3E acquires City Electric Supply of Iowa City

Electrical Engineering & Equipment Company (3E), Windsor Heights, Iowa, has acquired City Electric Supply, Iowa City, Iowa. 3E now has 15 locations throughout Iowa and Nebraska with the acquisition. Over the past few years, 3E has been expanding quickly in its market with a mix of acquisitions and start-ups and is now one of the 50 largest electrical distributors in the United States, according to Electrical Wholesaling. City Electric Supply, which is an independent company and has no relation to British-owned City Electric Supply Inc., Orlando, was established in 1954 and founded by Frank Boyd and John Rummelhart Sr. They were both plumbers by trade but recognized the need for an electrical supply business in Iowa City. They also managed and operated a plumbing supply business, Contractor Tool and Supply.

Eventually, the two partners decided to split the businesses. The Boyd family took the electrical supply side and the Rummelhart's took the plumbing. Frank Boyd's son Bob managed City Electric Supply for nearly 30 years until the loss of his eyesight 14 years ago. It was at that time they hired current General Manager Rich VeDepo. Bob Boyd's son, Kelly Boyd, is president of the independent manufacturers' rep firm, ElectroRep, Sausalito, Calif., and is the winner of EW's 2011 GEM Rising Star Award for reps. He is also a past-chairman of the National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association (NEMRA).