Our Story

Our company’s timeline is below, or you can watch this video which tells the story of BMI Mechanical from its beginnings in Burlington, Kansas in 1910, up through our 100-year anniversary in 2010.

1910

E.E. Brott establishes Brott Tin and Plumbing Shop in Burlington, Kansas

BETWEEN 1910 AND 1935

An invitation to install a Rodgers Powdered Milk System in Tipton, California brought E.E. and his young son Gail out West. Following the completion of the project, E.E. headed for Oklahoma with his family. Gail, however, saw the opportunity for growth and development in California and decided to stay. He worked for the Ford Motor Company, a couple of local plumbing shops and then ventured out on his own working out of the back of his pickup truck. In the midst of the great depression, Gail visited his family who had since returned to Kansas, and talked his father into moving the family West once more, feeling they could do better in California.

1935

E.E. and Gail Brott open Brott Plumbing and Sheet Metal Shop in Tulare, California

Hard work, an unrelenting commitment to quality and a vision to be the best in their field differentiated them from the competition.

1971

Gail retires, bringing his son Garth to the helm. The company was also incorporated this year and the name changed to Brott Mechanical, Inc. (BMI)

Garth spent the decade and a half developing and expanding his mechanical contracting business.

1987

BMI became affiliated with the Linc Corporation in an effort to build up the company’s service department

While unpopular with the management team, this proved to be one of the most prudent choices Garth ever made as it led to the development of an HVAC service contracting business with a reputation that remains unrivaled.

BETWEEN 1987 AND 1993

In the years that followed, Garth faced the most critical challenge of his career: the unfavorable business climate in regards to large construction, the heart of BMI’s business.

1993

With a heavy heart, Garth shut down BMI’s construction division, leaving a small service division intact

Following a period of adjustment, BMI began to flourish again with its new focus on mechanical service and design/build projects.

2003

BMI expands its service area to North Los Angeles County and founds a new company, BMI-PacWest, Inc.

BMI-PacWest is an outgrowth of BMI’s success in the Central Valley and its desire to offer Central California Coast customers the same quality and value that has been a tradition with the Brott family for more than 100 years.

2007

Dax, the youngest of Garth’s three sons, joins the BMI team

Dax joined the company as a General Manager and was then promoted to Chief Operating Officer, he is the fourth generation Brott to carry on the family business.

2010

BMI celebrates its centennial anniversary, enjoying 100 years in business.

2014

BMI is honored as the “2014 Family Business of the Year” at the 25th Annual California Family Business Awards hosted by the Institute for Family Business at California State University Fresno’s Craig School of Business.

2016

Dax assumes the position of President and Chief Executive Officer

Following the passing of Garth in March 2015, Dax began serving as Interim President and CEO. Though out of respect for his father and the legacy he left behind, Dax opted to wait until the first anniversary of Garth’s passing to officially take on the title.