Lewis Electric lighting up Virden and beyond!

By Cindy Ladage

Lewis Electric is approaching a landmark, a half century birthday in 2026! The business located at 1204 West Dean Street was started by David F. Lewis  (senior) in 1976 and incorporated in 1977.  Dave Lewis Jr. and office manager, Amber Kalaher took time to share information about the business.

“Dave Sr. started as a Lineman for CIPS and wanted to go out on his own,” Amber said.

“We started during the Bicentennial,” Dave Jr added. The business has been a part of the Virden Community since its start. The family business became a union organization in 2008.,:

Dave Sr. grew up in Virden, and Dave Jr. although living in various locations with his mom over the years, calls Macoupin County home. Dave Jr. and his wife Tracy have three children, two are still in school, and their oldest is working for IBEW on solar farms.

Amber is married to her husband Kyle who is a Sergent Correctional officer. With employees from the local area, many are longtime staff like Amber who has been with Lewis Electric for over 20 years. Steve Clarke has also been with Lewis Electric for over 20 years, and Jason Johnson for the past 30.

Lewis Electric provides an array of services for commercial, residential, and industrial customers. They offer new home construction, residential remodel, and commercial remodel construction.  Lewis Electric provides service work and repair for commercial and residential offering electrical service upgrade, repair, and replacement.  They help with low voltage, pools, and whirlpools. They both sell, repair, and maintain stand-by generators.  They offer energy efficient lighting assessment and upgrades, underground power installation, location and repair, pole and site lighting, pole installation, overhead up to 12kv, and work on starter, motor, and fan units. Lewis Electric also assists with agricultural electrical issues as well.

Over the years Lewis Electric has been a part of some amazing projects serving the electrical needs Dave Jr. said, “From the Crowne Plaza to the Holiday Inn, to Southwind Park.”

Amber added, “We also helped with two phases of Nehemiah homes in Springfield, which was a 70-home project that removed dilapidated home, and rebuilt with new.”

Projects they have been involved with have changed the face of Springfield and many other communities, plus helped maintain existing structures as well!  Dave Jr. added that they have been involved more with smaller local projects since the advent of COVID.

They serve about a 100-mile radius.  “We have been to Beardstown, Pekin, Decatur and more,” Dave Jr. said. He added, “We run services from Springfield to Carlinville daily.”

The phone rings, and they roll!  These days Amber said they are upgrading internal operations technology to better provide for their customers. Amber keeps the office organized and pushes the crew to update at times although she said she can’t convince them they need to join social media. Word of mouth seems to be working just fine, and, “We advertise through our logo on our trucks,” she said.

While Dave Jr. is happy with the status quo, Amber said, “I am still trying to set the world on fire.”

It works, the combination of their push and pull. Lewis Electric continues to move ahead keeping the local community and central Illinois with valuable electric service from large projects to smaller ones as well.

Involved in local community projects, Lewis Electric, besides being a Chamber of Commerce member, also donates funds to local events and associates.

When asked what he liked most about his business, Dave Jr. said, “I like being independent.  It’s not the money for dad and me.  I live the life I like and live it the way we want to live it.”

For Amber, besides loving what she does, the flexibility offered is a huge plus. With her husband working long hours, being able to adjust her schedule, and the relationships they have all formed over the years are key.

When it comes down to it, Dave Jr. said it is the local business that they are grateful for.  “We appreciate local people that are loyal customers.  Being loyal is hard to get these days,” he said thankful for those local customers that have worked with them over the years.

Open Monday – Friday from 7:30 to 4:00, call 217-965-5095 for details!