Mancini Electric Inc.

Family-owned and -operated Mancini Electric Inc. has been serving customers throughout southern Maine as a reputable electrical and communications contractor since 1966. Mancini Electric and its signature red trucks call Portland, Maine, home but the company also serves surrounding communities from Cumberland County to southern and central Maine, and occasionally Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Serving the commercial and residential markets, Mancini Electric has garnered a loyal customer following over its near 50-year history. “We’re known for doing the right thing for a fair price, which makes for loyal, repeat business,” says Tony Mancini founder and president of Mancini Electric. “We have many customers who have worked with us for 50 years or more. We also have strong relationships with many area general contractors, which is especially important in today’s competitive market where everything is based on prices.”

Passing on the trade

Tony started learning the ins and outs of the electrical trade back in 1958 as an apprentice. “I made $1-per-hour, working usually 48-hour weeks and that was before they started paying time and a half,” he recalls. “I did what I had to do to support my wife and family.”

After a decade or so, Tony set out to start his own shop, originally out of his garage. “In 1974 Mancini Electric moved to our current location on Munjoy Hill in downtown Portland,” he recounts.

Customers have been counting on the company for a range of electrical and communications services ever since. “The way business is broken down is about 75 percent commercial work, 25 percent residential and a commercial and residential service department,” explains Tony. “This way, we can make everyone happy, or try to at least. About 50 percent of this work is negotiated and the other half is bid work.”

The business is now running on the second generation of family ownership. At 77 years old, Tony is still very much involved, while his sons, Gino and John are now part owners of the company. “Both of them are respectable leaders; I have every trust in them taking over,” assures Tony.

Today the family-owned contractor has a team of 25 to 30 experienced electricians, running a fleet of 21 service vehicles, including a bucket truck. “We can run crews right in and around the greater Portland area and down to Kittery and Sanford and then more north to Augusta and Waterville; we have pretty widespread coverage,” measures Tony.

As the industry changes, Mancini Electric has made a point of staying abreast with recent technology and upgrades. Through continuing education, healthy vendor relationships, and high-tech communication systems and computer networks, Mancini Electric ensures performance that customers can rely on.

Mancini Electric offers installation of: wiring, lighting, generator systems, recessed lighting, surge protectors, control panels, fire detectors, fuses, exhaust fans, circuit breakers, ceiling fans, alarm systems, air conditioners, water heaters and more.

Shedding light on solar

Whether it’s a new commercial building, home or addition, or renovating an existing structure, Mancini Electric has the quality electrical installation and renovation experience to reach most of Maine. The team has recently ventured into more solar installations in the last several years.

“If you’re tired of losing power during a storm or paying high utility bills, our professionals offer solar power systems,” says Tony. “Our team will sell, install and repair a quality electric generator or solar power array. While these systems are geared toward residential use, small commercial buildings can benefit as well.”

Over the course of its history, Mancini Electric has completed many high school and medical projects throughout the state of Maine. “We did the York High School installation in 1973 and we’ve remodeled the system twice since,” shares Tony. “We also completed a middle school in Scarborough and we do a lot of mission-critical work for Maine Medical Center, the state’s largest hospital, in Portland.”

Keeping the doors open and quality people working

The last few years haven’t been so kind to business, says Tony. “The bidding process is increasingly difficult, especially when the residential market comes down,” he says. “Other players come in and flood the commercial market. We’ve positioned ourselves well in both, but it’s hard when the economy is down.”

Tony says even through lean years his first priority is to keep his guys working. “Our goal is to not lay anyone off because we have a fantastic team of good, fair and honest people,” he says. “We are thankful for this so we offer great pay, benefits, vacation and 401(k). Most of the guys that work with us have been here for 20 to 30 years and that’s highly valuable.”

Now in the hands of the second generation, Mancini Electric Inc. is still running strong in Portland and beyond, focusing on what it knows best -honest business, repeat relationships and family ties.