• Posted: February 22, 2021
• better careers, better construction, Evans Electric, LLC, YouTube video

Michael Evans, the managing member of Evans Electric, LLC, never thought he would see a day when he used that job title for a electrical contractor bearing his name. Owning his own company was never on his mind as he worked his way up from apprentice in 1973 to general foreman with Block Electric over the course of almost 30 years. Among other reasons, he already loved the work he was doing.

Working at hospitals, in particular, was a passion. Recalling his career in the field and his time spent working in hospitals throughout Chicagoland, Evans said, “It was very diverse in the work you did. One day you could be working on lighting, the next you’re installing x-ray equipment.” That level of diversity in tasks kept him on his toes and ensured he never got bored.

After the events of 9/11, however, a slowdown in the construction industry forced Evans to reassess his options after going through the layoff process at Block. Starting his own business was still not something he was interested in, despite his brother Samuel (then an IBEW Local 134 business agent) urging him to consider doing so.

“I knew enough about business that I didn’t want to do it. It’s something that you don’t punch in and punch out,” Evans said. “It’s something that you do 24/7, especially with today’s technology. I never had a problem working hard, but owning your own business is a different animal.”

But as he worked for several electrical contractors in the post-9/11 world of construction, he began to recognize that his knowledge of the industry and hard-earned experience would give him the tools he needed to be successful on his own. After spending some time identifying a niche for himself in the industry, Evans decided to seek certification with the City of Chicago. “I said if I ever got that, I would give it a shot,” Evans recalled.

Being a minority-owned company had its share of challenges in the beginning. While Evans knew the company was more than qualified for the jobs it was bidding on, winning them required sacrifice to get a foot in the door. In the years after Evans Electric was founded in 2004, the company often worked at cost simply to have an opportunity to demonstrate the quality of its work.

“I’ve always been a great believer that the work will speak for itself – good, bad or indifferent,” Evans said. “And I always wanted Evans Electric to be known as a very good contractor; as a contractor that gets things done.” 

17 years later, Evans Electric’s work has spoken. Whether working for the Chicago Housing Authority to complete electrical renovations at properties throughout the city, at Midway Airport for the City of Chicago, in Chicago Public Schools, or for national brands like Target and Costco, Evans Electric’s dedication to better construction has earned it a reputation as a company that can be counted on to get the job done right. That reputation has led to more and more work through word-of-mouth, helping the company grow. 

Evans maintains that as a black-owned business, Evans Electric is indebted to those who came before them. Evans acknowledges that Taylor Electric, the first minority-owned electrical contractor in Chicago, carved paths for people of color in the industry that endure. “They pretty much showed the world that a minority, black-owned contractor can start the business and endure while delivering quality installations and having that customer satisfaction,” Evans said.

While giving credit to those who came before, Evans also keeps an eye on those who will come after. “I, along with a whole task force of other trades, used to go out to community centers and churches and try to bring information that there is something else besides college,” Evans said. He feels there’s a greater need now more than ever for young people – particularly in minority communities – to get information on going into a trade as public schools become more and more focused on college prep.

“They don’t know that they can actually make a really, really good living as a tradesperson,” Evans said. “I’ve always enjoyed what I do, working with my hands. I liked doing electrical work – pulling the wire down in a ditch, spinning pipe together. I couldn’t wait to get to work in the morning.”

While he may not be pulling wire in ditches or spinning pipe in his current role as the leader of Evans Electric, Evans is still deeply connected to the work through the team he has assembled. When asked what he’s most proud of in a career that started almost 50 years ago with an apprenticeship, Evans said, “My relationship with everybody at Evans Electric. It’s more like family and friends than employer and employees. I’m proud of that.”

To learn more about Evans Electric, watch Powering Chicago’s interview with Michael Evans and visit their website today. To find additional MBE- or DBE-certified electrical contractors in Cook County, search our Find a Contractor database.