Energetic growth

Four years ago, RJ Nicolosi had a vision to transform the energy industry.

He and a group of investors purchased Midwest Electric in 2002 and began investing in employees and customer relationships. His goals were to expand the company into new geographical areas and new business sectors, grow in existing markets, and add utility distribution and transmission services.

To do so, Nicolosi established a vision statement that separates Midwest Electric from its competitors. The vision highlights safety, customer focus, innovation, integrity, loyalty, respect and stewardship.

He also focuses on employees. Unlike some competitors, who lecture on safety for a few hours with little employee participation, Nicolosi held a safety convention with his employees to brainstorm on how to create safety for employees, the community and the customers.

He also focuses on customers’ needs, spending time with them to better understand their problems and the most effective way to solve them.

Nicolosi has also expanded the industries served by his Groveport-based company. At the end of 2003, it primarily served industrial clients, and Industrial Division crews worked on projects throughout Southern Ohio.

In 2004, the company began performing utility construction and maintenance work for rural utility cooperatives. Utility Division crews work on projects in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, and in the past year, have responded to emergency calls from 14 states. And in 2005, Midwest Electric won contracts with American Electric Power, Entergy Services and Southern Co.

Those new contracts and the company’s continued growth have had an impact on Midwest Electric’s bottom line. When Nicolosi bought Midwest Electric in 2002, it had 17 employees. Last year, it had more than 120 employees and had nearly seven times the revenue it had in 2002.

Nicolosi estimates that in 10 years, revenue will double many times over. To get there, Nicolosi plans for Midwest Electric to become the best industrial electrical contractor in the region and a leading utility contractor east of the Mississippi.

How to reach: Midwest Electric, (614) 563-4334 or www.midwestelectric.biz