About Us
OBERLANDER ELECTRIC CO., INC. started in 1940 in a garage at 127 MacQueen Avenue in Peoria, Illinois. The motto at that time was "Qualified Contractors - Dependable Service".
Most work then was small residential jobs and supplying and installation of appliances.
Soon Oberlander Electric outgrew the garage and moved to 725 W. Main Street in Peoria. Still only a short distance from Sheridan, but more centrally located and closer to downtown.
Oberlander Electric Company was incorporated in the State of Delaware in 1954 as a "C" Corporation.
In 1946 Charles A. Gardner came to work as an apprentice electrician straight out of the U.S. Navy at a starting hourly pay of two bits an hour.
"Charlie" became the Oberlander's right hand man at most of their large jobs.
Oberlander Electric's first sizable industrial job was in building X (since demolished) at Caterpillar, but was soon doing large work at CPC in Pekin, Illinois.
In 1974, "Charlie" bought a 45% interest in Oberlander Electric with an option to buy the remaining shares in 1984.
In 1981 Texaco and CPC formed a joint venture to make ethanol called "Pekin Energy". The plans were sketchy at the start but alcohol had to be produced by December 31, 1981. $12 million later ethanol flowed and Oberlander Electric had made a large step forward in the Central Illinois market. Wayne and EB Oberlander also decided to sell the remaining 55% 2 years early.
In 1982 the Gardner family owned all the stock with only a small matter of paying off a loan to Wayne.
During the 80's Oberlander Electric did several large multimillion dollar jobs which included Galesburg Prison, Canton Prison, OSF Gerlach Building, and the Rod Mill expansion at Keystone Steel and Wire. Caterpillar also had several large jobs.
The 90's shown the way to more of the same as Oberlander Electric's volume went from $5 million a year to $25 million a year. Large commercial, institutions and industrial work now became the jobs of choice and residential became the exception.
During the next millennium Oberlander Electric became the dominant electrical contractor in Central Illinois, approaching a 40% market share and $50 million in sales a year.
November 1st, 2007 John Sr. and Steve Sr. took over the reigns from Jim, due to his well deserved retirement. John and Steve plan on leading their four sons into the future growth of Oberlander Electric.
Oberlander Electric is now poised through training and purchasing of $2 million of equipment to expand in the next few years. Management has continually used profits of the company to upgrade, and to teach and train so that Oberlander Electric stays ahead of the competition. The technology continually changes and so must Oberlander Electric, and we will.