This year, as in years past, it’s important to pause for a moment to express gratitude for all the good we’ve been privileged to be part of over the past 12 months.
Celebrating 110 years of being in business
We celebrated the start and completion of many projects, and welcomed many new members to the Miller Electric family. And, we celebrated 110 years of powering Omaha’s growth.
In 1912, Fenway Park first opened, Oreo released its first cookie, and, at the same time, Miller Electric opened its doors for business. It makes all of us feel incredibly proud, and somewhat small, to be part of wiring Omaha’s skyline for all of these years.
We’re grateful to be part of Henry Miller’s legacy and look forward to another 110 years.
Our energy outlook proved positive
In January, we shared an outlook on the electrical construction industry for 2022 that highlighted local and national opportunities. While it still remains to be seen what the impact of the infrastructure bill passed by Congress in 2021 will be on us here in Omaha, it’s apparent that here at home and across America, we were ready to emerge from pandemic shutdowns and get back to business.
Building never stopped during the pandemic shutdowns and growth continued throughout the year to both our and our employees’ benefit.
With funds set aside for electric vehicles and charging stations, we are hopeful that the years ahead may hold more opportunities for Miller Electric to continue its involvement in the installation of green energy features like electrical vehicle charging stations, solar-powered crosswalks and solar panels for buildings and facilities.
A need for skilled workers remains
An area of need that still remains is the need for skilled workers. A shortage of skilled trades professionals continues to plague construction broadly, and the commercial electrical contracting field is not immune to that shortage.
Miller Electric continues to lead locally in recruiting and hiring new construction wiremen, electrical apprentices and journeymen electricians. We have made an intentional effort to recruit diverse populations to our trade and inform people throughout our community of the benefits that working in a trade provides.
We featured women at Miller Electric who have made a difference by applying their skill and talent here.
With schools holding career fairs again, we are hopeful that the year ahead will bring more opportunities to introduce others to a career in electrical contracting.
One of Nebraska’s Safest Companies, Four Years in a Row
Another thing to be grateful for as we look back over the last year is our safety record. Not only was Miller Electric named one of Nebraska’s safest companies for a fourth consecutive year, we had a few safety highlights to note:
We hired two site safety supervisors for SRP (and will soon be adding a third)
We completed company-wide training for Power Actuated Tools (PATs) and Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs)
Heartfelt thanks goes to Tim Tanner and Roger Ferris for sharing their knowledge and expertise with us. Nothing matters more than maintaining our commitment to safety and getting each and every one of our team members home safely at the end of each day.
Our People, Customers and Community
Speaking of team members, Miller Electric is proud of our people — and not just because we’re employee-owned. Identifying the best local electricians in the industry, hiring them, training them and retaining them is the secret to our success. It has allowed us to sustain the largest core workforce in the area while providing the finest talent for every job.
We know we’re only as good as the customers we serve. This year, that meant wiring, installing and servicing many cool and critical projects in the Omaha area. Here’s a look back at just a few project highlights we’ve been privileged to work on in 2022.
Omaha Electrical Training Center
We celebrated the opening of the OETC’s expansion in August. Although construction began in 2020, numerous factors stretched out its completion. Now that it’s finished, we’re excited about the hope it brings to increasing the number of skilled trades workers in Omaha. And, we’re thrilled to have been a part of it coming together.
Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium Light Façade
In the spring of 2020, while the world was making its way through the pandemic, Miller Electric and Morrissey Engineering were putting the finishing touches on a renovation that would bring waves to the heart of the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.
The work that went into the new façade outside the entrance to the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium is a picture of engineering and prefabrication strength. While it replicates the simple beauty of crashing waves, behind the scenes, it is an intricate tapestry of steel and light.
It was a complex project that involved unique levels of planning and coordination. We’re proud to have been part of it.
LinkedIn Office Building
Miller Electric’s work on LinkedIn’s 200,000 square-foot office complex located at 132nd and Pacific streets began in October 2020 and it is now the social media giant’s fourth-largest work base in North America.
“There were a number of neat aspects to the project,” says Adam Goodwin, low voltage general manager. “Meetup spots, creativity nooks, a music room and resting rooms are just a few features that stand out. They also have solar canopies in the parking lot that provide 13 percent of the building’s power.”
Here for our community
We power a community we are a part of and our success is connected to its safety. Working safely is critical to our own culture as a company and to the overall success of our business community.
We don’t just work here. We live here. We want to see Omaha thrive for generations to come. We’re thankful for the many opportunities that allow us to have an active presence in our community.
We are thankful to be able to see the fruit of our labors in the ideas we help bring to life, the people who go to work in the facilities we wire, and the families who thrive in a safe and supported community.
Our participation in this work is a responsibility we don’t take lightly and one that we want to continue to be trusted to perform for the next 110 years.