July 21, 2026

VECA turns 80: Reflecting on a legacy ‘driven by values, powered by people'

Photos courtesy of VECA [enlarge]

VECA crews at the Western State Hospital — Forensic Center of Excellence.

VECA Electric & Technologies is celebrating a major milestone this month as the Seattle-area electrical contractor marks its 80th anniversary, reflecting on eight decades of growth while emphasizing the values and culture that have guided the company from the start.

Headquartered in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood, VECA has evolved from a small local contractor into one of the largest electrical contractors in the Pacific Northwest. The company has been trusted to perform highly technical and complex projects such as hospital towers, airport expansions, data centers, manufacturing facilities and educational buildings.

Founded in 1946 by World War II veterans, the Veterans Electrical Contractor Association (VECA) was created to provide meaningful employment opportunities in the Seattle area for returning servicemembers.

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Veterans Electrical Contractor Association (VECA) was founded in Seattle in 1946 by World War II veterans.

Company leaders say that despite rapid growth and technological change within the construction industry, VECA's success continues to be rooted in its people, culture and long-term relationships.

GROWING LEGACY

Today, VECA operates offices in Seattle, Bellingham, Wenatchee and Boise, Idaho, and has become known for its work on major projects. Significant work included Providence Swedish Hughes Tower, a 12-story hospital addition to the First Hill campus; large-scale Port of Seattle projects such as the SEA Baggage Optimization Projects Phases I, II and III, the recently opened SEA C Concourse Expansion, and upcoming SEA S Concourse Evolution; Western State Hospital — Forensic Center of Excellence, a 350-bed forensic behavioral health hospital; the Summit Building — Seattle Convention Center Addition; UW Interdisciplinary Engineering Building, winner of an ENR Northwest Award of Merit; and over 300 MW of mission critical construction.

Tom Fairbanks and his wife, Debi.

Current Executive Chairman Tom Fairbanks, who purchased the company in 1989 when it employed about 40 people, said maintaining the organization's culture has remained a top priority as VECA has expanded.

“As we grow, a significant challenge is making sure that our values are understood at every level of VECA — and especially new employees so they can hit the ground running with the potential that they have,” Fairbanks said. “We call it ‘getting water to the end of the row'.”

FIELD-FIRST CULTURE

VECA is the largest electrical contractor in the Seattle area and specializes in highly technical and complex projects.

The company attributes much of its growth to a field-focused approach that emphasizes safety, training and the adoption of emerging technologies.

“Electrical work isn't easy. It's physical, it's technical, it takes pride and craftmanship,” said Chief Executive Officer Dave Reed. “Field first means that we recognize that, we respect it; and we let our electricians know how much we respect and appreciate what they do every day.”

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Summit Building — Seattle Convention Center Addition

Rather than pursuing growth for growth's sake, VECA says it has focused on building long-term partnerships and embracing collaborative project delivery methods. Progressive Design-Build, Design-Build and EC/CM projects now make up a significant portion of the company's work, allowing teams to become involved early in planning, constructability reviews, virtual design and construction modeling, scheduling and site logistics.

Chief Administration Officer Laura Rannow said those relationships have been central to the company's longevity.

“Over my 24 years at VECA, I've seen firsthand that lasting success is built on strong relationships,” Rannow said. “Every day our teams bring an exceptional level of skill and professionalism to their work. We're grateful for the trust our employees, clients, and partners have placed in us over the past 80 years and look forward to continuing to serve them in the years ahead.”

SAFETY AND INNOVATION

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VECA has offices in Seattle, Bellingham, Wenatchee and Boise, Idaho.

Safety remains another defining focus for the company. One major concern alongside growth is the increased potential for safety incidents. VECA says it has mitigated this by doubling down on training and continually adding safety personnel, so every project has the best resources to implement site-specific safety planning.

In 2025, VECA's teams logged over 3 million labor hours while working on high-risk jobsites — including in and around active healthcare and airport facilities, occupied educational buildings, and large-scale data centers. With that in mind, the company says its 2026 EMR of 0.35 (top three for electrical contractors in Washington and approximately 64% lower than the industry average), is an impressive achievement and reflects the collective efforts of every project team member working safely.

VECA says that longevity in this industry is only possible by building trust and maintaining long-term partnerships. The company does this by finding creative ways to add value on every project and developing new services that respond directly to client needs. Early virtual design and construction (VDC) integration is key, allowing for coordinated clash detection and enabling offsite prefabrication for timely deliveries.

Onsite teams implement Lean construction practices to boost efficiency, improve quality, and minimize waste and rework.

The firm also operates a certified UL 508A/698A Panel and UL 891 Switchboard Shop, which offers customized panel and switchboard solutions that meet industry performance standards, but with a shorter lead time. The company says this equipment often faces long-lead procurement challenges and can cripple a project's schedule if delivery is delayed. VECA's shop offers project teams an alternate solution to keep the schedule on track.

LOOKING AHEAD

According to Chief Operations Officer Jesse Chapman, balancing growth with culture has become one of the company's defining accomplishments.

“We have strong capabilities in complex electrical systems, technology integration, and alternative project delivery methods, but what truly sets us apart is our ability to scale while still maintaining our culture and values,” Chapman said.

As VECA enters its ninth decade, company leaders say the focus remains unchanged: investing in people, maintaining trusted partnerships and delivering complex projects safely and efficiently.