©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Duct work testing, air testing, and fume hood testing are not career areas associated with females.
Eileen Venn saw things very differently when she and her husband, Brian, took over Mechanical Testing Inc. in 2008. As the CEO of the company, Venn is making her mark in the industry.
MTI, located at 70 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs, is an independent, certified test and balance (TAB) contractor. It provides clients with reliable and repeatable TAB services for the heating, ventilating and air conditioning industry. It was established in 1967.
“It can be very intimidating, women in construction. You need to be confident and it helps to have a strong support group, which I have,” said Venn.
Venn is a graduate of SUNY Albany with a degree in business. She said her background helped her fight through any doubts.
“I came in with experience in the alcohol and beverage business,” said Venn.
While working in the beverage industry Venn managed budgets of millions of dollars before purchasing Mechanical Testing,a company her father worked at for almost 20 years. Venn has worked to update the company by instituting a paperless reporting system that creates a job report for our customers in as little as 24 hours.
Venn said networking is key for expanding her profile and her company.
“The more networking I do, the better off we are,” said Venn.
Even though she worked to bring digital technology to the company, Venn still believes talking to someone face-to-face or via telephone always makes a difference.
“Sometimes it’s just about getting out there. It allows you to get a feel for people,” she said.
MTI has a resume that includes working with construction companies across the country, completing more than 3,000 projects. Some of their major clients include Cornell University, Albany Medical Center, St. Peter’s Hospital, and West Point.
In 2011, MTI received the 2011 Excellence in Business SBA award from Key Bank.
Venn is a member of the local Women’s President Organization. In 2015 she was named NAWIC Outstanding Member of the Year for her involvement within the chapter, including volunteering for the local Block Kids program and local career fairs to introduce children and women to the construction industry.
The company website is www.mechtect.com.