Mark One Electric Co. Inc.

For more than 40 years, Mark One Electric Co. Inc. has been one of the most respected electrical contractors throughout the Midwest. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Mark One has established a reputation for excellence, leading to strong client interest when it comes to highly sophisticated system installations. Mark One provides a one-stop-shopping experience for its clients, offering a range of vital support services including design-build construction, estimating, engineering, preconstruction coordination, project management and architectural design.

Founded in 1974 by Carl and Josephine Privitera, Mark One began by servicing small business, commercial and industrial accounts. The company quickly developed a reputation for completing difficult jobs for demanding clients such as General Motors and Ford and was soon working in car plants and industrial facilities across the country.

Now owned by the second generation of the Privitera family, Mark One is led by president, Rosana Privitera Biondo, vice president, Joseph A. Privitera, estimator, Carl Privitera and vice president of project management, Anthony Privitera. All of the Privitera children entered into the family business at a young age and learned the business from the bottom up. In 1994, their father retired and the company passed into their hands.

“We have a solid family nucleus,” says Rosana. “Each of us is different, but we complement each other. We’ve positioned ourselves into areas where we all have our own expertise, but we always rely on each other for advice.”

Maintaining strong ethics and standards

Mark One has been able to stand out in the industry by implementing the brand’s “Mark One Ten,” a list of strategies, principles and philosophies that the company follows. This combination business practice-philosophy heavily focuses on ethical standards and the culture of the company. The Mark One Ten includes practices such as honesty with communication among the company and with each client. “Transparency is the most important thing,” says Rosana. “Even if you do something wrong, by being honest you have the opportunity to recover.”

Maintaining a work environment that ensures the safety of its employees and customers is another top priority for Mark One. With more than 300 employees, Mark One wants everybody to return home safe and healthy at the end of the day. With workman’s compensation and insurance, safety can also be a major influence in the expense of day-to-day operations.

Mark One also takes a knowledgeable and logical approach to growth opportunities. “Since my brothers and I took over the company, we have become approximately 18 times bigger than when we started,” shares Rosana. “That’s very exciting for us because it can be easy to become complacent in running a business.”

A woman-owned business

In 1995, Rosana became a certified as a Woman Business Owner (WBO) and shortly after, became a member of the Women Construction Owners & Executives (WCOE) association. She decided to become a member after witnessing a local WCOE member who was active on a national level. “She owned a civil and heavy-highway contracting company and really encouraged me to get involved with WCOE,” recalls Rosana. “I was also in another local construction association that had a lot of woman business owners who eventually transitioned into WCOE because it was more owner driven.”

In her time with WCOE, Rosana has held numerous positions within the association, including committee work, director and even president. “It has been a great experience and I’m very happy to be involved,” she says.

Rosana finds that being a WBO is beneficial due to the fact that although members are involved in various industries, they experience many of the same issues as business owners. She is able to discuss, receive and give advice on matters such as workman’s compensation issues and hiring practices. “We have fed off each other over the years,” shares Rosana. “I have always felt comfortable picking up the phone to call a member. These are women from all over the country and we have established professional relationships that have even led to Mark One completing projects in other parts of the country.”

As a family-owned company, Mark One is positioned to remain that way for years to come. With nine grandchildren ranging in age from 14-29, the next generation is already showing interest in the business. “I will forever treasure the time I have spent working with my dad,” says Rosana. “I hope my son, nieces and nephews will have memories like that as well. We’re really building a legacy.”

With the company’s strength in its employees’ commitment and their ability to solve problems, Mark One Electric Co. Inc. will build upon its reputation for quality and accountability as the legacy continues.