Marion A. Hayes, III exudes electricity. But after all, electricity
is his business.
Enthusiasm and positive energy are the trademarks of this human dynamo
who founded his own electrical contracting business —
BRK Electrical Contractors, LLC — in February
2003, after years of dreaming and an entire year of solid planning.
The dreaming started even before he completed his education at Washington
University with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1991
and a master's in construction management in 1994. The solid planning
started in early 2002, with years of electrical construction experience
under his belt.
Three years ago Hayes decided to take the steps to establish a business.
He just wasn't sure what all those steps were. At that point he sought
advice from the counselors with the St. Louis regional office of the
Missouri Small Business Development Centers.
The SBDC business specialists jointly tackled the challenges Hayes
presented to them, according to Kevin Wilson, director of the SBDC
Empowerment Zone.
"The St. Louis SBDC has taken a team approach to helping Marion
Hayes achieve his small business goals," Wilson says. "With
a combination of counseling in the areas of strategic planning, marketing,
debt structuring and management the SBDC has helped BRK Electrical
experience tremendous well-managed growth in its first two years."
That growth is reflected in solid revenues. BRK Electrical's first-year
sales reached $1.2 million. Its fiscal year 2004 revenues jumped to
$2 million. In that two-year span the electrical contractor went from
a three-person shop to its current workforce of 18.
Along the way Hayes and BRK have received accolades from the St.
Louis business community. In 2003 the St. Louis Regional Commerce
and Growth Association (RCGA), the St. Louis American Foundation,
and the Urban League tapped BRK Electrical as the Emerging Business
of the Year award. Last year Hayes was dubbed "2004 Entrepreneur
of the Year" by the local chapter of the National Society of
Black Engineers.
And all this recognition and solid revenue growth was achieved with
hard work and the business savvy Hayes has mastered since his association
with the SBDC. His clients have included such notables as St. Louis-area
electrical utility AmerenUE, BJC Healthcare, and Washington University
in St. Louis. BRK Electrical also contracted on the streetscape lighting
package for one of the region's most high-profile construction projects
in decades…the new Busch Stadium, next year's home for the reigning
National League-champion St. Louis Cardinals.
With all the impressive progress BRK has made in its first two years,
Hayes is quick to give credit for all the help he and his company
have received.
"The people at SBDC provided guidance to me long before my company
became a reality," says Hayes. "Alan Richter (St. Louis
regional SBDC director) and his team helped me fine-tune my business
plan, assemble an advisory board, create an accurate and reliable
set of financial data, and then pointed me toward sources of start-up
capital."
"Today, I'm still in constant contact with members of the (SBDC)
team, seeking advice on how to position my company for steady growth
opportunities and avoid the many pitfalls of start-up firms."
And because of the entrepreneurial success demonstrated by Hayes,
BRK Electrical received an award and a legislative resolution at a
February event in the State Capitol in Jefferson City. At the event
— the Missouri SBDC-hosted Client
Showcase — BRK Electrical and 24 other
outstanding Missouri companies met with legislators to discuss their
products and services, and to receive recognition for their contributions
to the economic development of the state of Missouri.
For more information on the services of the MO SBDC program, call
Kevin Wilson at 314/621-0816 or e-mail him at wilsonkr@missouri.edu.
Starred clients were a part of the 2005 Client Showcase [more] 
Visit the current Featured Entrepreneur
