Prime Electric Inc.

For over a quarter century Prime Electric Inc. (PRIME) has been engineering and constructing facilities’ solutions as successful electrical and technology specialty contractors. The Washington-based company offers full turnkey services in electrical construction, design-build, technologies, data systems, ground infrastructure and outside plant services. One of the true strategic advantages of PRIME’s business model is individually operating groups, each boasting management leaders who receive full profit and loss responsibility from the ownership group.

PRIME was founded in 1987 by three service electricians and their families, who sought out to build a service-oriented business grounded in the simple principle of customer service above all else. Although the company has grown significantly over the past 26 years, PRIME remains focused today on its same founding vision.

“Our core clients return to PRIME for our diversification as it strategically allows us to provide a larger band width of services,” explains Gregg Steeb, director of sales at PRIME. “This diversification, combined with our obsession for customer service, has allowed PRIME to not just survive, but grow during the recent downturn. Customer service on every level is our highest priority.”

Before 2005 the company mainly provided western Washington with a small commercial service and special project focus. Shortly thereafter, the company was purchased by Eric Reichanadter, current president and CEO of PRIME, who changed the game.

Reichanadter brought the company from a service-based contractor to a division-specific, turnkey provider. Reichanadter changed the way PRIME does business, allowing for the growth and success the company enjoys today.

Despite growth, the company remains based in Bellevue, Wash., however the team is happy to go wherever a customer demands. “We operate mainly within the western Washington region, but have crews that reached nearly every portion of the Pacific Northwest,” adds Steeb.

True, Integrated Solutions

As the construction market pulls itself out of the worst economic downturn in nearly a century, PRIME is focusing on striving to do more than just accomplishing a job. The team at PRIME is focused on integrating the construction process using Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) and lean construction techniques to remove inefficiency from every element of the project.

“What really sets us apart is our ability to streamline the process for the owner in a manner that delivers the exact final product they were looking for, but at a much lower cost and a much shorter duration,” shares Steeb.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)-affiliated organization employs around 200 talented individuals, who encompass all areas of expertise. With projected 2013 revenues of approximately $80 million, PRIME claims that over 85 percent of those revenues will use a design-build delivery model.

“There are few companies who can perform every aspect of an electrical job,” details Steeb. “Our diversification allows us to deliver a strategic value to our clients that are not available by another in the marketplace. We can develop ground infrastructure all the way through electrical and data wiring on a building use types. We can truly provide complete turnkey solutions.”

Current Projects That Shine

The company’s experience spans across many industries, which include: aerospace, commercial office, high-rise office, municipal, education, institutional, hotel and hospitality, laboratory, medical, life sciences, retail and many more. Although no job is too big or too small, PRIME focuses on commercial clients and multimillion dollar electrical projects. “At this point, there is literally no commercial project out there that is beyond our bandwidth,” adds Steeb.

PRIME is currently working on a high-profile $25 million project at the University of Washington’s brand-new Husky stadium renovation and new football operations facilities. The university’s two-year project began with the demolition of the original stadium; the new state-of-the-art facility will be up and running for the 2013 football season in the fall.

At another large-scale commercial site, PRIME is completing the construction of a 79,000-gross-square-foot waterfront office building with an underground parking lot. The 54,000-square-foot office building for Aleutian Spray Fisheries in Seattle includes a LEED Gold-certified structure with a green roof and rooftop garden overlooking Lake Union. The installed electrical system will provide power for future site developments.

Despite some recent curve balls the economy has thrown at PRIME, the company continues to grow through its strategic diversification, integrated process deliveries and qualified staff. “We’re always looking to attract the right people and attain them,” shares Steeb.

Of course, PRIME has been no stranger to recent industry accolades. In the last five years, the firm has been singled out by the Puget Sound Business Journal as both one of the fastest-growing companies in the state of Washington, as well as being named one of the top 100 best firms to work for in the state. PRIME believes an expert staff leads to expert service and customer satisfaction, which has proven true. For over 26 years Prime Electric Inc. has been upholding a tried-and-true promise grounded in the simple principle of customer service.