About
THE 73 YEAR HISTORY OF K&B PLUMBING AND HEATING
K & B Plumbing and Heating Company Inc. is a full service, design – build mechanical contracting firm. The company enjoys a long standing reputation for astute analysis, quality craftsmanship and reliable service. Revenues are approximately 30% plumbing, 60% HVAC, and 10% service.
Founded as a partnership in 1948 by Henry V. Baranello and Cliff Kimberly, the business became a sole proprietorship in 1954 with the buy-out of Mr. Kimberly by Mr. Baranello. K & B soon became widely respected in the boom years of residential construction spanning the 50’s and early 60’s.
In the mid 60’s, the firm’s emphasis shifted to commercial and industrial work. Building expertise in apartment and office construction, the company soon became involved in major renovations and new construction in the commercial, food service, hospital and industrial fields. These areas remained as the primary focus of the firm, accounting for virtually 100% of sales.
In 1975, Mark Baranello, son of the founder, joined the business. Working first as a subcontractor with his own employees, he became a partner in 1980 and assumed full ownership in 1982. Mark holds a B.S. degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an M.B.A. from Cornell University. He brought to the firm an up-to-date technical and managerial orientation, providing the technical expertise to solidify and expand the firm's reputation as a reliable partner and problem-solver.
The cyclical fluctuations of the commercial market and the general decline of manufacturing in the firm’s service area prompted the firm to shift its emphasis to successfully cope with the challenges of the 21st century. Relying on our extensive experience in high technology installations, we have taken full advantage of the strong trend toward more complex plumbing and HVAC systems. Our target market is now defined as relatively complex, high quality, technically oriented installations in whatever construction setting we may find them. K&B is the 'go to' company for local organizations to find affordable, fact based solutions to their mechanical problems.
In 2019, Mark Baranello retired and transferred sole ownership of the firm to David McNeil of McNeil Development Company. As the owner of over 55 properties, Mr. McNeil is widely experienced in the construction and operation of commercial projects and is uniquely positioned to support the K&B motto of spending our clients' money as carefully as we would our own. All the original employees were retained in the sale and the company continues to operate as it has for 72 years. Mr. Baranello participated in a lengthy transfer and orientation period and continues to consult on a special projects basis.
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K & B places a high value on rigorous technical performance and personal responsibility. Our employees work together to maximize value to our clients – it is an attitude and objective that never goes out of style.