The Business Council of Westchester inducted Atlantic Westchester into its Hall of Fame in April, recognizing the company as a "change maker" for transforming their industry and adding to the region's economic vitality.
"We were absolutely blown away and flattered that we were chosen to receive a Hall of Fame Award," said Bud Hammer, President of Atlantic Westchester. "We worked very hard to build this brand and get to where we are – and people out there are noticing."
Atlantic Westchester became a Linc Service franchise in 2017, and is based in Bedford Hills, NY. Watch a short video about the award here.
Hammer said the Business Council was an integral part of supporting the company's growth through the Westchester Green Partnership. The company has also received Westchester Green Business Certification, which recognizes the dedication of Westchester County-based organizations to next-level sustainability efforts.
Atlantic Westchester was the first HVAC contractor involved in the partnership after joining in 2015. Their goal was to achieve certification within a year, but achieved certification in less than a month, according to Atlantic Westchester Project Manager Tom Burbank.
Their green improvements included the installation of solar panels on their main building and garage, energy-efficient, multi-zone ductless heat pump HVAC system, programmable thermostats with occupancy scheduling to decrease energy consumption, the installation of water-conserving toilets and insulated hot water pipes.
The company also has a ride-sharing program for its technicians, a company-owned hybrid vehicle for long-distance drives, training on better idling practices, and the company uses the Metro-North for trips to and from New York City.
Atlantic Westchester was founded in 1961, in Mt. Vernon, NY, as a mechanical contracting company. Hammer's family purchased Atlantic Westchester in 1979, and focused on providing HVAC service, repair, maintenance and renovation to commercial, industrial and institutional facilities. In 1987, the family moved the office to Bedford Hills.
Hammer, who grew up with the company, became an Atlantic Westchester employee in 1989, when he was 25 years old. Since then, the company has quadrupled in size, he said.
During its long history of outstanding service in the New York metropolitan area, Atlantic Westchester, Inc., has received several awards, including Westfair Communications' "Family Owned Business" Award in 2017; Westchester Green Business Challenge's "Achievement in Transportation" Award in 2016; and the Town of Bedford Conservation Board's "Green Business Award" in 2015 for installing solar panels at its facility to improve its energy conservation effort.
