Mark Williamson is in the business of heating and cooling, but he says his company’s ethos is a bit more than that.
MW Mechanical Services, which Williamson founded in New Kensington in 2022, installs and repairs residential and commercial air conditioning and heating systems across Soutwestern Pennsylvania. It also services hot water tanks and can automate building air systems.
Last year, after one of the company’s competitors sold to private equity, Williamson hired many of its employees, which meant he needed to find a bigger location.
“We just outgrew our space overnight,” Williamson said.
It has now relocated to the former Hillcrest Volkswagen dealership in Lower Burrell, where it celebrated its grand opening Friday.
The space has a showroom with model displays of different heating and cooling units for customer browsing.
On Saturday, the company will host a community open house with food trucks, prizes and possibly games.
Being an active community member is crucial to Williamson, he said.
“The company is really the team and the technology,” Williamson said. “We just really want to do things correctly and take care of people … being part of Lower Burrell (we) really want to be part of the community and give back.”
He said he hopes to host more community events in the future.
Williamson said Saturday’s prizes include an AC system, maintenance redemptions and T-shirts.
Lower Burrell Mayor Chris Fabry said Williamson’s attitude as a neighborhood-oriented business owner is what the city needs.
“Mark made it clear they’re going to be a part of our community,” Fabry said.
For Williamson, his team and work culture are the heart of his company.
“I’ve spent a lot of time really building (the team) and finding the right people,” Williamson said. “Our culture is — we call it ‘hungry, humble, smart’ — so just meaning people that are part of the team who want to go the extra mile.”
He said the business has grown from 11 employees last year to 19.
“Most of the employees right now are from the area — some part of the Alle-Kiski Valley,” he said.
Some of those employees are graduates of local vo-tech programs — two from Central Westmoreland CTC and one from Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School.
The company also has an apprenticeship program that it hopes to dedicate more space to at its new location.
As the company grows into its new space, it might look to expand its service area into Indiana County and further into Armstrong County.
Right now, it mostly serves Westmoreland, Allegheny and Butler counties and parts of Armstrong.
“We want to take care of our people around us, but we’re looking to grow,” Williamson said.