How it all began…

In 1943, Sheldon D. Smith moved his family from Michigan to Largo, Florida. Sheldon was somewhat of a prodigy, a jack-of-all-trades if you will, and had several business ventures ranging from a restaurateur to a used car dealer to an electronics repairman. His passion, however, was always electronics — especially radio electronics. Sheldon established Smith Electric Company in 1947 to take advantage of the post-war construction boom. At that time, the company worked on a variety of projects in the electrical industry: service, residential, commercial and industrial electrical wiring. Most notably, Sheldon completed most of the original McDonald’s restaurants on the central west coast of Florida.

In 1961, Sheldon had a company that needed business, and his longtime friend, C. Robert Stuler, had a large contract for the electrical work at Guy Lombardo's Port O' Call Resort in Tierra Verde, but did not have a company. Thus, Smith and Stuler formed a partnership creating S&S Electric Co., Inc. However, the partnership of Smith and Stuler was short-lived, only lasting four years. The work at Tierra Verde was completed, and after several other projects, Stuler decided to leave the company to seek other business endeavors.

Shortly thereafter, Vern and Barbara Smith, Sheldon’s son and daughter-in-law who had both worked for the company for many years, became full partners. The company grew steadily, moving gradually towards a niche in residential electrical wiring. When Sheldon retired in 1977, Vern and Barbara took full ownership of the company. 

In 1984, the company relocated from its original home in Largo, Florida, to its current facility in Oldsmar. This was a strategic move made possible by the building boom taking place in Clearwater’s Countryside development, adjacent to Oldsmar. It was also a move made to gain better access to the growing developments in Hillsborough, Pasco and North Pinellas counties.   

S&S Electric is now a third generation company with Vern and Barbara’s sons, Chris and Shawn, managing the company’s continued growth. Christopher, like his father, grew up in the business, and is now the company’s executive vice president managing the construction and services operations. Shawn joined the family business in 1997 and is currently the company’s vice president managing business operations and new product development. Vern and Barbara’s daughter also worked for the company until her death in 1995 from Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH).

With an existing customer base made up many of the nation’s top production homebuilders, S&S Electric began seeking new business opportunities. One logical strategy for increasing the company’s business was to offer additional services and products to existing clients. Thus, in 1994, S&S Electric established its Air Conditioning Division. In 1998, Shawn integrated his grandfather’s passion of electronics by establishing a Structured Cabling Division. As Florida’s building industry continued to prosper and customers spread to new communities across the Gulf Coast, the company established offices in Sarasota (1991), Ft. Myers/Naples (1995) and East Hillsborough/Brandon (2000).

Having built a solid logistical foundation coupled with strategic service locations throughout the region, S&S Electric is positioned as the leading home technology systems provider for West Central Florida and beyond. The Smith family truly believes that their success and longevity are due to commitment, quality, service and integrity of their employees. Many of their employees have been with S&S Electric ten, twenty and even thirty years. Many of whom have become the managers that have helped shape and develop the direction of our company.

S&S Electric remains true to its promise of installing confidence for West Central Florida homeowners. We strive to provide expertly installed systems in every home that not only increase its value, but also add convenience, comfort and satisfaction for the homeowner.
 

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Affiliations and Memberships

S&S Electric Co. is committed to maintaining a high level of industry involvement, as well as pursuing high levels of industry education.  We are proud of our industry affiliations, and we value the working relationships these affiliations provide.  To that end, S&S Electric is a proud and active member of the following industry associations: