Company History

1954 to 1962

For more than 60 years, Singleton Electric Company has been proudly family-owned and operated. Today, Singleton is an established, full-service commercial electrical contractor with a proven track record of delivering high-quality work in the D.C. Metro area.

Humble Beginnings

In 1954, Woodie Singleton founded Singleton Electric Company as Harrison Electric Co., Inc. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Woodie learned basic concepts of electrical engineering/contracting during a four-year tenure with the U.S. Navy (1939-1943). He went on to work for Howard P. Foley Electric in Houston, and then returned to the D.C. area for a job with the Walter C. Doe Company. After eight years with the company, Woodie started his own business with fellow electrician Bobby Harrison. The two borrowed $5,000 in order to lease an office building on Maryland Avenue, NE, in D.C. From there, Harrison Electric Co. was born, and Woodie and Bobby embarked on small sub-contracting jobs for companies such as Beauchamp Construction, Skinker & Garrett, and Grunley-Walsh. In 1962, Woodie bought out Bobby Harrison and changed the company name to Singleton Electric Company, Inc.

Steady Growth

1962 to 1968

In the early 1960s, Singleton began acquiring a steady stream of projects, reaching $1 million in revenues in 1964. To accommodate its growing number of large-scale projects, Singleton brought on a number of new team members, and in 1968, moved to a new office building. Over the next decade, the company successfully completed major projects at some of the D.C. area’s most well-known and iconic buildings, including the National Archives, the Air & Space Museum and the White House.

In March of 1980, Singleton underwent a significant management change when Tom, Dick and Jack Singleton purchased the company from Woodie. After another office building move, the company’s sales surmounted $10 million in 1986.

1968 to 1978

The ‘90s marked more growth for Singleton, as the company earned $25 million worth of work in 1990 alone, averaged more than 100 employees, and won its first-ever Star Award from the Washington Building Congress. In 1997, Tom Singleton retired, handing the business over to Jack Singleton, who is CEO today.

With Jack Singleton at the helm, sales exceeded $55 million for the first time in 1999. In September 2001, SECO took on one of its most significant projects to date, when the company was selected for a $13 million build-back project at the Pentagon following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Known as the “Phoenix Project,” Singleton’s work on the Pentagon earned the company another Star Award.

In 2009, Singleton moved its headquarters to a larger office building in Gaithersburg, MD, and soon after, introduced additional new leadership with Joe Horan and Scott Werner’s promotions to president and vice president, respectively.

Today, Singleton has yearly revenues over $90 million, 300 employees, and continues to pride itself in bringing superior workmanship to some of the most prominent buildings and facilities in the D.C. Metro area.

Singleton Electric Company Through the Years

1954 – Woodie Singleton founded Singleton Electric Company, then known as Harrison Electric, with fellow electrician Bobby Harrison.
1956 – Woodie hires Jim Gooley as the company’s first outside superintendent.
1961 – Carl Shepherd comes to Harrison, remaining with the company until his retirement in 1994.
1962 – Woodie buys out his partners and starts Singleton Electric Company. The new company moves to 6925 Blair Rd. in Washington, D.C.
1963 – Singleton lands its first projects with Blake, Heffron, Riddle, and Schlosser.
1964 – Singleton earns 46 jobs for a total value of $1 million, the largest being an office building on 9th and D Sts., NW, with Blake Construction.
1965 – Singleton expands its outside forces and completes four jobs at the White House.
1966 – Chick Gagnon joins Singleton as a new journeyman electrician.
1968 – The company expands with a new office building at 12280 Wilkens Ave., in Rockville, Md.
1971 – Singleton is selected for a $1 million job at the National Archives.
1973 – Singleton begins work at the Air & Space Museum.
1974 – Singleton is awarded contracts for the electric to build the new Laurel, Mt. Vernon, and Shady Grove Hospitals.
1978 – Chick Gagnon takes charge of the field personal as outside superintendent.
1980 – Woodie retires and moves to Florida. Tom, Dick and Jack Singleton take over the company.
1983 – Singleton moves to a new building at 7860 Cessna Ave., in Gaithersburg, Md.
1984 – Singleton lands seven different jobs at the Navy Yard, and three at Navy Medical.
1986 – Sales top $10 million for the first time in company history.
1988 – The government outlaws PCB transformers (transformers made from harmful synthetic organic chemicals), resulting in Singleton picking up several PCB removal projects.
1990 – Singleton received $25 million in new work with projects at buildings such as Defense Ceeta and GSA Headquarters.
1991 – Singleton’s upgrades to the VA Heating Plant at the Pentagon earn the company its first-ever Star Award from the Washington Building Congress.
1995 – Singleton averages more than 100 men on the field payroll for the first time in history.
1997 – Tom Singleton retires, and Jack Singleton takes over the company.
1998 – Under Jack Singleton’s leadership, Singleton attains projects with WorldCom, Wedge I of the Pentagon, and the renovation of the ICC building.
1999 – Sales exceed $55 million.
2000 – Singleton receives its second Star Award for work at WorldCom.
2001 – After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Singleton is selected for a $13 million build-back project at the Pentagon, known as the Phoenix Project.
2002 – Skip McConkey Sr. is promoted to outside superintendent.
2003 – Singleton gains $43 million worth of new work and wins the Star Award for the Phoenix Project at the Pentagon. Chick Gagnon retires and Jim Polk joins Skip McConkey as outside superintendant.
2004 – Singleton picks up another $50 million in new work. Projects include Pentagon Data Room 5D9M, the Asia Trail, the Supreme Court of the United States, and the Treasury building renovation. The company also earns its fourth Star Award for Blue Plains Dewatering.
2009 – Singleton moves into a new building on Cessna Avenue in Gaithersburg, MD. Jack Singleton becomes CEO. Joe Horan is promoted to President, and Scott Werner is named the new Vice President.
2013 – Singleton is awarded the IMF HQ1 Renewal project for just over $39 million to become the largest single project in company history.
2014 – Joe Horan passes away in October after more than 35 years working for Singleton. Jack resumes his role as President of the Company.
2015 – Skip McConkey Retires as Outside Superintendent. Greg Cobaugh becomes Outside Superintendent. Dave Singleton is named Vice President of Preconstruction.
2016 – Singleton establishes Project Executives to oversee the management of our Projects:
Steve Gesualdi – Project Executive for Design Bid Build Projects
Matt Coulter – Project Executive for Design Build and Transportation Projects
Skip McConkey Jr. – Project Executive for Water and Wastewater Projects
Jason Schiller is named Chief Estimator
Mark Neff is named IT Director
Singleton is awarded the Noman M. Cole Jr., Pollution Control Plant MCC DC Replacement for over $40 million, setting the new highest valued contract in company history.
2017 – Singleton’s long time Purchasing Agent Bob Sweeney passes away after more than 40 years of service with the Company. Allen Guy, who had over 30 years experience himself at the time, fills the role of Purchasing Agent.
2024 – Today, Singleton has yearly revenues of more than $90 million and continues to be one of the leading independent electrical contractors in the Washington D.C. Metro area.
Scott Werner retired at the beginning of the year. Steve Gesualdi and Skip McConkey are named Vice President. Clinton Simpson and Greg Carey are promoted to Project Executive.

1978 to 1983

1983 to 2008

2008 to Present