Electric company charges into 2005

With sales revenue exceeding $3 million in 2004, Melton attributes Melton Electric Co.’s steady growth to loyal customers like St. John’s hospital and Southwest Missouri State University. But those contracts might not be there without good service.

“We try not to only build for our clients but also to do follow-up service work,” Melton said. “We do maintenance work and same-day service. We don’t want to just go in and build the building and walk away. We do quality stuff and stand behind it.”

Melton Electric Co. specializes in industrial, commercial and high voltage jobs from its downtown location on Main Street in a former City Utilities building. Over the years, Melton Electric has built an impressive resume, working with projects such as Wonders of Wildlife American Fish and Wildlife Museum, Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, KYTV’s new structure and several projects at both St. John’s and SMSU.

Melton started his company in 1980, but his fascination with electrical work dates back to junior high school. “I’ve always had an interest in electrical work. I worked for relatives and friends when I was young and took classes at Graff Vo-Tech in high school. I went to work for City Utilities’ electric department for two years, installing overhead outdoor lines and transformer poles. That was a good experience for me, but my interest was in buildings.”

Melton completed a four-year apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union, in which he moved once a year to different companies, including Kraft, Roper Electric, Midwest Lighting and CU’s Southwest Power Plant. “I saw different specialties at each company,” he added. One project was the lighting on Park Central Square and Park Central West.

After he completed his apprenticeship, became a fully trained journeyman and obtained his master’s license, Melton decided to start his own business. It was located where Ozarks Technical Community College now sits. He bought his present building in 1988 from CU, adding a loading dock and remodeling the office.

“My first project was for Bass Pro Shops and my second major job was at Springfield Healthcare on South Fort,” Melton said. “Then I was fortunate enough to get hooked up with Git-N-Go and did their Missouri business construction until they filed bankruptcy last year.”

He continues to do work for Kum and Go and Go Convenience stores, which purchased some of the closed Git-N-Go stores.

Other projects Melton has worked on include Plaster Sports Complex, Strong Hall and all maintenance on the SMSU campus for the last decade. Melton also worked on the new KYTV building and continues maintenance there as well as on St. John’s campus sites since 1983. He’s been involved in all recent expansions, including the new surgery center, parking structures and trauma center. The company does the high voltage distribution system for the hospital.

Along with Price Electric, Melton will share the biggest job ever for both companies in the hospital’s South Tower expansion.

Melton has worked extensively with St. John’s project manager Chris Mattson.

“John installed our new underground electric distribution system and coordinated that project with City Utilities and the new substation,” Mattson said. “All of our new electric gear and everything is buried in the ground. We put all our buildings on the same source. That was a major project for us. He’s also working on our new parking deck on the corner of National and Sunshine.”

Melton’s most challenging job has been Wonders of Wildlife. “It was challenging because of the nature of the architecture,” Melton said. “Everything had to be hidden (that was) out of place with the outdoor atmosphere. People don’t want to see panels, conduit and wires. Every system was new to Springfield – like the saltwater aquarium and specialty lighting to create artificial sunlight.”

Melton Electric serves the southwest Missouri area, including Joplin, Webb City and Lebanon. The company employs 12, but during late summer when there is more work on the table there can be as many as 25 on the payroll. Melton’s son, Jared, will join his father’s company as a second-generation electrician. “He has graduated from SMS and has his journeyman’s license. He’s starting to give me some relief,” said Melton. Melton’s wife, Miki, and Lindsay Clouse are office managers.

Melton’s role is supervision, estimating, material procurement and material pricing. He oversees maintenance of the company’s 15 vehicles.

Over the 25 years he’s been in business, Melton has seen technology change the way jobs are done. Digital technology systems, backup generators and underground utilities are more popular today. With projects, he sees more owners partnering with general contractors and subs to get the job done more efficiently.

“There is a lot more negotiated work that enables us to deliver on time and on budget. We work hard to give customers what they want in billing and pricing,” Melton said. “We deliver our jobs on time. If it takes overtime or whatever, we don’t miss a deadline.”