Eldeco Celebrates 45 Year Anniversary
In 1972, Eldeco, Inc. was a two-person electrical contracting company operating from a living room in Greenville, S.C. Now one of the most successful electrical contracting companies in the Southeast, Eldeco is celebrating its 45th anniversary this fall.
It all began with two young brothers, a drawing board, a reel of wire and $3,000. Larry McKinney had recently graduated from Clemson with a degree in electrical engineering and spent 7 years working in the industry for others. His brother Bobby was an electrician. Besides their mutual electrical skills, the two shared a mind for business and a love for old-fashioned hard work. An electrical design-build contracting company was a natural fit.
Together, they formed Electrical Development Contractors (Eldeco) in Larry’s living room in the fall of 1972. It wasn’t long before they’d landed their first project: wiring a cooler at a BiLo in Greenville. Though it wasn’t a large project, its completion marked a defining point for the company. In its 45 years of operation, Eldeco has not failed to complete a single project.
The brothers built their company on a simple philosophy: Old World Values, New World Solutions. They envisioned an organization that combined hard work and integrity with cutting edge technology and engineering. It’s been a successful formula.
“My father wanted to create a different kind of electrical contracting company,” said Allen McKinney, Larry’s son and Eldeco’s current president and CEO. “He and Bobby were committed to time-honored principles and electrical practices, but they also wanted a company that was always getting better, always incorporating the latest technology and always on the cutting edge of the industry.”
In the early days, the company operated out of Larry’s apartment living room. By April of 1974, Eldeco had outgrown the space and relocated to its first office building on Cedar Lane Road. Twenty-four years later, Eldeco built its current corporate headquarters on Augusta Road, a 23,000 square foot facility with office and warehouse space.
In addition to its main office in Greenville, Eldeco also operates branch offices in Charleston, S.C., Charlotte, N.C. and Birmingham, AL. In 2016, the company acquired a metal fabrication division, Eldeco Pipe and Fabrication, based in Richburg, S.C.
Employing more than 500 experienced professionals today, Eldeco has come far from its original two-person team. Eldeco has worked on some of the Southeast’s most notable projects including Bon Secours Wellness Arena, the Peace Center, renovations for the South Carolina State House, the Boeing Final Assembly Building in Charleston and the BMW US Factory in Spartanburg, S.C.
While Eldeco is proud of its long history of illustrious projects and organizational growth, its leadership team doesn’t take success for granted.
“We know that if we’re going to continue to succeed for the next 45 years and beyond, we need to maintain our commitment to safety and growth,” McKinney said. “Our industry is both hazardous by nature and constantly changing, and in order to succeed, we need to lead the charge.”
With the recent creation of a top-ranked safety initiative, a brand new fabrication division and dozens of award winning projects, Eldeco has enjoyed unprecedented success in the past few years. And it’s not planning to back off anytime soon.
“I’m proud to carry on the legacy that was begun by my father,” McKinney said. “As we have since 1972, we will continue to stay true to our roots, while always striving to grow and stay on the cutting edge of our industry. It has been our blueprint for 45 years — and it’s one that works.”
About Eldeco, Inc.
Founded in 1972, Eldeco Inc. is a privately-owned design-build electrical contractor serving the industrial, commercial, institutional and retail markets. In addition to its headquarters in Greenville, South Carolina, the company has locations in Richburg, South Carolina, Pelham, Alabama, Concord, North Carolina and North Charleston, South Carolina.
