Look back at the history of Moffitt Corporation in our 50th Anniversary Book. Featuring the story of how it all began, some milestones over the years, and 50 of our top projects.

A Letter From Our CEO

Hi, I am John Moffitt, President of Moffitt Corporation. We hope you enjoy our 50th Anniversary Booklet. At Moffitt we are experts in Industrial Ventilation with a focus on Natural Ventilation Systems. Natural Ventilation is a system which can ventilate a facility with zero electrical costs and zero maintenance costs, paying for itself in just 2 - 3 years, all while producing good environmental stewardship for the local community.

We believe that Natural Ventilation can be utilized on a majority of projects and due to its benefits that should be the design of first consideration. However, most designers, and end-users, are not readily familiar with the design concepts of natural ventilation. Thus we are proud to take it as our mission to spread the message of natural ventilation, and its subsequent benefits to the environment and the bottom line, throughout the country and the world.

50 years ago my father started Moffitt Corporation with a passion for natural ventilation. His passion continues today.

Very Truly,

John Moffitt

Our Mission

50 Years Ago: The Beginning of Moffitt Corporation

In 1961 deals were made with a handshake and blueprints were drawn on a drafting board. Now, 50 years later, bids are sent out all over the world and computer modeling allows plans to be specified to a fraction of an inch. While a lot may have changed in the last fifty years, the core values of the Moffitt Corporation have remained; Hard work, quality products, and enjoying what you do are the keys to success.

Bill Moffitt knew that sales and engineering were for him since he started his first business at 14. Learning how a radio worked from a friend, Bill decided he could start his own radio repair business.  When he fixed his first radio for a woman down the street, she was shocked. It hadn’t been working for a long time and she was surprised he was able to fix it.  When she asked Bill how much he wanted for the repairs, he realized he hadn’t even thought of that yet. He explained that he spent $2.50 in parts. Instead, the woman gave him twice as much. Pleased to see the fruits of his labor, Bill realized he was on to something.

Shortly after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in engineering, Bill began working for a supplier for steel foundry equipment and supplies. They made everything steel plants needed such as roofing materials, siding and ventilation equipment. Bill worked in the division that sold gravity ventilations. Before long, he discovered his affinity for ventilation. Delving deeper into ventilation options, Bill convinced the company to begin selling fans as well. Bill was soon offering a variety of ventilation solutions.

After a while, the company decided that they wanted to focus their business and close out the ventilation division. Not wanting to switch departments and sell siding, Bill said he might have to move on. That’s when the owner suggested another option. He offered to give Bill their ventilation division. Since they were just going to throw the stuff out, he figured why not give it away. Everything from blueprints to equipment to office furniture, Bill was allowed to take it all. The only condition was that he keep it quiet and take it away in the middle of the night.

At three o’clock on a Sunday morning, Bill pulled the truck up to the factory. Working with a fellow he found on the side of the road, Bill began to load the entire ventilation division onto the truck. Once they finished, Bill then turned to his new colleague and offered him a job on the spot. After the late night work the man was convinced saying “Okay, this thing has been crazy so far I just want to see how it works out”.

Bill then quickly found office space in the basement of a building in Pittsburgh. Now, with blueprints in hand and an office to take orders from, Bill needed a place that could fill those orders. Bill went to a man he knew on the other side of town with a fabrication shop. Knowing that this factory was only operating four days a week at a time due to a shortage of orders, Bill saw an opportunity. Approaching the owner Bill suggested that the fifth day of the week be spent making fans and ventilation equipment. Seeing a good idea, and probably swayed by the Bill’s natural salesmanship, the factory owner agreed. Now with a staff, an office, and a place to manufacture, only one thing was missing. Bill wasn’t sure what to name his company.  Always living in or around Pittsburgh, he considered naming it Pittsburgh Company. His wife Brenda, not liking that name, suggested he call it Moffitt Corporation.

Obviously the name stuck, and the company grew over the years. Bill’s natural skills as a salesman and his ability to understand the product, let him take full advantage of the booming steel industry of the 1960s. Moffitt Corporation grew steadily over the years adding new products and moving to larger spaces over the decades to become a leader in the natural ventilation industry.

50 Years of Natural Ventilation

Moffitt Corporation has changed a lot over the past 50 years.  From its humble beginnings in 1961 it has grown to an international company operating all over North America as well as Asia. Read on to learn more about the journey of Moffitt Corporation.

• 1961    Bill Moffitt forms Moffitt Corporation in Pittsburgh, PA
• 1967    Management Succession Plan enacted
• 1968    Internal manufacturing operation began
• 1975    Moffitt becomes a full service provider to steel mills selling fans, ventilators, steel siding, and more
• 1977    At the age of 10, John Moffitt Begins working at Moffitt Corporation part time, assembling catalogs for 25¢ per book
• 1980    Steelite Purchases Moffitt Corporation
• 1980    Moffitt began sales and consulting agreement with other companies under the name MCI.
• 1983    Sells fans and gravity vents labeled by other companies
• 1983    Moffitt Corporation relocated to Jacksonville, FL
• 1985    Company marketed as Burt/Moffitt Systems
• 1988    Offers FRP line, invests in Polymil
• 1989    John Moffitt joins Moffitt Corporation
• 1993    Moffitt Fan Corporation started. Opened manufacturing facility in LeRoy, NY
• 1995    Moffitt Corporation purchases Heat-Triever
• 1999    Moffitt begins catalog website. One of the first companies in the industry to do so.
• 2000    Began to sell contract services to clients
• 2003    Rebuilding of rep network began
• 2005    Moffitt Mechanical formed
• 2005    Moffitt Corporation Executive Team is formed
• 2006    First markets gravity vent in China
• 2008    John Moffitt obtains 100% of Moffitt Corporation
• 2009    Moffitt creates strategic partnership with SpaceFrame in China
• 2009    Moffitt Group Management structure implemented
• 2011    Moffitt celebrated its 50th Anniversary