West Virginia Executive Spring 2018 | Page 76

Celebrating Long-Term Business Success Electronic Specialty Company is a leader in the service and installation of specialty electronic systems across the tri-state region. Established in 1947 by brothers Jim and Charlie Wolford, Owen Higgins, the current president, stepped in to lead the company in 1978 when the brothers retired. television, hospital communications, fire alarms and professional sound systems. Passing the Torch “We now integrate our surveillance cameras with building automation, access control, fire alarms, intrusion, panic buttons, parking control and paging,” says Owen. “While each of these systems is unique, our in-house specialists team up to collaborate and design an integrated solution.” “I resigned from a successful 20-year career with a multinational electronics company to move my family back to West Virginia so I could own and operate my own company store,” says Owen. Owen moved the store from Charleston to Dunbar in 1979 in order to have more room to work and grow the company and has been enjoying success ever since. Almost 40 years later, he is now working on a transition to shared ownership with his son, Shane Higgins, and his business partner, Bill Miller, who serve as co-vice presidents of the company. “Shane has been very involved as an employee for 35 years, serving in numerous roles as a technician and working in systems design, marketing and management,” says Owen. “Bill joined Electronic Specialty in 2008 with 23 years of technical experience when he left General Electric Company as regional sales manager for the security products division. Each have a wealth of experience and knowledge in what we do, and they work to lead our company to further success.” A Future-Focused Business While Electronic Specialty Company started as a small enterprise designing and installing intercom and speaker paging systems for chemical plants and schools, it has since found itself expanding into the ever-growing technology of “We’ve evolved into a professional sound contractor, and our staff continues today with a vigorous appetite for learning and applying the latest technologies to make life safer and better via a wide variety of electronic systems for our customers,” says Owen. Technology never stops changing, and Electronic Specialty Company’s success has stemmed from its commitment to mastering new products and trends. Electronic Specialty Company is a proud West Virginia corporation serving the entire state and conducting business in Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia. The well- trained technical staff are licensed and certified with the appropriate training and backed up by in-house sales engineers and market specialists. The current staff represents a collective 620-plus years of service with Electronic Specialty Company. A Proven Track Record Electronic Specialty Company has a long history of customer satisfaction across its many services, which include: • • • • Access Control/Video Surveillance Fire Alarm Systems MFG Process Video Documentation Nurse Call/Hospital Communications Systems • Professional Audio/Video Systems • Vehicle Traffic Control and Revenue 1325 Dunbar Avenue, Dunbar, WV 25064 (304) 766-6277 • www.electronicspecialty.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION The company's handiwork can be seen in a long list of companies, including Charleston Area Medical Center, the Clay Center, the Summit Bechtel Reserve, West Virginia State Capitol Complex, Constellium, West Virginia University, Power Park, Laidley Field and the Charleston Civic Center. A West Virginia Impact In 2012, Electronic Specialty Company wa