with TP Mechanical — when employees banded together to purchase the company back from AMPAM and restored itself as a family-owned and operated independent contracting company. “TP Mechanical is my home away from home,” Jerry says. “I’ve developed many strong relationships…this group of people has been there for me in tough times, have taught me all I know in the industry, and have helped me grow as a person. You just don’t leave that type of company.”