From humble beginnings in a Massachusetts garage to becoming one of Southern New England’s premier industrial mechanical contractors, Notch Mechanical Constructors has charted a course defined by craftsmanship, customer focus, and community commitment. Specializing in industrial piping, plumbing, repairs, and now engineering, Notch has become a go-to name across industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to power plants. With an ESOP structure, a loyal team, and an ambitious design-build division, Notch is building for the future.
The story began in 1972 when Roger Neveu, a seasoned pipefitter, started the company out of his garage alongside three employees. Frustrated by time away from family due to job travel, Roger sought to stay close to home without leaving the trade he loved. “He felt that if he started his own company, he could still be in the industry that he loved and still be home each night to see all of his kids and be home for dinner, it was really important,” said Nick Clement, Business Development Manager.
By 1991, the business had grown enough to establish a permanent headquarters, and in 2000, Roger sold the company to five of his seven children. They ran it for two decades until 2020, when the company transitioned into a 100% employee-owned ESOP model. “Over the years we just grew from a really small pipe welding service into a full-service mechanical contracting firm–we have probably close to 100 employees by now,” Clement said.
Today, Notch Mechanical offers a broad range of services: industrial piping, mechanical construction, code fabrication, and plumbing. The company recently launched a design-build department, further expanding its engineering capabilities. Notch holds ASME stamps and tackles specialized work, including steel tank fabrication and complex piping systems. “We’re not really bound to just one industry, we go around to a variety of different industries; food and beverage, power plants, pharmaceuticals–we’re all over,” Clement explained. “We have plenty of different services to help out [with] anything anybody needs.”
Notch’s history is punctuated with milestones that reflect its growth and values. In 1985, Roger’s son Steve joined as his “right-hand man,” eventually becoming company president in 1997, a role he continues to hold today.
In 1999, Steve created the Notch Pipe Welding Challenge, an annual competition inviting trade school students from across New England to test their welding skills. The event not only showcases talent but often leads to apprenticeship opportunities at Notch. “We use this event as a way to give back to the community as well as promote our support for local trade schools and people looking to get into the trades… it also creates a pipeline for us to hire young men and women as apprentice pipe fitters and welders each year,” said Clement. “It’s something we’re really proud of.”
In 2008, the company opened a satellite office in Hudson, Massachusetts, to better serve the coastal and central regions of Connecticut and eastern Massachusetts. “It’s an office we can mobilize out of and it’s really just for us to serve that area better,” Clement noted.
According to Clement, the company’s biggest asset isn’t its equipment or projects, it’s the people. “I would definitely say the people, we have such a great group of smart and talented individuals. They’re so customer-focused and always strive to deliver top-notch quality and safety regulations to our end users,” he said.
“I would definitely say the people, we have such a great group of smart and talented individuals. They’re so customer-focused and always strive to deliver top-notch quality and safety regulations to our end users.”
That customer-centric approach has defined Notch’s reputation across Southern New England, and now, it may soon shape a new territory as the company considers expansion into western New York. “We’ve just stayed in the Southern New England region–that’s our playground,” Clement said. “We’re looking at possibly expanding our service area to include the western part of New York, realistically the Albany area.”
Notch has played key roles in major industrial builds. A standout was the WatersCorp project, where the team collaborated for nearly two years to build out production suites using a wide variety of materials and orbital welding techniques. “It was a great collaboration between us and a couple of other teams. We were there for nearly two years doing that job, so that was one of our claims to fame,” Clement said.
Another signature job was a $1 million utility piping overhaul for Plant Solution. Over the course of 12,000 man-hours, the team removed and replaced critical piping that supported an extrusion system used in manufacturing car windshield components. “That plant works with certain chemicals and resins that relate to the safety and structural integrity of car windshields, so these upgrades really modernized their process,” Clement explained.
Transitioning to employee ownership in 2020 was a defining moment for Notch. The ESOP model has deepened team engagement and strengthened company-wide accountability. As Clement noted, “Without the great group of people that we have, who knows where it would be? But we’ve been lucky enough to have such a great team that it’s contributed to our success since we started.”
Looking ahead, the company is preparing for a major leadership transition. Company President Steve Neveu will retire in October 2025 after four decades with Notch. Vice President Nick DePalma is set to step into the role. “He is going to be taking over for him and ushering in a new era for us here, which is really cool,” Clement shared.
Notch is also banking on innovation to drive future success. The new design-build department, led by Steve’s brother Phil Neveu, has already developed creative solutions to complex engineering challenges. “He himself is an engineer and we have a great team of engineers that are on staff here,” said Clement. “We’ve got some other great ideas up our sleeve that will ensure that we’ll be around for a long, long time.”
From plant startups to regional powerhouses, Notch Mechanical Constructors has forged its reputation through hard work, skilled craftsmanship, and a commitment to excellence that spans generations. With new leadership, expanding services, and a strong team culture, the company is positioned to thrive in the decades ahead.
