From healthcare and transportation to mission-critical and commercial projects, Lighthouse Electric Company, Inc. has proudly powered it all. We speak to several of the company’s leaders about its humble origins and visions for an electrifying future.
POWER ON
Powering the progress that the electrical industry needs is no simple task; it takes a team of dedicated and structured individuals to propel meaningful innovation that raises the bar for the future.
This is precisely what drives Lighthouse Electric Company, Inc. (Lighthouse Electric) to lead the way in the ever-growing, ever-changing electrical construction industry.
By pushing further, working harder, and solving smarter, the company has set itself apart through its system powered by a collective of specialists, forward-thinking clients, and partners from other disciplines.
Having been founded in March 1984 by Tony Mikec and his sons Mark, Neil, and Todd, Lighthouse Electric’s first contract was from a neighbor who commissioned the team to install new lighting for a local church parking lot.
Since then, the company has not only grown exponentially in numbers but also across state lines and in measure of success.
It has solved for and implemented some of the most technically challenging projects in the Eastern US and has become a leader in the electrical, technological design, and construction industries.
“We work with clients in many industries, including data centers, battery plants, healthcare, manufacturing, sports arenas, universities, and many others,” introduces Karyn Ward, Executive Coordinator.
In addition to offering electrical construction and pre-construction services, the company has a service and accounts team that provides tenant services and improvements alongside commercial and industrial troubleshooting, service upgrades, and certified technicians in low voltage, electric vehicle (EV) charging, infection control risk assessment (ICRA), and certified healthcare compliance (CHC).
Lighthouse Electric prides itself on being a leader in progress and innovation. Its upper management empowers employees to create standards and processes that allow the company to hire and scale quickly, gather and organize large amounts of changing job data, and create impressive, high-quality, complex prefabricated assemblies and data package deliverables.
“We have always had a drive and directive from top leadership to be innovative, invest in our people and processes, and ask how we can accomplish goals rather than come up with reasons why we can’t,” asserts Matthew Dole, Director of Workforce Development.
RAISING THE BAR
Dole began his construction career in 2007 after a friend connected him with a small electrical contractor.
He swiftly found his passion within the industry and embarked on various roles before deciding to join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) labor union, which allowed him to grow even further within the sector.
“I have progressed from apprentice to journeyman to foreman. Since then, I have had the opportunity to hold multiple office positions, including Planning Layout and Design Specialist, Construction Design Manager, and now, Director of Workforce Development,” he explains.
Throughout his entire career in electrical contracting, Dole has found the industry to be one of constant excitement and innovation, ensuring that one never grows bored or becomes idle.
Currently, the world of electrical contracting and construction is at a pivotal stage, with it being an optimal time for individuals to consider a long-lasting and rewarding career in the trade.
“Your standard college degree no longer guarantees high-paying jobs as they used to, and the cost of a four-year education is astronomical,” he informs.
“The shortage of available labor in the trades and technical innovation, which is picking up speed in the industry, has set the stage for an alternate path to success that doesn’t include starting your career buried under college debt.”
This prime opportunity is highlighted through Lighthouse Electric’s vast employee base of over 600 dedicated and hard-working individuals.
Ultimately, the company works to pursue excellence, integrity, and innovation through its diverse and supported team, where individuals are encouraged to harness the power of their unique skill sets.
“We have always had a drive and directive from top leadership to be innovative, invest in our people and processes, and ask how we can accomplish goals rather than come up with reasons why we can’t”
Matthew Dole, Director of Workforce Development, Lighthouse Electric Company, Inc.
POWERED BY A COLLECTIVE
Over the course of Lighthouse Electric’s proud 40-year history, it has embarked on a variety of projects that continually showcase the company’s expertise and desire for ongoing creative innovation.
Specifically, Dole has participated in planning, modeling, and installing thousands of prefabricated electrical assemblies on multiple mega-scale projects, with multiple high-profile data centers and EV battery plants being some of the developments he is the proudest to have been a part of over the years.
“When working in the field, I had the opportunity to personally install many of the systems in The Tower at PNC Plaza in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (PA). Whenever I drive by that building, I can see the light fixtures I helped to install; that is a great feeling,” he prides.
Some of the projects that Lighthouse Electric has successfully completed and unveiled include the New Stanton Amazon Fulfillment Center, the Cardinal FOH, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Lerner Research Institute, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Presbyterian Heart and Vascular Institute, the BlueOval SK Battery Park, and Pittsburgh International Airport.
“These projects represent the best of what we have to offer in terms of innovation, impact, differentiation, strategic importance, and employee engagement,” comments Andy Hatcher, Director of Business Development and Marketing.
“They serve as a key part of Lighthouse Electric’s success story and help to position ourselves for future growth.”
Pittsburgh International Airport was a particularly exciting project that sought to construct a modernized and adaptable terminal to allow for greater ease and more rapid access to the passenger journey.
The new 815,000 square foot (sqft) structure, anticipated to open in 2025, will consolidate check-in, ticketing, security, and baggage operations into one connected facility.
The electrical scope involved work comprised of medium voltage primary distribution, main distribution throughout, branch distribution, all LV raceways, front and back of house lighting, lightning protection, emergency generation, green space outdoor lighting, new baggage handling facilities, new departures, arrivals, ticketing, TSA checkpoints, and core and shell for retail concessions.
POWERING A BRIGHT FUTURE
Lighthouse Electric is a true champion of its people, recognizing that they are the driving force that powers the company’s success.
Through collaboration, candor, and constant communication, its team is able to identify efficiencies and solve problems in the early stages of a project, easing its transition into the field for fabrication and completion.
“I encourage people to take ownership of their tasks and keep me up to date on their progress so I can help with any possible roadblocks to their success. When people have great ideas or accomplish a goal, I try to recognize and celebrate that success with them,” expands Dole.
Collective capability is what sets the company’s workforce apart from the rest. By working together, it can truly harness the power of a conglomeration of unique individuals, skill sets, and combined years of unparalleled experience.
Equally as important as a communicative and well-rounded environment for employees to thrive is a safe workspace that ensures individuals can return home each day in the same, if not better, condition than they arrived in.
“The safety of our employees is our most important priority,” states Greg Tarosky, Director of Safety.
“Our safety culture is based on a practical approach that looks beyond the minimum regulations. We believe that in order to have a positive input, the methods, procedures, tooling, and training must be fully understood down to the smallest detail.”
To achieve these stringent standards, the company utilizes standard operating procedures (SOPs) created by top field installers.
Additionally, in conjunction with the efforts of its pre-construction planning department, prefabrication aids the company’s employees who take the materials to their final installation.
Ultimately, the business is attempting to eliminate steps in the procedure that can potentially create hazards within its planning processes.
As Lighthouse Electric looks ahead towards a further 40 years of success and expansion, it will continue to couple innovative thought with calculated, collaborative execution, cementing itself as a leader in the electrical and technological design and construction industries.
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