Company History

In 1908, Marine Electric Company was founded in Louisville, Kentucky to provide convenient, quality electrical service for the heavy steamboat traffic on the Ohio River. If founder Ed Thirlwell were around today, he would see that his original one-man shop has developed into one of the most highly respected electrical contracting & engineering companies in the state and in the Midwest.

Marine Electric Company moved from the waterfront of the Ohio River and eventually settled at the present location at First and Main in Louisville in the early 1930’s. From this location we have served all of Kentucky, Southern Indiana and many out-of-state projects. Our operations expanded in 2000 when we opened our first branch office in Elizabethtown. We had a second expansion in 2004. This time we moved into Central Kentucky with the opening of our Lexington branch. With these expansions we have been able to improve on our service to our existing customers and it has allowed us to introduce ourselves to new business opportunities. In each of these areas we are developing a new following of customers who are quickly learning that Marine Electric Company really gets the job done.

Upon celebrating our 98th anniversary Marine Electric Company understands, as we did at the turn of the 20TH century, that our customers are our most important asset and, if satisfied, ambassadors on our behalf. This commitment continues to be the driving force that keeps us in the continual process of expanding, adapting and adjusting to the needs of our customers. We are proud to say that we average over 18 years of quality work per customer account with the longest continuous served being over 65 years.

By acknowledging that the Customer is the most integral part of our business we always strive to provide them with the best. At Marine this has always meant that we must have outstanding employees. We demand dedication, quality workmanship, integrity, responsiveness, and loyalty from all of our employees. They in turn demand the same from themselves and pass this on at the jobsite. Our dedication to this mission of serving our customers has always given us a distinct advantage over our competitors. This high level of expectation has kept a core of employees with a continuous service to our Company. Our overall field staff of over 150 personnel have served for an average of seven years. When you look at our field leadership positions this average jumps up to fourteen years of service and office personnel averages fifteen years.

As we move forward with the many challenges and wonders that lie ahead in the 21st Century; both with our customers and at Marine Electric, our history will continue to speak for itself.