Walsh Electrical Contracting Inc.

Walsh Electrical Contracting Inc. (Walsh Electrical) is a premier electrical contractor serving the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan and Brooklyn areas. Based in Staten Island, N.Y., Walsh Electrical was founded in 1976 by Kevin Walsh. Since Kevin’s passing in 2011, his wife Linda and son Ryan, vice president of Walsh Electrical, have taken over the business to see continued growth.

The residential, commercial and industrial electrical contracting company specializes in high-end lighting and electrical services for many big-name retailers, companies and agencies. During summer 2012, Walsh Electrical worked on many notable projects in New York City, including the new Tiffany and Co. store in Soho, as well as the Agnona, Christian Dior and Loro Piana shops in the Bergdorf Goodman Buildings. The company has also completed work for Discovery Communications, Joe Fresh and Starbucks in addition to many New York City public entities, such as the MTA, SCA, and DEP.

Walsh Electrical has a team of 55 employees and is a proud member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 3. The company is also affiliated with the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), which provides resources for companies like Walsh Electrical to advance the $130 billion electrical construction industry through advocacy, education, research and development of standards.

Making a Name

Ryan grew up working for his dad and now oversees many employees who taught him the trade. He worked for the company until he was 19 and moved away to build his own career over the next 10 years. Ryan earned a bachelor’s in business management and returned in 2011 to help run the company when his father fell ill.

According to Ryan, he hoped one day his father would hand down the business to him in a traditional manner of succession. His father’s untimely death forced that to happen a lot quicker than desired, but Ryan expresses that he’s excited for the future of Walsh Electrical and to make his father proud.

Since taking over, Ryan has grown the company’s revenue drastically. In two short years Walsh Electrical’s revenue has doubled. Ryan hopes to see those numbers continue to double year over year. “We’re in the greatest city in the world which is filled with nothing but opportunities,” says Ryan.

Part of Walsh Electrical’s success is due to Ryan’s involvement with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative. “I applied on a whim and they accepted me and it ended up being a rewarding experience,” says Ryan.

Once accepted, Ryan was expected to attend 10 day-long classes that covered every aspect of building a successful business. The classes are part of a $500 million investment by Goldman Sachs to help 10,000 small businesses in the country to help create jobs and economic opportunity. The program has helped Ryan realize how to execute his vision for the Walsh Electrical. “It changed my view in the fact that it’s OK to dream big,” he says. “Put the plan down on paper and make it happen.”

City Lights

Walsh Electrical has become a respected name in New York City among large, high-end retailers. This is due in part to the company’s relationships with the area’s general contractors that have come to specialize in that niche. It’s also because Walsh Electrical is recognized for quality work, according to Ryan. “As big a city as it is, New York still is a small construction market,” he notes.

The company recently finished wiring the Joe Fresh flagship store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. In addition, Walsh Electrical has also completed the Tommy Bahama Fifth Avenue flagship store, which is a two-story space that includes a restaurant, two bars and a private dining room.

“Working on high-end retail project entails a different process,” says Ryan. Each job usually includes an architect, designer and lighting consultant to help create a plan. Typical jobs also require Walsh Electrical to maintain a high quality of work to achieve a certain look that companies are after.

But even with all the big names to list as clients, Walsh Electrical stays grounded in the community. Kevin always gave back to nearby organizations, and Ryan is following in his father’s footsteps. Ryan knows that it is important to make monetary donations, as well as provide services since electricity is just as necessary as water in today’s world.

Walsh Electric has also been extremely busy helping with Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts in New York City. “There was a lot of damage to electrical systems, so it’s been a very busy three months,” says Ryan. “This has been the most rewarding part of my two years since returning to Walsh Electric; having the opportunity and ability to restore electricity to families and businesses in need.” Even as Walsh Electrical Contracting Inc. continues to grow as a major electrical contractor in the New York City region, Ryan will always remember his roots.