© Can Stock Photo / befehr
BUTCH WELSCH of SMACNA St. Louis is Made an Honorary Member of SMART
By Cari Bilyeu Clark
It would be pretty hard to overstate the contributions to the sheet metal industry George “Butch” Welsch has made. The fourth-generation CEO of Welsch Heating and Cooling in St. Louis, Missouri has been working in his family’s business for 55 years, since the ink on his BSME from Washington University – and his wedding license – was barely dry. His great-grandfather founded the Welsch Furnace Company in 1895. “When I started [in the early 60s], I didn’t want to tell anyone I was a ‘furnace man,’” Welsch chuckles. “[This industry] was Number One on the Better Business Bureau complaint list, largely because of a few bad apples who were scaring people into buying new furnaces when they didn’t need them. It has taken a lot of years to get rid of that reputation.” He started advertising and set a higher bar for the professionalism of his employees in appearance, training, and customer service. His efforts paid off. In addition to providing inspired leadership in his company (half of his employees have been with Welsch Heating and Cooling for 15 years or more) his boundless energy and 8 » Partners in Progress » www.pinp.org
thoughtful approach to labor relations made him an asset to SMACNA and a natural negotiator with SMART Local 36. In this capacity, and as chairman of the St. Louis Metalworking Industry Fund, he built a close working relationship with Dave Zimmermann, Local 36’s business manager. “We worked together for the betterment of the industry,” says Zimmermann. Welsch and Zimmermann found kindred spirits in each other, and the strong relationship and trust they built has created a win-win-win situation for contractors, union members, and customers. “You have to have communication,” says Zimmermann. “You cannot expect to go into negotiations [and have a productive meeting] if you have not had contact for three years. You have to have a working partnership.” Welsch and Zimmermann talk frequently and address any problems immediately. They both agree that setting aside personal agendas and working for what is best for both union membership and contractors is key. Welsch says, “Dave has been willing to do things outside the norm. He has enough respect and
