Lancaster Legacies: Bass Mechanical Inc.

Al and Shelley Baum founded Bass Mechanical Inc. in 1996, starting from their home before moving to a location in Elizabethtown, PA. Bass’ vision was to provide turn-key solutions in paint-finishing systems for manufacturing facilities, and Al collaborated with several engineering companies across the USA. Over the years, Al grew three divisions to support this vision—mechanical, fabrication, and electrical. But when Al passed away in an accident in 2014, Shelley and her family had to suddenly determine how to move the company forward.

The Baums’ son, Casey, had been working with his father for three years and found himself stepping up as CEO after the accident, using the knowledge he learned from his dad to craft a strategic plan and invest in Bass Mechanical’s future.

After several years of trying to rebuild, the family realized it was time to sell the business in 2020. LINK Business came highly recommended to Shelley by both her attorney and accountant.

LINK knew the sale would be a complex one. They used their local relationships in the Lancaster County area to find two excited companies who were interested in buying parts of Bass Mechanical, taking extra care to find the best outcome for Shelley and her family as well.

“It’s not easy to divide one company, but the two buyers collaborated in a lot of ways,” Joseph Guarino, Principal, President, and CEO of LINK Business, said. With one company taking the steel fabrication side and the other purchasing their contracting divisions, Bass Mechanical officially closed last year. Spayd’s Industrial now owns and resides in the last Bass location in Elizabethtown, and the move to this prime location has enabled Spayd’s to expand its business.

Their hearts and souls are in these businesses so getting them to the right outcome at the end of it is extremely gratifying.” – Joseph Guarino

For Shelley, it was the partnership with LINK that made this difficult decision easier. “They were great to work with—very professional and fun even under the circumstances,” Shelley said. “They showed up 24/7 to help with the transition and made it as easy as they could. [Joe and Gary] were completely invested and had my best interest in mind.”

Although Bass Mechanical no longer exists, the legacy of what Al and Shelley built is being carried forward in new ways through the buyers in the community. Shelley says she feels lighter and back on her feet—she even wanders over from time to time to say hello.

Guarino says he is passionate about continuing to help businesses just like Bass Mechanical. “At the end of the day, we are helping business owners on a topic most of them don’t know a lot about,” he said. “Their hearts and souls are in these businesses so getting them to the right outcome at the end of it is extremely gratifying.”

“Our job is to find that right fit for the next owner or owners so the legacy of the business can be carried forward, [along with] the right outcome for the seller as well,” he added.

If you want to learn more about LINK Business and the merger and acquisition division, LINK Enterprise, visit linkenterpriseusa.com.

Pictured at top from left to right: Gary Varney, LINK; Shelley Baum, Bass Mechanical; Joe Guarino, LINK; Tim Kershner, CPA, Walz Group