Our Story
Founded in 1965, VEC is a privately held construction company performing electrical construction, fabrication and mechanical piping. We began as a local electrical contractor and over the past 59 years, we grew our markets and our capabilities. Our owner, Rex Ferry, began working at the company as an electrician in 1976 and eventually moved into a project manager position.
In 1990, after twenty plus years with the company, he purchased VEC (then known as Valley Electrical Consolidated). The company was doing well, providing electrical construction services for several companies in the Mahoning Valley, including General Motors. Rex saw quite a bit of opportunity for the company and began to focus on its growth.
The 90s: VEC Expands
Throughout the early years of Rex’s leadership, VEC expanded outside of the tri-county area. Jobs were now across the state of Ohio. With the growth, came the hiring of more talent; in 1990, about 25 team members worked in-house. Heavy industrial electrical construction was the primary focus of the company and leader re-aligned to meet the new objective.
It was during this time that Rex’s two daughter’s, Tricia and Rachel began working full time for the family business. During middle school and into high school, the girls helped out by cleaning the office and washing vehicles on their summer breaks.
Continued Growth and New Markets
Rapid growth continued in the late 90s and into the new millennium. Rachel’s husband, Jeff, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, joined the company and began the Systems Integrator division. In 2003, VEC purchased Evets Electric, putting the company into a new industry: oil and gas. Rex’s nephew, Dominic, a union electrician who also got his start helping out during his summer breaks, came into the office to help grow the new market. As the shale boom began in the Mahoning Valley, VEC positioned itself to provide construction services both locally and regionally. In 2010, the company acquired JL Allen, a mechanical contractor in the oil and gas industry, adding more capabilities to the portfolio.
During this time, leadership looked inward to sustain growth and attract talent. The team developed the core values of Faith, Family and Community, along with VEC’s Mission, Vision and Purpose. Annual leadership retreats began; key team members gathered to develop the strategy and goals for the upcoming year. Field leaders began meeting on an annual basis to share knowledge, network and train on new processes.
Building for the Future
In 2016, the leadership structure at VEC changed with the promotion of Jeff, Rachel, Tricia and Dominic to Executive Vice Presidents. Rex stepped back to allow these four to handle day-to-day operations and future direction of VEC. In 2021, the company leveraged its knowledge of mechanical construction in the oil and gas industry to provide the same service into the automotive industry, specifically infrastructure for the emerging EV market. Growth continued in 2024 with the opening of a regional office near Nashville, Tennessee.
For a more in-depth look at our capabilities, click here.
