A brief history of IEC...

Walter (Walt) Schenewark was born November 29, 1908, in San Diego, California. He was raised in Stockton, California, and later settled in Modesto, California. Walt learned the electrical trade from his uncle, Chas Lentz, and worked as an electrician. In 1935, Walt and a partner, Al Johnson, started doing business as Industrial Electrical Company (informally called The Shop) on J Street in Modesto. In the beginning, the business of Industrial Electrical was electrical contracting and motor repair. The partners moved the company to 10th & G Streets. It was at that location the partnership ended and Walt bought Al’s share of the company. In 1946, The Shop moved again, this time to McHenry Avenue. Twelve years later Walt bought the property at 1417 Coldwell Avenue and that has been home to Industrial Electrical Company since 1958.

On July 11, 1972, Walt had a heart attack and suddenly passed away at the age of 63. The company then was owned by his widow and two children, Marilyn and Carl. Between 1972 and 1982, Carl operated Industrial Electrical Company employing his sister’s three sons to help by sweeping, dumping trashes and other general cleaning jobs. Carl was ready for new endeavors in 1982, so Marilyn and her husband, James (Jim) Howell bought all shares of Industrial Electrical Company thereby making them the sole owners. Jim owned and operated Industrial Electrical Company and also gave his three sons the opportunity to work at the shop during their high school and college years. The youngest of the three sons, David (Dave) showed the most interest in learning the business and planned to one day operate and eventually own Industrial Electrical Company.

In 1997, Dave returned to Industrial Electrical after graduating college and gaining several years of experience working for a variety of other companies within the industry. Jim and Marilyn wanted to semi-retire and planned to slowly transition ownership of the company to Dave and his wife. Sadly, Jim was diagnosed with cancer in December 1997, and died January 2, 1998. Thus, the transition of ownership happened quite suddenly instead of slowly.

Dave has since been the President and owner of Industrial Electrical. On December 27, 1998, less than one year after Jim’s death, the front half of the building was virtually destroyed by a three alarm fire. The employees of Industrial Electrical continued doing business and serving customers in the rubble and through the long process of rebuilding. Up until the fire the building looked much like it did in 1958. Today the front of the building looks much different and there is a new colorful company logo that is in stark contrast to the former black and white logo. One thing that remains the same is Industrial Electrical Company still is in the business of electrical contracting and motor repair just as it was way back in 1935. However, Industrial Electrical Company has grown from two departments to seven. Now Industrial Electrical Company includes the departments of Electrical Contracting and Panel Building, Advanced Motor Technology, Welder Repair, Generator Sales and Repair, Electrical Field Services, Computer Automation, as well as New Product Sales.