Our Team

James Cochrum
Co-President

James put in some classroom time at Abilene Christian University and the University of Texas at Arlington in the early 1980s, but his professional education really started on the ground floor of what was then Crossroads Mechanical. He started working in the field and worked there as a plumber and HVAC installer. He later became a field superintendent over construction operations and then worked in project management. Today James is the Co-President in charge of operations, project management and engineering aspects of the business.

James continuously collaborates with the Executive Management Team to develop and implement plans for the operational infrastructure of systems, processes, and personnel to accommodate the growth objectives of the company.

Sam Petty
Co-President

Sam graduated from Oklahoma State University in Okmulgee with an Associates degree in 1983. In September of that same year, he started work with Venture Mechanical. Originally starting out as a service technician, Sam worked his way up to service salesman, service manager, Vice President and Executive Vice President. He became Venture Mechanical’s Co-President in 2004, when Morris and Larry began to hand the company over to the next generation owners.

Today, Sam provides strategic leadership for the company by working with the Board of Directors and Executive Management Team to establish long range goals, strategies, plans and policies.

Bryan Cochrum
Vice President Project Management

Bryan Cochrum began his work at Venture in 2004, spending his summers as a field helper and duct installer. After completing his mechanical engineering degree at Oklahoma Christian University in 2009, he came to work full-time as a project manager. In 2015, Bryan attained professional licensure as a Register Professional Engineer, and later became Director of Project Management in 2018. He assumed his current role of Vice President of Project Management in 2023.

Wes Wallace
Vice President Preconstruction

Wes Wallace joined Venture Mechanical in 2002 and has spent his entire career with the company.  In his role as Vice President of Preconstruction, he manages all responsibilities of the Preconstruction Department, including estimating, marketing, business development and sales.

Wes spent the first 3 years of his career at Venture in the field, beginning as a helper and working his way up to the position of Lead Mechanic.  In 2005, Wes moved into the Preconstruction Department and since then has served as an Estimator and Construction Sales Manager before taking on his current role.

Jerry Gilbert
Senior Vice President Field Operations

Jerry Gilbert attended Kilgore College briefly but left to work full time. In May 1991, he walked through the doors of Venture Mechanical. Starting as a helper, he became a tenant finish supervisor in 1993, a construction superintendent in 2000 and general superintendent in 2006. In 2008, he took on the role of VP/Field Operations and today serves as the Senior Vice President of Field Operations.

Jerry is responsible for managing and directing all aspects of the Construction, Tenant Finish, Safety and Warehouse departments. These responsibilities include ensuring company policies and general practices are being followed by Construction and Tenant Finish personnel; overseeing job schedules on a daily basis; identifying hiring needs and interviewing potential employees; and meeting with General Contractors to ensure company is meeting expectations.

Jason Stewart
Senior Vice President Engineering

Jason Stewart received his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Baylor University in 1994 and started at the company the next year. He began work as a tenant finish project manager and proceeded to work on tenant finish and new construction as project manager for four years. After receiving his professional engineering license, he became Manager of Engineering in 2000 and Vice President of Engineering in 2004.

Today he serves as the Senior Vice President of Engineering. He manages our entire project management and engineering department, along with our in house CAD and BIM services.

Ron Briscoe
Vice President Service

Ron Briscoe started his HVAC career at Indian Capital Technology Center in Muskogee Okla 1980. He went on to  graduate from Oklahoma State Tech with an Associate of Science Degree in 1984. That same year, he joined the newly formed Venture Mechanical as a service technician. He spent 3 years as a technician, before moving up to Service Supervisor, then to Service Manager. In 1992 he became an NEBB Certified Professional in Testing adjusting and balancing.

Today, as Vice President of Service he oversees our entire service department. His time is spent managing all aspects of machine startup, test and balance, service, and warranty repair.

Mary DeFrank
Vice President Human Resources

Mary DeFrank began her career with Venture in 2002.  Initially hired as the Office Manager, over time she developed a full service Human Resources department.  From day one, Mary’s priority has been the employee experience at Venture Mechanical.  Mary has played an integral part in cultivating an atmosphere of care for our employees.

From sourcing and sustaining employee benefit programs, to planning events; managing compliance; and finding new ways to offer support to employees and their families; the HR department is constantly evolving under her care.  In 2011 Mary achieved the designation of Professional in Human Resources (PHR) through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI); and in 2017 she took on the role of Vice President of Human Resources.  She continues to diligently pursue programs and benefits that will make Venture a place that people want to call home.

James Stines
Chief Financial Officer

James Stines graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelors in Management then went on to the University of Texas at Arlington where he earned a Masters in Accounting. He started his career in 2003 with a local construction company, where he was a Job Cost Accountant overseeing the Facilities and Major Projects groups. In 2005, he went to D R Horton as a Land Acquisition Accountant and finally came onboard with Venture in 2007.

At Venture, James started as a Senior Accountant overseeing the Accounts Payable, then took over Accounts Receivable and was finally promoted to Controller in 2011. During that time, he was instrumental in updating the job cost and accounting software. He has also streamlined processes allowing his department to stay the same size as the company doubled in revenue.