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Wisconsin Couple Juggle Electrical Contracting Business with Raising Sheep
The day starts early on Sonsie Farm, where Tom and Barbara Wiedenbeck reside outside the small suburb of Oregon, Wisconsin. Barbara heads over to the red metal barn to feed the sheep, while Tom walks over to a different barn-like structure to work on his electrical contracting business, Great Lakes Electrical Contracting, Inc. (www.greatlakeselectrical.com).
The couple has enjoyed the benefits of living and working on their 31-acre farm for the past 4 years. “Our location is ideal for us being able to live in a more peaceful rural setting, but for Tom to also have access to the business community and contracting work that he does,” comments Barbara, who acts as vice-president and part-time secretary for the business, in addition to homeschooling her four children for the past 22 years.
Tom and Barbara started Great Lakes Electrical Contracting 14 years ago. They specialize in electrical construction, and teledata and generator installation... With projects in the $250,000 to $2,000,000 range, their primary customers are state and local government, private and public businesses, hospitals, and the university system. They have eight employees, six of which work out in the field and two which work in the office in administration and accounting.
When Tom and Barbara first moved to Sonsie Farm, Tom worked out of the basement in their home; however, Tom eventually built a separate barn-like structure on the property to accommodate the business. The new office is finished off with ceramic tile, commercial carpet, and wood-paneled walls. It has a kitchen, conference room, full bath, and garage/storage area. “The entire structure is spacious, well-equipped with electrical plugs and computer wiring, and tightly insulated,“ reports Barbara. “It is such a dream space that we’ve joked about tearing down the house and moving into the office building!”
Tom and Barbara feel fortunate to be able to walk down a short sidewalk to work each day. “Barbara loves listening to the traffic reports at the end of the day, because we're not suffering along with the masses on the roads,” says Tom... “The disadvantage of working at home is that there are no ‘snow days!’” HBM
Previously published in the April 2007 issue of HOME BUSINESS® Magazine, an international publication for the growing and dynamic home-based market. Available on newsstands, in bookstores and chain stores, and via subscriptions ($15.00 for 1 year, six issues). Visit www.homebusinessmag.com
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