Koontz Electric Co.

Koontz Electric Co. of Morrilton has established a 61-year track record of completing quality work on time and safely on projects across the nation.

Founded as an electrical service and construction business in 1958 by Keith and Nancy Koontz, the family-owned venture has evolved into a diversified heavy industrial electrical contractor.

“Over half of what we do now is as a high-voltage contractor,” said Dean Hoover, executive vice president, who joined the company in 1990 to help develop this business segment.

Billed as the only high-voltage contractor in Arkansas, Koontz Electric specializes in high-voltage substations and switchyards and renewable energy projects encompassing hydro, wind and solar. The company’s clientele is dominated by federal agencies, utilities and manufacturers.

Koontz Electric completed more than 150 projects with contract values topping $300 million during the past 10 years to rank among the largest specialty contractors in America.

Supported by a staff of 200, Koontz Electric has built a strong book of business outside Arkansas that has helped boost annual revenue to $50 million. Hydroelectric jobs for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers account for much of the company’s out-of-state contracts.

Last year, Koontz Electric garnered recognition for safety by achieving 1 million hours of work without a recordable incident as classified by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration.

Described as a first for an Arkansas contractor, that safety milestone is a 1-in-10,000 rarity among contractors nationwide that Koontz reached after three years. Fewer than 60 contractors have reached the million man-hour mark without a lost-time accident or OSHA recordable accident during the past 30 years.

“We’re very proud of our commitment to safety that produced those results,” Hoover said.

The company claims no secrets to its success: “Hire, train and develop best-in-class employees. Take good care of them and your customers. Do right. Be fair.”

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