31 Dec 2021 Koontz Electric Company of Morrilton is game changer in more ways than one
By Donna Lampkin Stephens
The company, heading into its 64th year, was selected by Ampirical Solutions to construct critical underground power distribution and new high voltage substations for the Bentonville Electric Utility Department in association with the new Walmart Corporate Headquarters.
“We are providing unique services as the only qualified provider in the state of Arkansas,” said Dean Hoover, executive vice president and chief operation officer.
According to koontzelectric.com, the company, founded in 1958 by Keith Koontz and now headed by Benny Koontz, president and CEO, is the largest heavy industrial electrical contractor in Arkansas and among the top five in the region. It reports annual revenues of about $50 million.
“Our professional office and field staff, diverse work history … uniquely qualify us for the most challenging projects across the nation,” the website states.
One of those challenging projects is taking power distribution underground, which dramatically improves reliability. Safety is another game-changer for Koontz Electric, which employs about 200 people. At press deadline, the company had amassed more than two million man-hours without a lost-time accident. To put it into greater perspective, that’s the equivalent of more than five years. The statistic is eye-popping, making the company one of only 26 (out of 700,000 total) construction companies to hit the two-million mark.
“That’s less than four out of every 100,000 construction companies,” Hoover said. On Aug. 31, the company was recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for five years without a lost-time accident.
“I would say that this all started when one of our largest customers, Entergy, challenged the contractors that worked for them to make safety a priority,” Hoover said, referring to a “Zero is Achievable” initiative. “We got with our owner and mapped out our strategy.”That was in March 2017, and there hasn’t been a lost-time accident since.
“We were a good safety company before, but we took it to a new level,” Hoover said. “We’ve been so successful with the risk control, we’ve gone self-insured for workers comp and liability. The other part of that message is that safety pays. It saves us tens of thousands, if not more, in premiums we’d pay for that insurance.”
Safety initiatives focus on three areas.
“Training and regulatory compliance, which we are very good at,” Hoover said. “The last element of safety is human performance. We have focused on that element. Humans are flawed individuals, and so there are certain techniques we can do to help overcome those flaws.” He mentioned an extension of the “I am my brother’s keeper” philosophy.
“Peer checking, just to make sure,” he said. “You might not see the hazard, but someone else might. Probably the other significant thing is that the highest-risk employee is the new employee, so we have implemented a very formal mentoring program with new employees, like a big brother or guardian angel looking over them.”
In a press release announcing the five-year safety recognition, Hoover said: “Koontz Electric Company believes that our vision of a ‘Zero is Achievable’ culture delivers a commitment to protect our most valuable asset, our people. We will continue to drive safety success as priority one.”
Other major projects completed by Koontz Electric:
Over 50 hydro electric power plants, including Hoover Dam.
Several Giga Watts of wind power transmission projects across Oklahoma.
Over 1000 megawatts of solar power generation/transmission projects, including Fort Hunter Liggett in California.
Many iconic bridge lighting projects including all the Little Rock bridges and the San Francisco Bay Bridge.
Hundreds of high voltage switch yards, including Arkansas Nuclear One.
Dozens of locks and dams, including everyone on the Arkansas River and most on the Mississippi River.
All the paper and steel mills in Arkansas.
Game Changer Kimberly Moore
Featured on the 501 LIFE cover, Kimberly has been with Koontz Electric for more than 20 years. While earning her degree, she worked her way up from Receptionist to Manager of Marketing and Communications. She has been an active and decorated member of the National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC), served as board member, Vice President, and now President for NAWIC Greater Little Rock Chapter 12.
Kimberly was named 2019 Rookie of the Year by the Arkansas NAWIC chapter, and she was named a 2021 Woman of the Year in Construction by Associated Builders and Contractors. She is from Conway County and one of the 120 descendants of Louise Dold. (11 children, 34 grandchildren, 72 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.)
Learn more about Women In Construction on facebook at NAWICgreaterlittlerockchapter
or send a message to: [email protected].
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