A lesson in business success in volatile times

By Larry Turner and Doug Phelps

Cobizmag_Realigning with your strengths – Integrity Electical Solutions

May 2, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Chris Cumpton

(303) 761-6176

Integrity Electrical Solutions, named the 2013 Electrical Service Award winner. Awarded by the Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain (IECRM)

Denver CO, April 25th, 2013- Integrity Electrical Solutions, LLC, a locally-owned electrical contractor, joins a select group of Colorado companies awarded with this year’s top electrical and renewable energy projects completed by Rocky Mountain contractors.

This award is presented each year to the IEC contractor member who most exemplifies what a “Service Contractor” is and is outstanding in their performance.

“It is truly an honor to be recognized as the premier Electrical Service Contractor in the Denver Metro area for the third year in a row.  This award publically acknowledges the priority we place on our customers, employees and other team members in the community.”

About Integrity Electrical Solutions, LLC

Integrity Electrical Solutions provides comprehensive electrical, data, energy optimization, alternative energy, and building automation services to industrial, commercial, and residential customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The highly trained staff is able to respond to a wide range of requests from emergency repair and replacement to scheduled service.

Contact:

Chris Cumpton, President Integrity Electrical Solutions 303-761-6176 ccumpton@integrityele.com www.integrityele.com

About Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain (IECRM)

Established in 1981, the Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain (IECRM) is the Rocky Mountain region’s premier non-profit organization representing 200 independent contractors and industry businesses, and providing education for over 600 aspiring electrical apprentices and licensed electricians annually. IECRM is approved and regulated by The Colorado Department of Higher Education, Division of Private Occupational Schools Board; and recognized by the US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (OA/BAT). IECRM is dedicated to supporting, educating, and promoting tomorrow’s energy professionals.

IECRM, located in Denver, Colorado, is a chapter of the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), a national trade association for merit shop electrical and systems contractors.

Contact:

Samantha McCormick Marketing Manager Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain (303) 853-4886 samantha@iecrm.org www.iecrm.org

Contact: Chris Cumpton

(303) 761-6176

Integrity Electrical Solutions, LLC is a Finalist for

Colorado Companies to Watch Award

 Denver CO, April 9, 2013- Integrity Electrical Solutions, LLC, a locally-owned electrical contractor, joins a select group of Colorado companies recognized as a Colorado Companies to Watch finalist. This selection acknowledges the company’s hard work, growth and success represented by it’s 98.5% customer satisfaction rate and the company’s contribution to business development in the state.

Colorado Companies to Watch honors second stage companies that develop valuable products and services, create quality jobs, enrich communities and create new industries throughout Colorado.  The year-long program is hosted by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and the Edward Lowe Foundation.

Integrity Electrical Solutions firmly believes happy employees make happy customers and intend for our company to be an employer of choice in the Denver metro area.  The owner’s “Why” is to establish a culture where every individual is honored, respected, and encouraged to provide input on Company improvement. Each employee is seen as a trusted partner in the Company’s success. Everyone in the Company had input in creating our company values.  They can all tell you our core values are; Excellence, Integrity, Community, Passion, and Competition and they know the values govern everything we do.  Employee input on business decisions, structure, new opportunities, benefits, etc. is encouraged and valued.   When field technicians receive feedback from our customers, we publicly recognize them, give them a small gift and frame the feedback on our Wall of Fame in the office.  We have averaged one written compliment per month since we started the business.  We schedule periodic social events for everyone such as an annual chili cook-off, company birthday, holiday party, and two employee breakfasts hosted by the executive team.  This creates an enthusiasm and passion that our customers notice.

“Our name describes who we are. We believe we are held accountable for making the right decision every time, a decision we can be proud of, not just the most profitable one.”  Chris Cumpton, President, Integrity Electrical Solutions, LLC.

“Colorado Companies to Watch is proud to recognize Integrity Electrical Solutions as a 2013 Finalist. Under the leadership of Chris Cumpton, Integrity Electrical Solutions has achieved significant growth as a result of providing excellent customer service, an ongoing dedication to employee development, and contributions to their local community. As a state, Colorado looks forward to watching Integrity Electrical Solutions as it continues to grow here in Colorado.” Sam Bailey, Program Director, Colorado Companies to Watch.

About Integrity Electrical Solutions, LLC

Integrity Electrical Solutions provides comprehensive electrical, data, energy optimization, alternative energy, and building automation services to industrial, commercial, and residential customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The highly trained staff is able to respond to a wide range of requests from emergency repair and replacement to scheduled service.

About Colorado Companies to Watch

Colorado Companies to Watch (www.Colorado.CompaniestoWatch.org) is a unique statewide awards program recognizing growing companies that fuel the economic fire of the state. Colorado Companies to Watch honors companies that develop valuable products and services, create quality jobs, enrich communities and create new industries throughout Colorado. The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade launched the program in 2009 in conjunction with the Edward Lowe Foundation, and valuable sponsors, key drivers, community and supporting partners, as well as volunteers from across Colorado.

Contact: Chris Cumpton, ccumpton@integrityele.com 303-761-6176

The Risk of Using an Unlicensed Contractor

Have you ever had a “friend” or a “friend of a friend” that told you that they could do work at your house for half the cost of a licensed contractor? You knew that they were not licensed, but they “seemed to know” what they are talking about. Did you know that you may be putting yourself and others at risk by hiring them? There are a few reasons why.

First, unlicensed contractors may not have the proper training, liability insurance, or workers comp insurance.

If the unlicensed contractor fails to get the proper training, and have the documentation to back it up, then he cannot get liability insurance. But the fact that he doesn’t have the proper training in itself is a hazard, in which YOU are liable.

For example, you hire a handy man to come to your house and have him replace a light switch. Most likely he has not had the proper training and licensing as a journeyman electrician or as an electrical contractor. If he does this job incorrectly and causes an electrical fire, or worse; gets himself or one of your family members hurt or killed, then YOU are liable. And check your homeowner’s insurance policy, most likely this incident will not be covered by your homeowners insurance due to the fact that he was not licensed.

Now, let’s say that he had liability insurance for his handy man’s business; in most cases this will not cover him for any electrical work due to the fact that he wasn’t a licensed electrician.

So where does the cost fall? On YOU!

I have actually witnessed this event unfold, except it wasn’t at a home; it was at a warehouse that moved over a million dollars of pharmaceuticals through their warehouse each day.

They hired a contractor to build two additional offices in the warehouse. The contractor was licensed to do structural/carpentry work, not electrical. But instead of getting a bid for the electrical work on the project, the contractor decided to do the electrical work himself so that it would not cut into his profit margin.

He hooked up a switch that was attached to a 277 volt lighting circuit incorrectly, and it shorted. However, the breaker for the circuit malfunctioned, as did the main breaker for the panel so that neither tripped. The subsequent effect was that the bussing inside the electrical panel began to melt down, and with the voltage of 277/480 volts, there was an 8’ fireball that came out of the panel. The transformer outside of the building also melted down, and stopped feeding the electrical system. The back-up generator then kicked on, and continued the destruction until it too, shut down.

It was the perfect storm and it all happened within seconds. Luckily, no one was injured during this event. We were able to get temporary power on for their critical systems so that they did not lose the refrigerated products. But that was it. The warehouse was out of commission for two days while we worked around the clock to get their power back on to the point that they could work. In financial terms, they lost out on over two million dollars in revenue.

But not only that, who was the one responsible for all of the work, materials and down time cost for this event? Who was going to pay for it all? Insurance would not cover the contractor because he was doing electrical work, something that he was not licensed to do. The Liability coverage for the warehouse would not cover it, because once again, the contractor that caused the short was not a licensed electrician.

Had someone been hurt because of this event, not only would the contractor most likely have been sued, so would the warehouse.

This was an extreme circumstance, but you get the point; the liability falls on the owner of the property.

Also, did you know that if you hire a contractor to do work at your house, and they get hurt with no workers comp insurance, that YOU are the one that is liable. Depending on your insurance policy, it may or may not be covered by your insurance.

Second, if the contractor does not do a good job, or doesn’t do the job at all, there is little to nothing that you can do. If there is no record of the contractor in the state, the state cannot register the complaint. If you seek out the name of the business and post a review online, they will most likely change the name of their business to avoid the bad publicity. This is not difficult when you have no license. If you sue the unlicensed contractor, it may be pointless, because most of these contractors usually do not have the money to pay such a lawsuit or the insurance to cover it.

Hiring a “friend” or a “friend of a friend” may save you money up front. You may think that you are saving, but actually you are gambling with your financial stability, not to mention the heart ache and pain of dealing with something that is not done correctly.

So, before you hire a contractor, do your homework. Ask to see their license. Our Journeyman will be glad to show you a journeyman’s card or give you one of their business cards that has their Colorado Journeyman’s license number on it.

Also contact the Better Business Bureau to see if they are a member or if they have any unresolved issues.

If you still have doubts, you can always see who is licensed and in what at the State of Colorado “Dora” website (listed below).

https://www.colorado.gov/dora/licensing/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx

It is the best way to determine if your contractor is licensed in the State of Colorado.

Keep in mind how important hiring a licensed contractor is. No matter if you are hiring someone for electrical, plumbing, heating and air, or just a handy man around the house, if they are not licensed it could cost you BIG!!!

-Dave Kohler

• Need an estimate on electrical work? Please fill out our Request Estimate Form.
• Need to request service right away? Please fill out our Request Service Form.
• Do you have a question you’d like to ask us? We’d be happy to provide you with the answer, please fill out our Ask the Expert Form.

Englewood, CO – Friday, November 9^th, 2012 – Integrity Electrical Solutions, an Englewood-based electrical contractor, was recently awarded the 2012 CNA Safety Award. The award was presented at the 55^th National Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) awards ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas.

“Our goal each and every day is to make sure that our employees go home safely to their families. To be recognized nationally for our safety efforts is a huge honor for our team,” said Chris Cumpton, Integrity Electrical’s President. “It is an even greater honor to be associated with the people at our company that make safety a priority each and every day.”

Integrity Electrical Solutions was one of only three companies nationwide to receive the safety award as well as the only Colorado company recognized. This annual award recognizes electrical contracting companies that excel in establishing and maintaining successful safety programs. Integrity Electrical worked without an incident for over 30 consecutive months. IEC is a national trade association for merit shop electrical and systems contractors.

In March of this year, Integrity Electrical Solutions was also awarded the 2012 Summit Award from the IEC Rocky Mountain (IECRM) Chapter for Excellence in Electrical Construction. The award category was for projects between $500,000 and $1.5MM and honored Integrity’s performance on “The Trust Company’s Critical Power Upgrade.”

IECRM also received recognition for Excellence in Service for 2011 and 2012 from the association. Integrity continues to be actively involved with IECRM, working to set the mark with providing a culture of safety and customer service excellence.

For further information about this award, please visit:
http://www.ieci.org/awards/annual-award-winners