Building a Legacy on Nantucket
The Dobbert Companies Celebrates 50 Years
Take a walk downtown and there’s a good chance that most of the shops, restaurants and inns you pass are clients of The Dobbert Companies, the premier mechanical contractor on Nantucket. For nearly 15 years, the company—led by husband and wife team Mike Dobbert and Kirby Lunger—has provided expert fire sprinkler, HVAC and plumbing services for custom residences, luxury estates and commercial properties on Nantucket. The company is wrapping up a celebration of 50 years in business, with offices on Nantucket, in Boston and the Berkshires.
The Dobbert Companies has been in business for 50 years. How does a company like this persist?
It comes down to our corporate and family values. The first value is integrity—doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. If you don’t have this, you have nothing. The second is community. We truly value our long-standing relationships with the communities we serve, and the people who we work with. The third is learning and education. You can’t rest on your laurels. We pride ourselves on being on the “bleeding edge” of education in fire protection, HVAC and plumbing.
What makes Dobbert stand out?
First, we are committed to Nantucket. We maintain a shop with replacement parts, fully-stocked vans, and several staff houses on island. Second, we provide personal attention and discretion. Contractors often send the “A Team” to sell projects and “bait and switch” with less-experienced staff on the job. Even worse, they often win work and sub out to unqualified third parties for cheaper rates. These issues are magnified here, because it is a difficult and expensive travel destination. Since we are family-owned and run, with a stable and growing presence on the island, what you see is what you get. We also understand the importance of privacy and discretion, especially for high-profile clients. Third, we offer unparalleled industry expertise, with a 50-year operating history in the Northeast. Our CEO literally grew up working at this company. 100% of our field team maintains certifications and licensure in one or more of the mechanical contracting solutions categories, which is unheard of in our field.
What factors are particularly important when doing business on Nantucket?
We are in a unique position 30 miles out at sea. That means some factors that might be considered “no brainers” on the mainland are much more complicated and costly on Nantucket, such as transportation and housing for employees and partners, shipping and receiving materials, and making sure to use stock that is readily available with replacement parts on island. The Nantucket community has done an amazing job of attempting to preserve the island’s historic buildings and to implement sustainable solutions, so we are very thoughtful about the types of materials, equipment, and spaces were commend to our customers and partners.
How has the company become part of the Nantucket community?
Our team lives and works here. We own a shop and several staff houses, and many of our team members are lifelong Nantucketers. We feel strongly about giving back to the communities that have given us so much. Our charitable and philanthropic focus is the health and education of the communities we serve. We focus on areas that we can influence in our daily operations, such as sustainable building practices to improve the environment and increasing vocational education opportunities.
Looking forward, what are your goals for the company?
We would love to keep providing the same integrity, community and education in the mechanical contracting market for another 50 years and beyond.
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