Last but certainly not least during our month of Q&As with Black leaders throughout the Toledo Region, we bring you questions and answers with Milton McIntyre, president of Peak Electric Inc. This month, we have featured a bakery, coffee shop, construction and restoration company, and a consulting agency, and now we bring you an electrical distributor. Our region's Black-owned businesses cover every industry and touch every corner of northwest Ohio and beyond, and we are so proud to have them in our business community. We encourage you to patronize our local businesses throughout the entire year, and we love to highlight and shout out our region's minority-owned and -led businesses. Please enjoy this Q&A with Milton McIntyre of Peak Electric. |
Milton McIntyre, president
Company Name:
Peak Electric Inc.
Industry:
Electrical distribution and project management
Number of Employees:
Nine
Website:
www.peakelectrictoledo.com
Brief description of your business or organization:
Peak Electric Inc. was established in 2000 as an electrical contractor. Peak evolved into a full line electrical distributor for electrical products, including high voltage products like substation transformers, MV gear and lighting. Other products include tools and facility maintenance supplies as well as truck supplies and equipment. Peak continues to grow, providing pre-purchase on projects, project management and first-class customer service.
Were you born/raised in the Toledo Region? If so, where? If not, where and why/when did you move to the area?
Born and raised in Steubenville, Ohio. Moved to Toledo June of 1989 to join the IBEW Electrical trades.
When did you launch your first business, and how did you get to where you are today?
Launched Peak Electric Inc. business January 2000 as an electrical contractor and saw the need for an electrical distributorship that actually understood the construction industry. So, with the support of IBEW, electrical contractors, community leaders, family and a lot of determination, we consider Peak as a true competitor in the industry today. I would also like to thank the chamber personally with the aid that was given to Peak with the initial planning and projections of the company.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
Black History Month is a celebration of our ancestors and their excellence, motivation to always strive for the greatness that lies beyond our current circumstances, a sense of community, the task to create better paths for our successors and the constant reminder that Black history is a part of history.
What do you like most about your job?
What I like most about my job is to see others benefit from our success – employees and their families.
What are some of your favorite things to do when you are not working?
Fishing, hunting, golfing, traveling with the family.
Have you had any special mentors or supporters that have helped guide your career or business?
One of my biggest mentors would be my father. He taught me to observe and give people the benefit of the doubt even sometimes when they don’t deserve it. Mentors can serve many purposes. To mention by name would not be fair, and there are so many people that I surround myself with that most of the time they don't even know they are mentoring me.
Major accomplishment(s) that make(s) you proud?
1. Raising two beautiful, talented children with my wife of 26 years of marriage.
2. Building a business and keeping my integrity to always do the right thing even when challenged.
What are the benefits and struggles of owning a business in the Toledo Region?
The benefits are that the Toledo Region is a nice family town that thrives on family business.
The struggle is that even if you’re qualified, and perhaps more qualified than your competitors at times, as a minority business it’s hard to become a part of the family business culture in Toledo.
What other Black-owned businesses should northwest Ohioans know about?
Will Lucas, TolHouse