• Posted: February 22, 2023
• Austin Chamber of Commerce, better careers, better communities, better construction, Brenda Payne, Calvin Payne, IBEW Local 134, Simply E&C

Brenda Payne wasn’t surprised when her son Calvin Payne, a union electrician, expressed interest in starting a signatory electrical contracting business.

“He’s a fifth-generation owner. When I saw that zeal in him, I supported him because I knew where he had inherited it,” said Brenda Payne, CEO of Simply E&C and mother of four sons who are all involved in the business.

Overcoming self-doubt to help others

Despite the fact that Calvin Payne owned other businesses and, with over 15 years of experience, was confident in his skills as an electrician, he had initial doubts about starting a signatory electrical contracting business.

“About five years ago, I was working at Ron Jones Electric and a customer asked me why I didn’t start my own business. I said, ‘no, I don’t think we’d be able to do this.’ He kept pressing and kept pressing,” said Payne, now COO of Simply E&C. Not one to let doubt dissuade him from achieving his goals, Payne then took the logical next step for him — he went to his mother’s house for her advice.

“My mom and brothers said, ‘why not?’ So that was the beginning of things.”

In 2021 Simply E&C was established to create a better and safer atmosphere for their customers, bolstered by a “if we say we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it” philosophy and the drive to improve historically disadvantaged Chicago communities.

Bright futures for the business and the community

You can’t talk to the Paynes about their business without talking about their community. Though many business owners are content with business growth, raised in the Austin community on the West Side of Chicago, the owners of Simply E&C know that their business success doesn’t just benefit them.

“I’m excited about the opportunities that I can envision to give back to the schools that we graduated from, to help provide others with financial freedom,” said Brenda Payne. “I can envision sponsoring events like book fairs and spelling bees. Anything where we can feel good about what we’re doing in the neighborhood.”

Members of the Austin Chamber of Commerce and South Austin Commerce, the Payne family is actively involved in making the community where they were raised a better place.

When it comes to the business, Simply E&C currently has four employees, and they’re looking to hire an apprentice and estimator. The ability to provide gainful employment, with union wages, health benefits and time off is a point of pride for Calvin Payne.

“Being able to give back, being able to provide employment that allows people to support their families, that’s the most important part.”

With a number of projects currently in-progress — including a 315 unit building in Lincolnwood, the University of Chicago mansion, Solomon Schechter Day School, and more — it’s just the beginning of even greater things for Simply E&C.

“We want to expand out a bit more and give more people the opportunity to feed their families. I believe that with positive energy, positive vibes, we’ll have those positive opportunities.”