Synergy Mechanical Solutions: Built on Relationships, Driven by Expertise
There’s a reason Synergy Mechanical Solutions named itself after the concept of combined strength. For the Elk Grove Village-based manufacturers’ representative, the name isn’t just a tagline, it’s a philosophy that shapes every customer relationship, vendor partnership and project they touch.
President Tom Sullivan Sr. spent decades in the industry before launching Synergy in 2006, starting as a teenager sweeping floors at a manufacturers’ rep firm. His son Tom Jr. and longtime family friend Matt Boudas eventually joined him, building a 12-person team tight-knit enough to celebrate every single employee’s birthday.
“I always had a hunch I was going to work for my dad. He’s one of my role models,” Tom Jr. said.
The Full-Service Difference
For contractors who may be less familiar with the manufacturers’ rep model, Synergy serves as the critical link between HVAC equipment manufacturers and the mechanical contractors, engineers, architects and building owners who need those products. Their commercial portfolio spans VRF systems, heat pumps, makeup air units, rooftop units, fan coil units and more, but Synergy’s value goes beyond moving product.
The team prides itself on deep product expertise and offering a one-stop shop, from initial bids and proper equipment sizing all the way through commissioning, parts, service and warranty support.
“We pride ourselves on the equipment and lines that we sell — not just being able to sell it, but knowing the ins and outs of the products,” Matt said. “Our guys are trained to be experts.”
That expertise spans a wide range of market segments: Chicago high-rise projects like the St. Regis Hotel and 1000M, along with millions of square feet of makeup air installations for warehouses — a fast-growing sector given Chicago’s role as a central transportation hub. Recent project highlights include supplying over 560 vertical stacked heat pumps for 370 Morgan Street Apartments in Fulton Market, and large-scale rooftop unit installations for commercial and industrial facilities across the region.
One of the team’s most valued differentiators is their commissioning capability. Synergy’s engineers work from design through final installation, ensuring that what was drawn up on paper actually performs
as intended.
“A building can go through a whole lifecycle before it hits its intended use,” Matt said. “We’ve spent a lot of time dialing it in. The team that starts the project is there at the end. From design and bidding through installation, startup, commissioning and warranty support, we stay close to the details as the project evolves. Whether it’s a question, quote or parts request, we take the time to understand the full picture before responding. That approach helps us provide support that’s not just quick, but right for the project and the relationship long-term.”
Trust, Every Time
It’s no secret the HVAC industry is fast-moving and unpredictable. Synergy’s answer is straightforward: be honest and upfront with customers, every time.
“Tough truth and transparency is something we pride ourselves on,” Tom Jr. said. “There was a lot of that during COVID with lead times. After it was over, people remembered that and came to us knowing they could put big projects in our hands.”
“Synergy comes from merging the relationships,” Matt added. “We like to have an open and transparent relationship from all factors, because it makes everything easier — our customers see that and love it, and our manufacturers see that and love it.”
The Road Ahead
Synergy has been a SMACNA Greater Chicago associate member for just over a year, and the team has already found real value in the organization’s events and connections — both as a way to stay current on where the industry is heading and to get face time with customers they don’t always have the opportunity to see.
“As we get further into our careers, you start to realize how expansive this industry is,” Matt said. “Having those opportunities to build new relationships has been really fundamental.”
Looking ahead, Synergy plans to grow, with aggressive hiring on the horizon and a continued focus on developing each team member’s individual strengths and areas of expertise. The open-door culture Tom Sr. established — where any employee can walk into his office just as easily as anyone else’s — is something the younger generation intends to carry forward.
“There’s really no ceiling,” Tom Jr. said. “My father built this from sweeping the floors, and that gives you an internal motivation. He set an incredible foundation.”
Learn more about Synergy Mechanical Solutions: synergy-ms.com