Building a Legacy: Lesser Electric

By Kim Gronninger
Photos by Brian Peters

Lesser Electric’s new Topeka facility brings Rick Davey’s vision to life while giving the next generation room to grow.

Rick Davey always wanted to build something of his own. He spent years growing Lesser Electric, the Topeka electrical contracting company he purchased in 2014, and made plans for a new facility to match.

He never got to see it finished. His son Adam did.

Lesser Electric was founded in 1954 by the Lesser family. Rick began his career there in 1983 and grew the company from six technicians to more than 20 during his 10 years of ownership.

“My dad always wanted to move into his own place to provide a quality facility and accommodate growth,” said Adam Davey, a master electrician who purchased the company in 2024 after Rick’s death. “Unfortunately, he only got to see the slab being poured.”

Adam credits his mother and brother for bringing the new 5,000-square-foot building and 5,000-square-foot warehouse, at 3239 NW 25th St., to fruition. The space includes five offices, a conference room for training, a break room and ample parking.

“I was busy running the business and my mom and brother stepped in and really brought his dream to life,” he said. “I think my dad would be proud to see how everything has come together.”

The new space has also changed how the business runs day to day.

“It has allowed us to hire needed office staff such as administrators and project managers,” Adam said. “The additional warehouse has allowed us to better house and organize project materials, which creates better efficiency for the staff.”

INVESTING IN HOME

Adam says the new building represents reinvestment in both Lesser Electric and the Topeka community.

“Topeka is a great place and people are helpful to one another,” he said. “I have several mentors I can reach out to for advice and problem-solving, especially since I no longer have my dad as a sounding board.”

He sees Lesser Electric’s growth as part of a larger momentum happening across the community, from business expansions to downtown development and continued investment in local projects.

“I was born at Stormont Vail so Topeka’s home to me,” Adam said. “It’s exciting to help take care of the place where I grew up.”

MEETING THE MOMENT

That growth has turned into more work for Lesser Electric.

“As local businesses grow and new technology comes out, such as electric vehicles and better LEDs, it increases the need for remodels, new additions and upgrades to existing systems,” Adam said. “We’ve been fortunate that with our new facility and a great team, we’ve been able to handle the additional demand without much of a struggle.”

Some of his favorite projects include the Brownstone renovation, PCI’s new building, the Harris Fabrication Co. and the installation of electric vehicle charging stations for the U.S. Postal Service.

The scope of those projects has grown substantially over the past decade.

“Ten years ago, we would have primarily been doing small commercial remodels and service work, taking no more than three or four months at most,” Adam said. “Today, we’re doing six-month to year-and-a-half projects pretty consistently, while maintaining and growing our service side.”

One of the team’s most challenging projects was restoring electricity to the Mills Building, completed in 1912, one Friday night.

“Everything went dark at 4 p.m. and the electrical work in the building hadn’t been touched in years,” he said. “We spent some late nights redoing everything to bring it up to code. It was pretty intriguing.”

MODERN TOOLS, SAME VALUES

Adam grew up watching his dad work 12-plus hours a day, even on weekends, and says he tries to bring that same dedication to his employees and customers.

“My dad’s advice wasn’t verbal,” he said. “He led by example. Fortunately, I was able to lean on him for several years.”

Adam says his father’s core values, especially treating employees and customers like family and paying close attention to detail, are not up for negotiation. Where he has made a deliberate change is technology.

“The biggest thing I have done differently is putting technology to the forefront of our business,” he said. “From the administrative side to the field, I want everyone to have all the information they need at any given time, a little different than a briefcase, pencil and paper.”

The company has 30 full-time employees, six of whom work in the office.

Adam says his management style is one of adaptation. “Everything’s changing all the time and my goal is to put people in positions that will set them up for success. I trust employees to do their jobs without standing over their shoulder, but I also encourage them to reach out for help when they need it.”

FAMILY AT THE CENTER

Although many things are changing in the industry, Adam says the company’s commitment to its employees, customers, core values, training and quality standards remains consistent.

“It’s a family business and our philosophy is to treat everyone who works here and the customers who come to us like family too,” he said. “Our goal is to provide high-quality work and build relationships. We treat each project, whether it’s a home or a business, as if the structure is our own.”

“Our success isn’t because of the work I do; it’s the hard work of every single team member we have here,” he said. “Without the hard work they do to provide our core values to the customers, Lesser Electric wouldn’t even be here.”

And if something does go wrong, Adam says they resolve the issue and make it right.

“It’s all about building and keeping relationships, just as it was when my dad was here,” he said.

Adam’s mother owns the building and often comes to the office to help out. His brother checks in occasionally as well.

“I’m really fortunate to have them,” he said. “When you’re responsible for your own family and those of all your employees, you have a different mindset because it all falls on your shoulders.”

Adam says the biggest challenge that keeps him up at night is setting his employees up for success.

“It’s the big stuff and the small things too that make the wheel turn,” he said. “I stick with a playbook but I’m always willing to change things up as needed.”

FINDING HIS OWN PATH

Because of his dad’s long hours, Adam’s mother often brought pizza to job sites when he was growing up.

“At a young age, I helped pull wire and always thought that was fun,” Adam said.When it came time to choose a career path, Adam was drawn to health care management and hoped to one day oversee a hospital.“

When I actually got a job with a desk and a phone and a computer, I realized pretty quickly that it wasn’t what I wanted to do,” he said.

He left the health care field and joined Lesser Electric in 2015 as a journeyman electrician, moving into the office in 2021.

“It’s gratifying for me to continue doing the things my dad did right, and it makes me happy to try and fill his shoes,” Adam said. “There are numerous opportunities in Topeka and we’re better positioned now with our new building to take advantage of them for future growth.”