Welcome to Cox
Over 100 Years of Building
As one of New England’s premier mechanical contractors, Cox brings over a century of proven expertise in delivering complete, end-to-end building systems.
When you partner with Cox, you gain more than a contractor — you gain a team of dedicated collaborators committed to excellence at every phase. From first conversation to final closeout, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of safety, quality, and performance, delivering results that stay on time, on budget, and in scope.
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Our History
From Workshop to Powerhouse
Founded in 1914, Cox has grown from a small sheet metal shop into one of New England’s leading mechanical contractors. For over a century, we’ve built a reputation for innovation, precision, and performance — evolving with the industry while staying true to our core values.
Today, as a third-generation, familyowned business based in Randolph, Massachusetts, we serve a wide range of sectors — from healthcare and education to industrial and commercial facilities — through personal service, technical innovation, and a relentless commitment to quality and client success.
Executive Team
Jon Desmond
CEO
Neil Johnson
President, Cox
Brendan Abbott
CFO + CIO
Ryan MacDonald
General Counsel + Executive VP
Lisa Caruso
VP, Accounting
Kristin Doerrer
VP, Marketing and Communications
Ryan Gobbi
Executive VP, Mechanical / HVAC
Peter McLean
Executive VP, Service
Sandra Meninno
Executive VP, Finance and Administration
Rich Mouradian
VP, Business Development
Erik Richman
Executive VP, Safety and Quality
Akash Vijay
VP, Energy and Sustainability
Our Culture
A Workplace Where People Thrive
We foster an environment rooted in innovation, professional growth, and employee satisfaction. From our state-of-the-art fitness center and in-house golf simulator to the cutting-edge technologies and systems we use every day, everything at Cox is designed to support high-performing teams and a continuously improving culture.
We hire great people — and then empower them to do their best work through collaboration, trust, and strong leadership.
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Jon Desmond
CEO
Jon is a third-generation family owner of Cox Engineering, a leading Mechanical Contractor and Manufacturer in the greater Boston area. As CEO, he is responsible for the on-going operations and growth of all divisions of Cox and Cambridgeport. Jon is a forward-thinking leader focused on continued industry expansion, investment, innovation automation, best in class software and customer service, while cultivating solid core values and a sought-after company culture. He started in 1996 as a shop laborer in their Brighton, MA facility and worked in the Estimating department while on summer breaks from college. Jon’s vision for Cox Engineering has united, renewed, and motivated all employees to do their best and pave the path for the Company’s continued advancement.
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Neil Johnson
President, Cox
Neil boasts more than three and a half decades of invaluable mechanical contracting expertise. His journey commenced in 1984 at Cox Engineering, where he honed his skills as an estimator, project manager, and sales engineer. Over the years, Neil’s trajectory led him to pivotal roles, including Vice President of Operations at JC Cannistraro in 2006, before returning to Cox in 2019 to assume the mantle of President of Construction. Neil’s wealth of knowledge spans projects of every scale and nature, underscored by his unwavering commitment to fostering cohesive teams and driving continuous improvement.
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Brendan Abbott
CFO + CIO
Brendan joined Cox Engineering full time in 2024 after collaborating as a consultant to the firm for over eight years. Brendan has a wealth of experience across construction, service, and manufacturing sectors, and a diverse skill set including being a Co-Founder and Partner in a technology consulting firm, and previous roles as CFO. His leadership is pivotal in aligning finance, technology, process, and data to drive decision making and gain efficiencies throughout the organization. Outside of work, Brendan enjoys spending time with his wife Cheryl and adult children, Brianna, and Thomas, keeping active running, biking, and attending his musician son’s gigs all around New England.
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Ryan MacDonald
General Counsel + Executive VP
Ryan began his career at Cox Engineering in 2020 after 19 years in private practice with a large Boston law firm. During that time, Ryan was outside counsel for Cox Engineering. As Executive Vice President and General Counsel, he is the executive leader of the legal and human resources functions at Cox Engineering. In addition, Ryan advises the Cox executive leadership team on business, legal, and human resources strategies. Ryan works closely with the Cox executive leadership team to identify, vet, and close on business acquisition opportunities. Ryan lives on the south shore and is married with three children. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, and in the fall, officiates Division 1 FBS college football.
Lisa Caruso
VP, Accounting
Lisa joined Cox Engineering in July 2025, bringing more than 30 years of accounting leadership experience across the construction and service industries. She is known for her integrity, collaborative management style, and ability to build and empower high-performing teams. Outside of work, Lisa loves spending time with her husband, son, and daughter, and she treasures their family trips to Aruba. Cooking is her favorite way to unwind — especially when she’s making her mother’s lasagna, a recipe that has become a family staple. Originally from New York, Lisa and her family are excited to begin their next chapter in the New England area.
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Kristin Doerrer
VP, Marketing and Communications
Kristin Doerrer joined Cox in 2025, bringing more than 25 years of experience building and elevating brands across apparel, footwear, sports, and technology. With a passion for storytelling and a collaborative leadership style, she is focused on strengthening Cox’s brand, expanding its digital presence, and helping drive the company’s next chapter of growth. Outside of work, Kristin enjoys coaching her kids’ sports teams, playing flag football, and spending time in the mountains.
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Ryan Gobbi
Executive VP, Mechanical / HVAC
Ryan joined Cox Engineering in 1996 as a Mechanical Estimator, then holding various positions up to his current role of Executive Vice President of Construction. In this role, he oversees all aspects of the Construction Group working with and advocating for this talented team. Ryan strives for continuous improvement, providing high end customer service, all while making a cohesive team atmosphere a top priority. Ryan considers himself pessimistically optimistic and maintains a strong aversion to cats.
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Peter McLean
Executive VP, Service
Peter joined Cox Engineering in 2020 with over 25 years of experience in the HVAC industry. He began as Service Operations Manager and currently holds the Executive Vice President role within this division. In this role, Peter leads the service team, overseeing the administration, hiring, project execution, and financial performance of the group. When he is not in the office, he enjoys skiing, playing golf, and spending time with his wife, two children, and their family dog.
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Sandra Meninno
Executive VP, Finance and Administration
Sandi has over 33 years of experience in the manufacturing environment. She joined Cambridgeport Air Systems in 2011 as a Controller and was recently promoted to Executive VP, Finance and Administration. She is an active member of Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) Women in Construction committee and Chairperson and Founder of the Building Trades Employers’ Association (BTEA) Northeast Women’s Council. Outside of the office, Sandi enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, seven grandchildren, crafting, and practicing yoga.
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Rich Mouradian
VP, Business Development
Rich joined Cox Engineering in 1993 and spent his first five years as an estimator. For the next twenty years, he was a Project Manager / Sales Engineer focusing on building up life sciences work for the company. Since 2017, Rich has led the dynamic Estimating team as the Vice President of the Sales Division. Outside of the office, he enjoys time with his family, working on his golf game, and always providing a movie quote.
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Erik Richman
Executive VP, Safety and Quality
Erik officially joined Cox Engineering in January 2024 after serving as a Safety Consultant since 2010. With his vast knowledge and experience, Erik brings expertise in risk management, quality assurance, and safety support. His list of hobbies is as extensive as they are eclectic, from hunting and fishing to card games and Legos. Once the safety rebel, he ow champions safety with gusto, recognizing the importance of keeping everyone secure. He firmly believes in the creativity and talent of those doing the groundwork, seeing them as the true drivers of organizational success.
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Akash Vijay
VP, Energy and Sustainability
Akash embarked on his career in the energy management industry in 2004. As an electronics engineer, he fell in love with Controllers – not the humans, the hardware that controls equipment! After receiving his MBA in Denver, CO, Akash relocated to the South Shore and spent fifteen years with an organization where he dedicated himself to growing the business. Akash enjoys playing tennis and is an avid reader. Uniquely, he doesn’t have cable and watches only an hour of TV a week!
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