In 1974, Eleanor and Tom Dobbert launch Dobbert Heating & Air Conditioning in North Adams, MA, with a focus on the same trades as we work in today: fire protection, HVAC, plumbing, and sheet metal.

Shortly thereafter, the company wins its first major customer, Sprague Electric, an electronic components maker recognized for its significant contributions to war efforts during the 20th
century. Sprague is the largest employer in Northern Berkshire County and in North Adams.

Dobbert develops a specialty in working with manufacturers in industrial settings in Western Massachusetts.

Sprague closes in North Adams in the mid-1980s. Many other manufacturers pull out of the Berkshires and Massachusetts.

The Berkshires evolves into a hospitality and arts hub, and Dobbert develops a specialty in these markets starting with Mass MoCA, the world largest contemporary arts museum (that takes over Sprague’s manufacturing facilities in North Adams). The company rapidly adds many notable clients in these arenas including Miraval (then Cranwell Resort), Tanglewood, and The Red Lion Inn.

The Berkshires region has always played a prominent role in public and private sector academia and research. Dobbert diversifies into these areas and establishes long-term customer relationships with higher education institutions such as Amherst College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), Williams College, UMass Amherst, and public clients including the Agawam, North Adams, and South Hadley public libraries; Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School in Hadley, Massachusetts; Lee Elementary School and High School; Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington, Vermont; and the Town of Deerfield public safety facilities.

Tom Dobbert starts bringing his son Mike Dobbert to sales calls and onto job sites with him, saying, “One day this kid will be CEO of this company”…and guess who’s our CEO today?!?

Jimmy Dobbert, the brother of company founder Tom Dobbert, joins the company as the lead foreman in the mid-1990s, professionalizing our field operations. He remains with us to this day!

The company continues to target new customers and develops a specialty working with “big box” stores, starting with the construction of a Walmart in North Adams in 1991 and expanding to Walmart and Target projects across Massachusetts.

Dobbert is invited to participate in projects in the Boston metro area stemming from our strength in the academic and research market with institutions such as Bentley University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Responding to overwhelming demand, the company opens our Boston offices in the Financial District in the early 2000s.

Dobbert enters the advanced fire protection systems market for critical and high-value spaces, including control rooms in power plants as well as libraries, museums, and private homes with substantial collections.

The company is asked to do work on research and lab facilities as part of many of our academic projects. By the end of the decade, Dobbert develops deep expertise working with lab and research facilities such as Labshares and SLB (Schlumberger).

Dobbert enters the geothermal market with the installation of the first geothermal system in a Massachusetts library for the North Adams Public Library.

Dobbert commences our “green buildings” initiative working on the fifth green building project in the world with Bechtel and implementing net zero energy and water systems at the Living Building at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment at Hampshire College.

The green initiatives expand to the maritime industry with a next-generation maritime HVAC systems pilot project with Mitsubishi Electric at Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Summer visits to Nantucket opens the Dobbert family’s eyes to an unmet need on the island for mechanical contracting services. The company launches our Nantucket services with a fire pump replacement at Nantucket High School and expands rapidly to a “who’s who” of Nantucket customers in the hospitality, public sector, and residential markets.

Mike Dobbert takes over as Dobbert’s CEO and President.