Leadership

Bruce earned his stripes through apprenticeships with Sheet Metal Local 73 and Pipe Fitters Local 597, gaining hands-on experience as a tradesman and a deep respect for the craft. In the early 1990s, he acquired Admiral from his father Ron, who founded the company in 1952. Working his way up through the company gave Bruce a grounded understanding of the daily challenges the team navigates, what it takes to earn a client’s trust, and how to protect a reputation built over seven decades. He takes pride in seeing employees grow, both personally and professionally, and in helping them develop into industry leaders. Bruce remains actively engaged in guiding Admiral to evolve while staying rooted in his father’s foundational values: never compromise on honesty, safety, or quality, and always uphold the integrity that defines the Admiral name.

Tom joined Admiral after earning his Mechanical Engineering degree from Notre Dame, starting as an assistant estimator and working his way through nearly every role in the company. In 2015, he became President/CEO and an owner alongside Bruce Litt, taking leadership of the company he’d helped build for three decades. Tom has guided Admiral’s growth while preserving the family-oriented culture through his open-door policy, which keeps him connected with every employee. He leads by doing what is best for the greater good of the company, making decisions rooted in fairness, transparency, and making sure every voice is heard. Tom is committed to developing Admiral’s next generation of leaders, ensuring everyone has the right tools and resources to build long-term success. He is passionate about rewarding success and holding people accountable, believing that clear standards and recognition drive the team forward. Beyond Admiral, he stays engaged in the broader industry through his work with SMACNA.

Scott brings technical depth and creative instinct to every job Admiral takes on. Having worked across nearly every part of the business, he brings a level of credibility that only comes from hands-on experience. He has developed custom specifications and system designs that have set industry standards, building solutions where established practices didn’t exist. Scott knows that a client’s success depends on Admiral’s ability to deliver exceptional work and meeting that standard requires an exceptional team. He works alongside his team as equal partners, providing the tools and trust they need to excel. Scott’s influence runs deeper than any single project, showing up in the impossible challenges the team has tackled together, the work Admiral is known for, and the people who make it all possible.

Mike oversees some of Admiral’s most technically demanding projects, from intricate multi-floor riser installations to complex tenant improvement work where precision and safety are non-negotiable. His leadership approach is built around a simple but powerful principle: give your team confidence. When employees know their leadership trusts their decision-making, that confidence translates into how they work, how they solve problems, and how clients experience Admiral’s service. Mike takes particular pride in Admiral’s reputation in the tenant improvement market, where the company operates at a level unmatched in Chicago. As the company continues to expand into new sectors, he remains focused on ensuring Admiral grows without compromising the quality and safety standards that built its name. For Mike, success is about more than mechanical systems, it’s about empowering people, building trust with clients, and leading teams that take pride in the work they deliver.

Joe came to Admiral as part of a team with a shared mission to build Admiral’s Service Department from the ground up. Together, they took on the challenge with an all-in, will-not-fail mentality, and over the past decade have built it into a trusted resource for clients who need their systems running reliably. As Director of Service, Joe leads with a straightforward approach rooted in respect and accountability, holding himself to the same standard he expects from his team. He believes in putting Admiral first, knowing that when everyone plays for the team, individual success follows. He approaches every service call by treating client concerns as his own, working to diagnose the root issue and solve it right the first time. That commitment builds relationships that extend well beyond a single service call. Joe takes pride in being someone both clients and his team know they can depend on.