HVAC: Rewiring the Legacy

In the rapidly evolving world of HVAC and sheet metal contracting, one family-owned business stands at the crossroads of tradition and technology. 

Western Sheet Metal's evolving technologies now include CAD/CAM estimating, fiber laser machine integration, project management solutions and centralized communication through the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

Western Sheet Metal Inc., founded in 1968 in Salt Lake City, Utah, has built its legacy on precision fabrication and reliable service over more than five decades. Yet, the company is not resting on its laurels. Instead, it is boldly embracing a digital transformation journey to meet the profound workforce and technological challenges reshaping the industry.

For Garrett Montrone, Project Manager and third-generation leader at Western Sheet Metal, the company’s “why” for change is clear and deeply personal. “We encountered a workforce crisis with 90% of SMACNA contractors facing labor shortages and half of our HVAC workforce over the age of 45,” he says. “New workers demand modern digital tools to thrive.”

Montrone emphasizes the urgency. “By 2030, 70% of workers will require advanced tech skills,” he says. “The cost of waiting is catastrophic.” 

Montrone’s perspective comes from both heart and firsthand experience. He recalls joining the family company after working at Goldman Sachs. “I went from Wall Street to running a plasma table,” he says. “And, one day, the machine cut right through all the fittings it had just made. The foreman shrugged and said, ‘Yeah, sometimes that happens.’ We opened this dusty, old binder for troubleshooting that hadn’t been touched in 20 years. The number to call for support? That company had been out of business for a decade.”

That moment of inefficiency and obsolescence stuck with him. “There was no troubleshooting, no plan, no support. That was the wake-up call; it was the perfect example of why modernization wasn’t optional.”

Western Sheet Metal’s response became a comprehensive software adoption strategy based on empowerment more than technology. “My background as a sheet metal journeyman combined with IT experience helped us implement software rollouts that future-proof our business,” Montrone says. “But it’s not just about buying software. It’s about embedding long-term philosophy and showing your workers that you’re investing in the future.”

A Strategic Software Rollout with Heart
The company’s approach was structured but human-centered: a 10-step game plan with a 90-day rollout timeline designed to modernize operations without overwhelming its workforce. The roadmap began with defining clear outcomes, mapping current processes and selecting software solutions that aligned with real goals.

“Software adoption is about winning hearts, not just licenses,” Montrone says. “We built champions among respected team members to lead change and started small so we could adjust workloads without disruption.”

That measured rollout has paid off. Western Sheet Metal’s evolving tech stack now includes CAD/CAM estimating, fiber laser machine integration, project management solutions and centralized communication through the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. Backup systems protect operations by maintaining both paper and digital redundancy.

The key to success, Montrone emphasizes, is trust. “In our industry, you can’t force adoption; the moment you do, you lose buy-in,” he says. “But when people see the data working for them — fewer errors, faster turnaround — they become advocates themselves.”

He also stresses the importance of preserving knowledge from veteran employees. “There are people who’ve worked here for 20 or 30 years whose skills can’t be replaced,” he says. “You have to capture that institutional knowledge before it walks out the door. Create a wiki, record how things get done and turn that into living training material for the next generation.”

Overcoming Resistance and Looking Ahead
Change, however necessary, often meets emotional resistance, especially in multigenerational businesses. Montrone describes that dynamic candidly: “My grandpa started the company in a chicken coop after getting fired for doing side jobs. My dad led it through a technical revolution with a conservative mindset — by the book, steady. And then I come in from the tech world saying, ‘This is where the world’s headed.’ There were inevitable clashes, but also mutual respect. My dad’s been great: critical when things go wrong, but supportive enough to let me try.”

Western Sheet Metal’s core reasons for technology adoption reach beyond efficiency: improving employee work-life balance, reducing single points of failure, strengthening cross-training and centralizing communication to prevent major disruptions. 

Today, the company logs all shop and field hours digitally, tracks projects through live dashboards monitoring cost and schedule adherence and integrates bid management and estimating workflows. “Data drives every decision now,” Montrone says. “It gives us clarity instead of chasing paper trails or relying on one person’s memory.”

For Montrone, the transformation is less about machines than mindset. “Technology has taken over our lives. You looked at your phone 30 times today without realizing it. So why not use that same familiarity to your advantage in business?” he asks. “I just want to raise the alarm: the future’s here. In five years, if you haven’t started adapting, it might be too late.”

Looking forward, Montrone is optimistic but pragmatic. “We’re exploring AI analytics, prefabrication automation, IoT integration and data security while balancing openness and collaboration. The key is continuity; how do you pass on legacy while evolving it?”

In the end, he returns to the value of legacy — the same family story that began in a Utah farmhouse in 1968. “For me, it’s not about the money,” Montrone says. “It’s about carrying on what my grandpa started: an honest trade, an American dream built from nothing. Now it’s our turn to make sure that dream survives the digital era.”