The True Test of Integrity
Ogburn Electric Company—setting a new standard for service
![Sam Ogburn is President of the company his parents founded more than six decades ago.](storyassets/carolinas/feature_stories/F18_NC_FS2_The_True_Test_of_Integrity/F18_NC_FS2_Interior 1.jpg)
Sam Ogburn is President of the company his parents founded more than six decades ago.
![Pictured from left to right, Sam Ogburn, Geno Nieto and Lance Grimmett on a feeder wire pull at Montessori School in Clemmons, North Carolina.](storyassets/carolinas/feature_stories/F18_NC_FS2_The_True_Test_of_Integrity/F18_NC_FS2_Interior 2.jpg)
Pictured from left to right, Sam Ogburn, Geno Nieto and Lance Grimmett on a feeder wire pull at Montessori School in Clemmons, North Carolina.
In the world of electrical contractors, the President of Ogburn Electric Company, Inc. and an NC Unlimited License holder since 1981, is making waves—Sam H. Ogburn wants his clients to expect more. In fact, he makes sure that his staff overdelivers, even when clients already expect the absolute best. So, when their signature “green van” drives up with an Ogburn crew, Sam may have beat them to the site—whether it’s a commercial, industrial or residential project. He takes a very active interest in all of his company’s projects.
More than six decades ago, Sam’s parents started Ogburn Electric Company in an old barn less than a quarter of a mile away from their current business complex in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. At the top of the list of parenting goals was to teach their son exactly why integrity had to guide him in all aspirations. “My parents always said it’s not just making sure we do what we say we’ll do. It’s a matter of exceeding expectations so we can make sure our customers are satisfied and want to continue doing business with us. Again, it’s all about integrity.”
When asked how he makes that happen, Sam explains, “It starts with our employees, and the best way to hire the best is to have an organizational reputation that makes candidates want to work here. That approach has allowed me to be more of a leader than a boss since I took over the business in 1985. Our employees are family, and we all strive to uphold the company’s mission of integrity.”
It All Starts with Dedication to Our Mission
That company mission starts with prioritizing goals in the same way Sam’s parents did. For all areas of Sam’s life, including the corporate structure, Sam breaks down the facets of his goals to support the initial quest for integrity with which he was raised. He carries that basic foundation through to all of his relationships. “Whether it’s a man’s faith, family, friends or business, integrity is the guiding force. And I think that’s a big part of why our customers and employees stay with us so long.”
Customer and Employee Loyalty
Customers such as Salem College have relied on Ogburn Electric for most of the 60-plus years of its existence. When a campus transformer recently blew up on a Sunday night, they called Ogburn Electric. An employee answered the phone, Sam got a crew onsite immediately and the entire system was back online by 3 p.m. Monday. According to Sam, “If you want to offer the best service, it starts with answering the phone.”
Customers are never relegated to finding their way through a maze of telephone options, then forced to wait for a callback so they can explain their emergency. “With a knowledgeable person answering the phone, we can regularly get a crew onsite in less than an hour for both residential or commercial.”
For new construction, Sam and his two full-time estimators with 50-plus combined years of experience, use digital estimating systems to guide customers through multiple options. They explain timelines, and fully disclose the many potential challenges that might arise based on their many years of experience.
“Sometimes it’s a simple solution to revise an installation and save the customer money,” Sam explains. “We commonly recommend value engineering on large electrical installations in order to cut costs for a customer. To keep customers loyal for decades, we have to always put their best-case scenario first. We always complete our projects on time and ahead of schedule. It’s never all about money for Ogburn.” Employee loyalty is certainly as important as customer loyalty at Ogburn Electric. Some employees have been with the company for 10 to 30-plus years. Sam has an open-door policy to let his employees know that they can go directly to him to discuss any and all matters of concern, whether work-related or personal. He values these relationships a great deal and knows that even though he and his employees “talk-it” they have to “walk-it.”
Time to Celebrate
To show his appreciation for his staff, Sam provides continuous skill improvement opportunities to help them advance through formal training. All employees participate in safety training with weekly follow-up meetings. Safety is very important and a key part of daily work. “We work with them on their goals and skill sets throughout the year so at each person’s year-end review there are no surprises. That means we regularly have reasons to celebrate an achievement, even if it’s a small achievement by an apprentice.”
But Sam doesn’t wait for special occasions to celebrate. Paintball, baseball games, go-carts, barbecues…he treats his staff to outings that continuously bring them together. “We see each other as real friends, and our relationships and outings build trust and enhance teamwork,” he says. Also, hiring and referral bonuses help incentivize his employees to bring in new hires.
As a reminder to maintain the highest level of satisfaction for customers and employees alike, Sam often studies the rock on his desk. Engraved on it are the words: “Never Never Quit.”
Serving the Community
Sam’s leadership extends far past his family and business. He urges companies to follow his example of offering discounts to veterans, seniors and nonprofit organizations, and supporting the YMCA. Ogburn Electric is a member of the local chamber of commerce, is an A+ member of the Better Business Bureau and a 50-plus-year member of the North Carolina Association of Electrical Contractors (NCAEC). As a past president of NCAEC and current board member for over 25 years, Sam wants to help contractors throughout the state to provide exceptional service and standards that benefit all customers.
True to Technology
Ogburn Electric utilizes cutting-edge technology. “Sometimes, the only way to stay ahead of the game is to have a tablet on hand. We can access blueprints, change orders and a host of other critical files onsite. We want our staff to have immediate access to everything they need to make jobs flow smoothly. Effective utilization of technology is important to all tasks, whether in the office using digital estimating or onsite.”
Some say an organization’s reputation is only as good as its last job. For Ogburn Electric Company, providing exceptional service, a belief in overdelivering, and setting a higher standard begins with Sam H. Ogburn’s leadership. He’s raised the bar for service and loyalty by redefining the meaning of integrity.
![Virginia Tell](storyassets/contributors/Virginia_Tell.jpg)