What Votaw Electric does

Votaw Electric is a privately held, 100% employee-owned electrical contracting company headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Founded in 1968 by James Votaw, the firm delivers integrated electrical services — new construction, renovation, design-build, design-assist, and 24/7 maintenance — to commercial, industrial, healthcare, educational, and financial-sector customers across Northeast Indiana, Northwest Ohio, and Southern Michigan.

The company's core technical capabilities span four integrated service lines: conventional electrical contracting, control systems (PLC design, operator interface programming, in-house power and control skid fabrication, SCADA), power quality (monitoring, infrared surveys, disturbance analysis, power factor correction), and structured communications cabling (voice/data, fiber optics, BICSI-aligned design with RCDD-certified staff). It has expanded into energy solutions — including ChargePoint-certified EV charging station installation under an AEP-authorized installer arrangement, solar/PV systems (with a 1 MW project completed for Sweetwater), and utility-scale battery storage — positioning it in the regional EV and renewable infrastructure build-out.

Commercially, Votaw operates a project-based, sales-led model. Revenue is generated through design-build, design-assist, plan-and-spec, conventional bid, cost-plus, and time-and-material contracts with general contractors (Hagerman, Weigand, Briner, Witwer, Michael Kinder & Sons, The Lathrop Company), construction managers, architects, and direct owner relationships. Disclosed project values range from approximately $276K to $3.7M (the Acadia Maple Heights behavioral health facility), with the firm differentiated by in-house control-skid fabrication, integrated multi-trade delivery, a workforce pipeline through an ABC-affiliated apprenticeship program, and full ESOP ownership since 2021.

Name

Votaw Electric

Legal name

Votaw Electric, Inc.

Website

https://votawelectric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Votaw Electric is a 100% employee-owned, Fort Wayne, Indiana-based electrical contractor delivering integrated electrical, controls, power quality, structured cabling, EV charging, and solar services to commercial, industrial, healthcare, and institutional customers across the tri-state region of Northeast Indiana, Northwest Ohio, and Southern Michigan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Wayne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electrical Contracting Services: Core electrical contracting services for new construction and renovation of commercial, industrial, financial services, educational, and healthcare facilities. Delivered as subcontract or prime contractor through various project delivery methods including design-build, design-assist, conventional bidding, cost-plus, and time and material arrangements.
2. Control Systems: Design, programming, and installation of PLC systems, operator interfaces, and control skids. Includes SCADA systems and facility management systems.
3. Power Quality Services: Power monitoring, infrared surveys, power factor correction, and electrical disturbance analysis for industrial and commercial facilities.
4. Communications Cabling: Structured cabling installation for voice/data, security, fire alarm, and fiber optic applications. Includes moves, adds, and changes (MACs) and Level 3 testing and certification.
5. Energy Solutions: Solar panel installations, EV charging station installation and maintenance, and energy storage system installation.
6. Special Services: Arc flash hazard analysis, electrical safety training, lighting retrofits, energy audits, infrared surveys, access controls, and digital signage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Votaw Electric is a full-service electrical contractor providing commercial, industrial, healthcare, educational, and financial-sector electrical construction, installation, and maintenance. The firm designs and installs power distribution, lighting, communications cabling, PLC and SCADA control systems, power quality solutions, site utilities, and renewable-energy infrastructure including solar PV, energy storage, and EV charging stations.

Product overview

Votaw Electric is an electrical contracting company offering a unified suite of integrated electrical services rather than discrete software products. The core offerings include Electrical Contracting (new construction, renovation, design-build), Communications Cabling (structured cabling, fiber optics), Control Systems (PLC, SCADA, automation), Power Quality Services (monitoring, troubleshooting), Site Utilities (underground work), and Special Services (arc flash, safety training, energy audits). Additional specialized services include EV charging station installation, solar/PV installations, and energy storage systems. These services are delivered through integrated project delivery methods including plan & specification, design-build, and design-assist to serve commercial, industrial, healthcare, and institutional customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electrical Contracting
• Communications Cabling
• Control Systems
• Power Quality Services
• Site Utilities
• Solar / PV Installation
• Energy Storage Installation
• EV Charging Station Installation
• Special Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 Megawatt photovoltaic power generation installation completed for Sweetwater - largest solar project to date
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVotaw Electric is a member of ABC providing electrical apprenticeship program for employee-owners. Combines on-the-job training with technical education one night per week.
• Witwer ConstructionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGeneral contractor partner on the Kelley Chevrolet BMW project - $693,000, 40,000 sq ft commercial automotive dealership.
• Ag TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Sweetwater Solar Project - 1 megawatt photovoltaic installation, the largest solar project Votaw has completed.
• Thomas ConstructionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGeneral contractor on Acadia Maple Heights Behavioral Health project - $3.7M, 82,000 sq ft behavioral health facility.
• Michael Kinder & SonsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner on multiple projects including Profed Credit Union branches (Decatur, Bluffton, Columbia City, Tonkel Road) and Indiana Tech Residence Hall.
• The Lathrop CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConstruction management partner - Project Manager Kevin McCourt praised Votaw's partnership approach and contributions to keeping projects on schedule.
• Briner BuildingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDesign-build partner on INOX project - Italian manufacturer's North American Headquarters for stainless steel operations, $1.5M, 140,000 sq ft.
• Indiana Michigan Power (AEP)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized installer for AEP/I&M Power EV charging station rebate program. Also installs EV chargers for AEP's own facilities. Journeyman certified in ChargePoint EV charging stations.
• Renewable Energy SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Junior Achievement Solar Energy project - $49,000 solar panel installation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Faith Technologies: Wisconsin-based integrated electrical contractor offering electrical, communications, controls, and renewable services nationally - very similar integrated service model to Votaw (electrical + telecom + controls + power quality + renewable) but at significantly larger geographic scale across multiple US regions.
• Gaylor Electric: Indianapolis-based commercial and industrial electrical contractor with integrated services and a family / employee-ownership culture; operates across the Midwest with comparable scope of electrical, telecom, and controls work - one of the closest direct Midwest competitors to Votaw.
• ERMCO (Electric Resource Management): Indianapolis-headquartered regional electrical contractor providing similar commercial, industrial, and healthcare electrical contracting services across the Midwest - directly comparable in customer verticals and tri-state operational geography.
• Helix Electric: National electrical contractor specializing in commercial, industrial, healthcare, and institutional projects with design-build delivery capabilities - very similar service portfolio to Votaw at larger geographic scale with comparable integrated delivery.
• Rosendin Electric: One of the largest US employee-owned electrical contractors headquartered in California; full electrical, communications, and renewable services across commercial, industrial, and mission-critical segments - similar employee-ownership culture and integrated offerings.
• IES Holdings (Commercial & Industrial): Public electrical contractor with a commercial & industrial division delivering similar electrical contracting, controls, and telecom solutions; offers a useful public-comp benchmark for Votaw's regional commercial segment with overlapping services.
• Sachs Electric: St. Louis-based regional electrical contractor with commercial, industrial, and mission-critical focus across the Midwest - comparable regional scope and customer verticals (manufacturing, healthcare, institutional) to Votaw's tri-state service area.

Broad incumbents

• EMCOR Group: Fortune 500 mechanical and electrical construction services leader with broad portfolio including commercial, industrial, healthcare, and energy segments - much larger established player whose subsidiary network competes for the same regional projects as Votaw in the Midwest.
• MYR Group: Public specialty contractor whose subsidiaries include The Lathrop Company (a named Votaw customer relationship per company data) - larger established incumbent with both commercial and utility service lines bidding against Votaw in the Midwest market.
• Quanta Services: Largest pure-play utility and infrastructure construction services company in North America; competes for solar, substation, and EV charging infrastructure work that Votaw also pursues - broader incumbent with utility-scale focus and significantly greater capital.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/votaw-electric-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Votaw Electric