The years leading up to Ace Electric Inc.’s 50th anniversary. 2025 are proving to be as historic as the impending milestone.
After a very successful 2022 that saw a nearly 30% increase in revenue, the Valdosta, Ga.-based electrical contractor continued its pattern of steady growth last year, increasing its earnings by Up 8% with over $172 million in Southeast regional revenue. Complementing this performance was a major hiring spree that increased the company’s workforce by more than 20%.
Ace’s experience in off-site prefabrication dates back to the 1980s. The company expanded its off-site capabilities in recent years with the completion in 2021 of its 52,000 square meter engineering and manufacturing building.
Photo courtesy of Ace Electric Inc.
These skill resources would be essential as Ace begins its largest project, a multimillion-dollar confidential technology manufacturing facility, and continues to win new assignments elsewhere in the Southeast and across the country. With $215.8 million in global domestic revenue, Ace Electric ranks #174 on ENR’s list of the Top 600 Specialty Contractors.
At heart, however, Ace Electric has changed little since it was founded in 1975 as a local residential and commercial contractor by Tom Stalvey, who was soon joined in the business by his brother, Bobby. Now with four Peach State offices, plus locations in North Carolina and Ohio, the company remains family-owned. The Stalvey brothers’ sons, Tommy and Rob, who have both literally grown up in the company, share the duties of president. Thomas Stalvey retired in 2015, while Bobby serves as the company’s president.
Another fundamental characteristic of the company, according to Rob Stalvey, has been the loyalty and commitment of Ace employees.
Ace has instituted its NESO 40 (New Employee Safety Orientation) which covers everything from working from an elevator to performing CPR.
Photo courtesy of Ace Electric Inc.
“We have great people, all of whom are invested in the success of the company,” he says. “That combined with a good market and good customers has helped us thrive.”
Tommy Stalvey adds that Ace has been well positioned to participate in some of the most active market sectors in the South East.
“Hyperscalers and critical work are big drivers right now, and healthcare has gained traction over the last couple of years,” he says. “Refrigerating facilities are also continuously a good market for us.”
The diversity of Ace Electric’s work is reflected in projects such as the 263,000-square-foot Malachowsky Hall for Data Science and Information Technology at the University of Florida for AJAX Building Co.; a 37,462-square-foot annex to the Tomochichi Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Savannah, Ga., for Hoar Construction; and the 1.2 million square foot Mark Anthony Brewery in Columbia, SC for Clayco Inc. The company cannot share its involvement in several other major projects due to client confidentiality requirements.
The 37,462-square-foot Tomochichi U.S. Courthouse Annex in Savannah, Ga., houses a bankruptcy court, probation services and U.S. Marshal Services.
Photo courtesy of Ace Electric Inc.
Securing the skills
At a time when all types of craft labor are in short supply, the Stalveys credit their in-house recruiting team with their sustained success in finding workers with the skill sets needed to custom these often large projects and complex But they are quick to add that identifying new employees is only part of the process. They must also ensure that new staff members of all experience levels are fully prepared to carry out their work in a professional and safe manner. Ace started a week-long orientation program called NESO 40 that covers topics such as company culture and workplace safety protocols.
“They do their homework and work with all the contractors and trades to understand what’s going on and what the electrical needs are.”
—Ray Neal, President of Sovereign Cooper JV
Held at the company’s 8,500-square-foot training facility in Valdosta, NESO 40 provides an opportunity for recent hires to learn new skills, such as operating and working from an elevator or performing CPR.
“That first week is critical to the success of an Ace employee,” says Rob Stalvey.
NESO 40 is an integral part of Ace University, the company’s workforce development program for training and certifications. The program’s online and hands-on learning options are tailored to employees’ schedules and learning preferences. Another facet of Ace University, the Career Pathway Program, provides roadmaps for developing technical and leadership skills and experience.
Ace Electric’s proverbial “ace in the hole” may be its long experience in off-site prefabrication, an approach that Tom and Bobby Stalvey began using in the early 1980s. The company, which has significantly expanded these capabilities over the past decade, added a dedicated 52,000 square meter engineering and manufacturing building in 2021.
“Given the aggressive schedule of projects and labor shortages, offsite manufacturing plays an important role,” says Tommy Stalvey.
So does the company’s design and construction expertise, according to Erik Gunderson, chief operating officer of Woodstock, Ga.-based cold storage facility specialist Primus Builders Inc.
“We advise them on what’s going on inside the box, and then they develop the electrical design and interface with us, our other subs and the power company,” Gunderson explains. “They’re really a one-stop shop for us in terms of an electrical service provider.”
Based in Valdosta, Ga., Ace Electric will celebrate half a century in business in 2025.
Photo courtesy of Ace Electric Inc.
Gunderson also praises Ace for his ability to identify solutions when challenges arise, particularly persistent post-pandemic supply chain issues. He cites a client who insisted on using a certain brand of equipment for a new project despite an 80-week lead time. In addition to quickly gathering information about alternatives, Ace invited manufacturers to make presentations that would help the customer feel comfortable using a different brand.
“That saved us almost half a year of time,” Gunderson says.
Ace Electric also strives to pave the way for successful projects by proactively coordinating with other trades, notes Ray Neal, president of Cumming, Ga.-based commercial construction joint venture Sovereign Cooper.
“They don’t stick their heads in the sand and say ‘we just do electrical,'” Neal says. “They do their homework and work with all the contractors and trades to understand what’s going on and what the electrical needs are.”
This holistic approach often helps prevent future problems. Neal describes how Ace alerted the project team to several issues with the initial phase of Front Porch, a community-driven mixed-use construction and renovation project in the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic District. from atlanta While addressing the issues required some redesign, Neal says the result will be a better finished project for tenants and visitors to the development.
“They’re a team player,” he says.
The University of Florida’s 263,000-square-foot Malachowsky Hall, an Ace project, houses the school’s data and information technology departments.
Photo courtesy of Ace Electric Inc.
National level network
Even with their strong reputation as electrical construction experts, the Stalveys never miss an opportunity to learn more. Continuing a tradition started with their parents, Tommy and Rob regularly exchange ideas and insights with other electrical contractors across the US through active participation in their trade associations and peer groups.
“We always want to know how to be a better company and how to better serve our customers,” says Tommy Stalvey. “We learn a lot from these guys and hopefully they learn a lot from us.”
One question on the minds of all specialty contractors is how regional construction markets and sectors will develop over the coming months and beyond.
“I can’t see how the data center and the semiconductor chip will work in the next five to ten years,” says Rob Stalvey. Ace also hopes to play a role in the ongoing shift to electric vehicles, with several charging station projects already underway in Georgia and Florida.
And while some sectors may see a slowdown, health care and K-12 school spending is expected to remain fairly steady. “We may also see more spending on defense-related projects, which have been reduced for some time,” says Rob Stalvey.
What will remain constant, adds Tommy Stalvey, are the family values that have sustained Ace Electric for nearly half a century.
“Even though we’ve grown to over 1,000 employees, we try to make sure that wherever they are, we care about them, their families, and that Rob and I have an open door policy if they have a question or concern,” he says. “They are the reason for our success.”
