Dakota Supply Group - Index

Dakota Supply Group - dakotasupplygroup - Index

Business peaked in 2004 when Lazer Electric
wired 1,800 new units, following another strong
year in 2003 with the wiring of 1,500 units. “It was
a pretty crazy time,” admits Wander. “We had
more than 60 electricians working for us, which
can be challenging to schedule.”
During peak times such as that in 2004,
it was paramount that Lazer Electric partner with
an electrical supply company that could provide
the needed materials to the right job site quickly
in order for them to stay on schedule. That’s why
they called on someone that they had come to
depend on: DSG.
At DSG, Lazer Electric relies on Glen
Koneczny, inside sales manager at DSG’s St. Paul
branch, as well as DSG’s St. Paul and Brooklyn
Park teams, to provide the supplies they need to
keep their business rolling. “We are constantly
looking for innovative new products that are
beneficial to our customers and can help us
reduce labor costs,” says Schwieters. “It’s so
important to have someone like DSG that can
provide great service, quality materials, new ideas
and pricing that makes sense.”
“We’ve partnered with Lazer for more than 20
years,” says Koneczny. “It’s never seemed like
we worked for them, but instead, with
them. They’re the type of customer you dream
of having.”
Recently, Lazer Electric brought DSG on board
to help out with the 100th episode of
ABC’s “Extreme Makeover:
Home Edition,” which
gave the Swenson-Lee
family a new 5,600-squarefoot
home (with seven
bedrooms and five baths) to
accommodate their growing
family. One year ago, they
were a family of three, but
that changed dramatically
when Vicki Swenson’s
sister’s life was taken. Since
then, the Swensons gave
birth to twins and adopted
their four nieces and
nephews. If anyone needed
a new – and bigger – home,
it was them, and Lazer and
DSG were there to help.
During this community effort, Lazer Electric
and DSG (along with 269 other companies)
would help complete the construction of a house
for the Swenson-Lee family in only 106 hours.
Lazer Electric volunteered the labor to install
more than 25,000 feet of wire, 192 recessed lights
and much, much more. DSG provided all of the
electrical supplies involved with the project, such
as Cutler-Hammer panels and breakers, Cooper
Lighting switches and outlets, Allied Molded
boxes and Colonial wire.
The project moved at high speed and
oftentimes required skillful coordination in
unconventional circumstances. In fact, complete
demolition and hauling away of the existing
structure took less than 30 minutes using four
backhoes and lots of trucks. “During the project,
we were building the mechanical room and had
up to 20-plus workers in there at one time
plugging away,” recalls Schwieters. “The
camaraderie was amazing. I still can’t get over
how well everyone worked together in such
a tight space.”
The “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
project was a great success for everyone involved
and is just a single example of the
teamwork and valued partnership that Lazer
Electric and DSG share. With the future looking
bright, Lazer Electric can look back at the
beginning and definitely say that it never hurts
to try something new.
Mike Wander and Chuck Schwieters head up Lazer Electric.
ELECTRICAL
Spring 2008 CONNECTIONS 11