• Posted: December 6, 2023
• 115 Years, better careers, better construction, Chicago Area Electrical Contractors, Chicago World Fair, Elbert Walters III, Electrical Contractors in Chicago, ESOP, Illinois, Jim Kelso, Kelso-Burnett, Oliver Burnett, Stefan Lopata, Wisconsin

Chicago-based electrical contractor Kelso-Burnett is celebrating a remarkable milestone this year – 115 years in business. Even more remarkable is that for over 40 of those years, Kelso-Burnett has been an ESOP, or employee stock ownership plan. Since their humble beginnings in 1908, Kelso-Burnett has grown to become an industry-leading ESOP driving key infrastructure projects across Chicagoland.

“We applaud Kelso-Burnett for their long record of quality work and commitment to their employees and community,” said Elbert Walters III, Executive Director of Powering Chicago. “They exemplify what our organization stands for and we wish them continued success.”

Founded in 1908 by Jim Kelso and Oliver Burnett, Kelso-Burnett started out small but had big ambitions. The company got its first major break in 1932 when it was granted a loan to handle electrical work for the Chicago World’s Fair. That event helped launch Kelso-Burnett to wider prominence.

Over the decades, Kelso-Burnett continued to grow and take on more ambitious projects. By the 1970s, company leadership realized that their employees were the heart and soul of the business. In a pioneering move in 1977, Kelso-Burnett became the Chicago area’s first employee-owned electrical contractor.

Today, Kelso-Burnett has branch offices across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Although much bigger, the company still embraces the employee-centric culture established by that ESOP over 40 years ago. 

Stefan Lopata, current President and CEO, says this long history and culture of employee ownership has allowed Kelso-Burnett to thrive for over a century. The company has left its mark on iconic Chicago buildings and infrastructure over the past 115 years.

As Kelso-Burnett heads toward its next 115 years, it continues to take pride in providing quality electrical services and valuing its employees. This pioneering ESOP contractor looks forward to powering more key projects and developments across Chicagoland and beyond.

With such a rich legacy, including major historical projects, Kelso-Burnett has shaped Chicago’s electrical landscape for over a century while also building an employee-owned and oriented workplace. As this homegrown electrical contracting leader celebrates 115 years, it seems we can continue to expect bright things ahead