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A History of Growth
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1947
Julius Pieper founds Pieper Electric out of the back of his van in Milwaukee, WI. A young Dick Pieper helps his dad install electrical outlets in remodeled homes.
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1952
Pieper Electric becomes an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) union contractor and National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) member.
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1959
Dick Pieper joins his father at Pieper Electric, expecting to organize the company and find a supervisor to spell his hardworking dad.
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1960
With his father’s help, Dick Pieper buys Pieper Electric with a $50,000 note. The company has about 20 men working in crews and revenue is projected to reach $250,000.
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1961
Pieper Electric introduces the “PieperMan” logo featuring an action figure decked out in a red cape, carrying a coil of electrical cable and wielding a power wand.
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1961
Pieper Electric starts its first continuing education program for electricians and a pilot education program for the customer service group. It soon expands company wide.
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1962
PPC Partners ventures outside Milwaukee for the first time to Jamesville, Wisconsin to buy Setzer Electric.
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1963
Pieper Electric has its first $1 Million year and the company also moves to larger quarters – a former piano factory on 35th Street in Milwaukee.
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1966
Pieper Electric launches its first annual campaign to go accident free. Within 3 years, all divisions are recording the number of accidents per man hours worked.
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1972
Dick Pieper takes an unconventional step and proposes that all electrical contracting firms in Milwaukee make their financial information public to achieve greater understanding of market pressures.
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1979
The leaders of the company decide to look beyond the midwest for a state where open (or merit) shops are thriving. They choose Atlanta, Georgia.
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1980
PPC began a merit shop operation in Georgia and the company opens for business as MetroPower. Meanwhile, Pieper Electric launches and expanded Automation Controls Division back in Milwaukee.
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1985
Expanding their reach, the companies of PPC Partners pursue several acquisitions.
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1989
The companies of PPC Partners finish the decade with solid financial performance. In fiscal 1988, annual sales total $26M and in 1989, the reach $34M.
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1995
The acquisition of Donovan prompts creation of MP Systems, a new PPC Partners company focused on transmission and distribution that includes Milwaukee based PieperLine and Donovan.
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1997
PPC Partners celebrates 50 years in business. By this time, Engineering News Record magazine ranks them among the top 10 electrical contractors nationally.
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2000
PPC Partners’ first stock offering is presented to all employees with one year or more of service.
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2001
Pieper Electric acquires IDAC and Badger Electric of Waukesha, Wisconsin.
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2005
The company increased its capabilities to provide systems with the acquisitions of ESS in Albany, Georgia and Systems Technologies in Merrill, Wisconsin.
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2006
PPC Partners forms ClearHorizons LLC, an alternative energy venture turning the waste from cows into electrical energy.
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2008
Pieper Electric acquires Spring City Electric.
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2009
Piper Electric acquires CAP Electric.
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2010
Pieper Electric grows again with the acquisitions of Spectrum Electric, Strand Electric, and Schultz Electric.
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2012
The people of PPC Partners Inc. celebrate 65 years in business.
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2013
MetroPower achieves 0 recordable injuries within a calendar year.
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2015
ClearHorizons facilities are sold in order to focus on the core business.
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2016
Pieper Electric acquires HiTech Controls, doubling the size of the automation group.
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2017
At the end of the year, CarolinaPower branches off into its own entity.
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2018
Richard Pieper, Sr. steps down from the board turning board leadership over to Kent Velde. His step down has truly implements the Nobel Experiment.
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2019
MetroPower acquires LeMay Electric, Inc. expanding operations in the Atlanta, Georgia market. PPC starts its ERP project, a 3 year journey towards implementation.
The first Employee Resource Group (ERG), United Women of the PPC Companies, is founded.
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2020
PPC Partners, Inc. implements usage of Global Shares’ Equity Gateway, taking employee ownership electronic and making information available to all shareholders 24/7.
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2022
MP Systems builds new headquarters in East Troy, WI.
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2023
Pieper Electric’s Green Bay and Neenah locations move to a new office in Wrightstown, WI.
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2024
The Health & Wellness Employee Resource Group (ERG), Energize, is founded.
THE POWER TO SERVE
We aspire to develop strong leaders who are first and foremost servant leaders. Our commitment to servant leadership is an integral part to our organization’s history, stemming from our understanding that serving our colleagues, customers and community is the best way to promote growth within our organization and assure our future.