Two Generations Continue The McDevitt Electric Legacy In Wellington

Story By Mike May  |  Photos by Frank Koester

Wellington’s McDevitt family has been serving the electrical needs of the community since the 1980s, now in its second generation owning T.W. McDevitt Electric, and an extended family that continues to serve the area in a variety of ways.

Originally named McDevitt Electric, the business was started in 1988 by Thomas McDevitt Sr., now 76, and his wife Pamela, now 75.

Prior to starting this successful and well-respected family-run business, Thomas Sr. had seven years of experience as an electrician on New York’s Long Island. He also co-owned a corporate cleaning business here in Palm Beach County.

Thomas Sr. and Pamela’s two children, Thomas McDevitt Jr. and Stacey McDevitt Juckett, grew up in the Wellington area and helped out in the family business.

Back in the 1990s, Stacey worked as a secretary for McDevitt Electric during her high school years and when she was home during her summer breaks from the University of Florida. Back then, her duties included answering the phone, speaking with customers and sending out bills. Stacey still lives in the western communities with her husband Michael and their son, also Michael. She now works as an oncology nurse.

Before taking over the business from his parents, Thomas Jr. started a lighting company called Brite Ideas. Now 47, he owns and operates T.W. McDevitt Electric with his 44-year-old wife Faith.

Thomas Sr. and Pamela are still involved with the business from time to time.

“When we are in Wellington, my wife and I will go out and do night light checks for customers,” Thomas Sr. explained. “I will also help with paperwork issues in the office.”

Family affiliations at T.W. McDevitt Electric remain deep and strong. Connie Gibson, who is Thomas Jr.’s cousin, currently handles payroll, quarterly reports and retail sales tax numbers. One of Faith’s aunts, Darlene French, also works as a secretary for the family company.

For the last 17 years, Faith has worked as a secretary, which involves scheduling, staff coordination, pulling permits, ordering supplies and getting paperwork completed. Faith and Thomas Jr.’s eldest daughter, Kaylee, now 25, works on Wednesdays and Thursdays as a secretary in the office. She is busy the rest of the week with nursing school.

Thomas Jr. and Faith also have two younger daughters — 18-year-old Ava and 15-year-old Madison. Both are students at Wellington High School. There’s no word, yet, on whether they will get involved in running the family business.

Among the interesting parts of the evolution of T.W. McDevitt Electric was the transition from father to son. According to Faith, her father-in-law ran a profitable business, but he did everything with a pen and paper.

“There was no computer involved in helping to run the business,” Faith said. “I don’t know how he ran such a successful business for so long and so well without a computer. He only accepted cash or a check. When Thomas Jr. took over, I inserted all of the customers’ names, addresses and phone numbers into a computer database.”

Now, T.W. McDevitt Electric has expanded payment options — cash, check, credit card and Zelle. There’s a web site now as well.

Thomas Jr. still operates his lighting company Brite Ideas out of the family firm’s location on Fairlane Farms Road. Having Brite Ideas in the same office helps save time and money.

“Every morning, instead of going to Home Depot to buy lighting accessories for a job that day, we have them in stock at Brite Ideas,” Faith explained.

According to Thomas Jr., the keys to the firm’s success are simple and straight forward. “The customer is always right, and service is everything,” he said. “For every appointment, I don’t arrive on time. Instead, I arrive early.”

Thomas Sr. and Pamela agree with their son. Pamela’s memories of the early days are fresh in her mind.

“When customers called, we responded. If my husband had to go out immediately to help, he would go. And sometimes, I would go with him,” she recalled. “If a customer called and left a message, we’d call back quickly.”

Thomas Sr. has similar feelings about the keys to the success of growing the business in those early days. “We did honest work with fair pricing,” he said.

That’s still the company mantra. If you ask Thomas Jr., the company is still doing honest work with fair pricing. As a result, there’s never a dull moment in the office.

“The phone rings nonstop, and it’s every day,” he said.

But the McDevitts are not complaining.

While Thomas Jr. owns and operates T.W. McDevitt Electric, he has a strong supporting cast of employees who make house calls and do the work for the company’s more than 1,000 customers.

“We have 10 service techs, seven vans, three secretaries and a bucket truck,” he said.

Even though the company’s official operating hours are Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., someone can be reached at any time of the day on any day of the week — and that person is usually Faith.

“If anybody calls after hours, their call can be transferred to Faith’s cell phone. Customers don’t hesitate to call at night,” Thomas Jr. said. “If it’s a true emergency, we will help immediately. During the winter season here in Wellington, I have two crews ready to work on Saturdays. And we will respond to a call on a Sunday, if necessary.”

Throughout the year, they are busy with new installations and service calls.

“About 60 percent of our business is service calls,” Thomas Jr. said.

A large percentage of the company’s business is connected with Wellington’s vast equestrian community.

“About 70 percent of our business is affiliated with the equestrian world,” Thomas Jr. said. “Every year, we run the electric [wiring] for a number of new horse barns. In fact, I have two crews totally dedicated to horse barns and new homes in Wellington.”

On a daily basis, the company’s work typically ranges from repairing breakers/wiring operating to air conditioners, installing landscape lighting, pole lighting, generator installs, panel changes, meter repairs and more.

Another key to the success of T.W. McDevitt Electric is that the company invests in its employees.

“We pay for our employees to go to school to become better electricians,” Thomas Jr. said. “It helps build loyalty with my employees.”

As busy as Thomas Jr. and Faith are with running the operation, they do carve out time to spend with their children.

“We love to get out and ride our jet skis in Jupiter,” Thomas Jr. said of their favorite recreational activity.

“We also like going fishing on charter boats, spending time at the beach and traveling with the family,” Faith said.

“Family is everything,” Thomas Jr. added.

That emphasis on family has been a McDevitt hallmark since the 1980s and will always be the case, both at home and in the office.

T.W. McDevitt Electric is located at 3101 Fairlane Farms Road, Suite 7, in Wellington. Learn more about this family-owned firm by calling (561) 798-2355 or visiting www.twmcdevittelectric.com.