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History Jim Milson (56) began his career as an oilfield technician for Dixie Electric and Exxon in the 1970’s. Jim started his own business in 1981 and incorporated it as West Texas Sun Electric Services, Inc. in 1982. He added overhead distribution in 1983 and performed limited electric transmission and distribution construction projects for West Texas Utility (now AEP) and for regional electric co-ops through the mid 1990’s. The Company performed its first wind farm project in 1984 and others when the wind farm market returned in the late 1990’s. The business struggled following the collapse of the oil market in 1986 when the price per barrel of oil fell from $35 to less than $10. The Company recovered, but remained tied to the oilfield industry which remained highly competitive through the 1990’s. In the mid-1990’s the Company developed transmission construction capabilities and began focusing on projects from 69kV to 138kV, including those for the emerging Texas wind farm industry. Jim restructured his management team and downsized the Company in 2002 and 2003 when wind farm projects nationwide were delayed pending renewal of necessary federal legislation. In early 2004, Jim made the strategic decision to diversify into the utility market and hired Bryan Hoffman (age 36) to run Sun’s construction operations and develop the overhead transmission market. Bryan began his career in 1988 with the U.S. Air Force and then went to work as a lineman apprentice for a local electrical contractor in 1992. In 1996, he worked briefly for Sun Electric’s operation in Andrews, TX and then went to work for a friendly competitor, Moose Electric. Moose Electric sold to TESSCO (Midland, TX) in 2001 and Bryan developed TESSCO’s transmission market with AEP and TXU and was promoted to VP of Transmission in 2003. Bryan joined Sun Electric in March 2004 and together with Jim, has rapidly expanded Sun Electric’s transmission construction and maintenance work with utilities. Bryan is a strong operational leader and has effective relationships with regional management at various utilities. Today, Sun Electric is operating successfully in each market segment (transmission, wind farm and oilfield services). Numerous wind farm projects are in various stages of development and new oil well drilling in the Permian Basin is at full capacity. However, management believes future growth of the business and their focus should remain on high-voltage transmission construction and maintenance with utilities. Sun Electric is nearing completion of its third full year of growth in this segment and currently has numerous opportunities to expand its work program with AEP, TXU, Entergy, LCRA and other regional utilities.
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