• Posted: March 31, 2023
• Broadview, Design-Build Electrical Contractor, family-run, female leader, female-owned, Karen Burton, Nesko Electric Company

Karen Burton started her career in the electrical industry at Nesko Electric Company, a Design-Build Electrical Contractor based in Broadview, Illinois.

Burton joined Nesko Electric in 1989 as an executive assistant and bookkeeper after her father, who was President of the company at the time, asked her to interview for the position. Burton was thinking about a career in banking at the time, set to graduate college with a degree in International Business and Economics.

“Interestingly enough  my father, when he was originally talking to me said, ‘You know, you’ll never be bored.’ And I have to tell you that there’s been a lot of things that I’ve been over the last 34 years but bored is not one of them,” joked Burton.

She said yes to the interview, was hired and soon proved her skills and abilities in various aspects of the business. She learned accounting, payroll, billing, purchasing, and project management. She also developed strong relationships with clients, vendors, subcontractors, and employees. She became an integral part of the company’s success and reputation, and today, runs the company as its CEO.

“I came in helping the CFO who was working here at the time and then basically just continued to take on more responsibility to the point now where I replaced them and eventually became the CEO of the company,” said Burton

Over the last 34 years, Burton has witnessed the growth and evolution of the company and the industry.

Nesko is now a female-owned, family-run business. “My mother now owns the company and she along with myself, my brothers and brother-in-law, are a true family business. Family businesses can be tricky, but It works because we all have very delineated roles,” said Burton.

Nesko Electric specializes in design-build projects, where they can handle the entire process from the initial design to the final installation of electrical systems.

“I love driving around the Chicagoland area and seeing projects that we’ve been involved with being used and appreciated by the people who hired us, or by the people who have since come to own the buildings,” said Burton.

Nesko Electric aims to provide quality electrical services to clients in various sectors, such as commercial and industrial spaces, warehouses, churches, schools, medical offices, hospitals, and more.

“About 80% of our work is design-build. We prefer to be involved in projects from the beginning, working with developers, architects and property owners. We have engineering capability in-house. So, if you came to us and said, I want to build a medical office building. We could take you from that point to a completed, state-of-the-art, electrical project,” Burton said.

Burton is one of the few female leaders in the electrical industry, which is still dominated by men.

“I think that construction is still kind of a tough sell to females. I think that when people think about construction, they envision men and hard hats and think, ‘Where do I fit into that scene?’” said Burton.

But Burton argues that electrical construction is a viable and rewarding career option for women, despite the stereotypes and challenges.

“I would say that there are a lot of opportunities in this industry and in construction as a whole for women. There is a place for women here and women should feel encouraged to look into this industry as they begin their careers. There are a lot of women working in construction in different capacities who are having, and have had, successful careers,” said Burton.

Burton is proud to blaze the trail for men and women in the electrical industry and make a positive impact on society. To learn more about Nesko Electric’s clients, industry partners and projects, visit their website.

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