Member Spotlight: Miller Electric Company
Donnie Smith serves as Chief Commercial Officer for Miller Electric Company. Miller Electric Company is a member of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors, a group of leading companies in Florida committed to securing Florida’s Future.
What is one thing Floridians may not know about your industry?
The electrical industry is no longer focused on just electricity. Technology continues to play a sophisticated role, creating opportunities outside of traditional electrical work. To help our clients adapt to this changing environment, we have expanded our services beyond traditional electrical contracting to include systems integration, connected communities, building automation, business continuity, and energy & sustainability services.
Our continued investment in the technology space has allowed us to attract and hire individuals with diverse skill sets, creating more opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds and education levels. This investment has generated more career paths than ever before, with a unique pool of diverse talent excited to make an impact in our industry.
What are one opportunity and one challenge that your industry is facing?
Electric vehicles (EVs) are one of the most promising technologies for reducing emissions in global transportation – and our industry is positioned with the knowledge and resources that will allow our clients to meet their sustainability goals.
At Miller Electric Company, we have made significant investments to provide value in this space, leveraging our nationwide outreach, in-house capabilities, and strategic partnerships to emerge as the leading EV solutions provider in the United States. While we do offer a total turnkey
approach, we understand that different clients have different needs when it comes to vehicle electrification. We have an experienced team ready to jump into any stage of the EV lifecycle to offer sustainable, quality solutions.
Growing and maintaining a qualified skilled labor workforce continues to be one of the biggest challenges in our industry. While COVID-19 dominated the headlines in 2020 and 2021, the skilled labor shortage was a battle we were all fighting behind the scenes. And it is still presenting its challenges today. As our workforce continues to age, we have placed a renewed commitment on the recruitment and training of younger generations – who often feel it is more beneficial to receive a college degree than enter a trade profession.
We have worked hard to raise awareness of the benefits of working as a trade professional. We have even partnered with a variety of colleges and universities that offer college credit for individuals who successfully complete the 5-year electrical apprenticeship program. Internally, we have a dedicated workforce development team that is responsible for addressing some of the challenges we are facing, and actively recruiting experienced talent to join our industry.
What is one way we can unite to help grow your industry in Florida?
Changing the perception of what the electrical industry actually does is critical to its continued success. As I mentioned earlier, we have evolved to create a larger focus on technology, innovation, and sustainability. Our industry is creating opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to have meaningful and long-lasting careers that will create value for our world and everyone in it.
At Miller Electric Company, we are proud to be a leader, making investments that not only benefit our company but the construction industry as a whole. While we have made significant strides, there is still plenty of work to be done. We must continue to innovate, recruit, educate, and evolve with the speed of technology as we continue to provide quality solutions that serve as the backbone of our world’s most critical infrastructure.
About Miller Electric Company
Founded in 1928, Miller Electric Company has grown from a local electrical contractor to one of the largest in the industry with over 3,000 employees. The company has expanded its services beyond traditional electrical contracting to include systems integration, connected communities, building automation, business continuity, and energy & sustainability services. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and with a network of branch offices and industry partners, Miller Electric Company provides clients with innovative solutions and quality service so that they can remain focused on their core business.