About Us

Our History

Westphal & Company, Inc.

Electrical construction experts since 1931

Westphal & Company, Inc., is a full-service electrical construction firm that was founded in 1931 by Fred H. Westphal, a German immigrant.

Chairman John Westphal has worked in the family company since he was a young teenager, in Warehousing, Estimating, and Project Management. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is a State of Wisconsin Master Electrician.

1954 Westphal & Co. crew at Parker Pen Arrow Park, Janesville, WI.

Westphal: Through the Years

1919

FRED H.

Fred H. emigrates to the U.S.

1926

Fred H. Westphal began an apprenticeship in Flensburg, Germany as a blacksmith and coachmaker, and then as a marine engineer.

1913

Returning from WWI after being drafted, Westphal continues his apprenticeship and receives his Master Certificate as a Machinery Builder.

1928

1916

Fred H. Westphal purchases the ownership of his partner and becomes sole owner of the company. The company hires its first Electrician and engages in the business of electrical construction in addition to the motor shop business.

1940

The company is founded as the Allan-Westphal Machinery Co. in Janesville, WI engaged in the sales and repair of electric motors, air compressors, and associated equipment. Founders are Fred H. Westphal, a German immigrant, and William J. Allan, the business is located at 654 S. Franklin St., Janesville.

1939

1936

1933

1931

The company moves to a larger facility in the former Studebaker dealership at 23-25 N. Bluff St. (now N. Parker Drive) in Janesville.

1953

The firm completes the Arrow Park Assembly facility for the Parker Pen Co. in Janesville, the new Janesville High School, now Craig High School, Kenosha St. Joseph High School, and the Chevrolet Body Shop addition in Janesville.

1958

1957

Fred T. Westphal, son of the founder, graduates from the University of Wisconsin with a bachelor’s degree in business and as an NCAA champion swimmer. He begins working in the Electrical Construction division as a Project Manager / Estimator. Fred T. begins to assume more control over the day to day operations of the business as his father spends time away to care for his terminally ill wife.

1956

The firm was incorporated in Wisconsin as Westphal & Co., Inc. The firm completes its largest project to date, the Rock River Generating Facility in Beloit, WI for Wisconsin Power & Light Co. (now Alliant Energy).

1959

1954

The Electrical Contracting division of the company moves into a new building at 1 St. Mary’s Ave, now 123 St. Mary’s Court, in Janesville. The electric motor shop remains in the Bluff Street location.

ST. MARYS, 2017

1960

The company opens a branch office in Dubuque, IA.

1960s

Fred T. Westphal is named President and assumes day to day control of the company. William E. Westphal, Fred T.’s brother, begins management of the company’s electric motor shop after graduating from college. The company completes a number of large school and healthcare projects including Janesville Parker, Kenosha Tremper, Janesville Franklin, Kenosha Lance, UW-Platteville & UW-Stout Dormitories, UW-Madison Zoology, Kenosha St. Catherine’s Hospital, Janesville Rock Haven Nursing Home, Sinsinawa Convent.

The company expands into the Dubuque market with projects at the John Deere Tractor Works, Fleur de Lis Foods, and the WP&L Nelson Dewey Generating Station in Cassville, WI.

1964

Westphal & Co. – Dubuque, 1960’s

1970

The company acquires property adjacent to the construction division and Energetics moves into the property at 821 N. Parker Drive, Janesville. The company’s headquarters operations are now consolidated in one location.

1974

The company grows significantly in size by completing some of its largest projects to date in the industrial and healthcare markets: Wisconsin Power & Light Columbia Unit II, John Deere in Dubuque, International Harvester in Moline, Beloit Hospital, Freeport Hospital, and Mercy Hospital.

The electric motor shop is given the name Energetics Industrial Distributors to distinguish it from the electrical construction division. Energetics expands to Dubuque and opens a shop adjacent to Westphal & Co. on Cedar Cross Road.

1971

1977

Fred H. Westphal, company founder and patriarch, passes away at the age of 80. Fred T. Westphal, Fred H’s son, remains President of the company.

1970s

1972

1976

1975

BOB CARLSON, WP&L, AND FRED T.

FRED T. & ART SCHMITT, LA CROSSE, WI

Fred T Westphal and Art Schmitt in LaCrosse, Wisconsin

1981-82

Fred T. Westphal dies unexpectedly from an accident at the age of 46. John Westphal takes over management of the electrical construction division while William E. Westphal manages Energetics.

The company faces severe economic hardship due to the prolonged recession, the death of Fred T. Westphal, and the inexperience of the new owners. The company continues to utilize its expertise to perform industrial, automotive, healthcare, and large commercial projects.

1983

1989

In a friendly divestiture, the company splits into two separate companies. William E. Westphal assumes full ownership of Energetics Industrial Distributors, and Brett and John Westphal become equal owners of Westphal & Co., Inc., electrical construction. John Westphal becomes president of the company.

1980s

Fred T. Westphal’s sons, Brett and John, complete their college education and begin working full time for the company. They represent the third generation of the family to join the business.

1982

The company purchases Lybarger Electric in Davenport, IA, and expands to its third location.

The company sees a substantial increase in growth with projects in the automotive, educational, and healthcare markets.

1999

The company opens an office in Woodstock, IL hoping to capitalize on the large workforce that was developed on the Motorola projects in Harvard.

1997

1992

The company closes its Davenport office due to poor financial performance. The company continues its expansion by opening a branch office in Madison, WI.

1990s

Westphal & Co Call the Varsity Ad in 1993

Some of the largest projects in the company’s history are completed, all in the Madison area: Epic Systems Phases I and II, UW-Madison CoGeneration Plant, Camp Randall Stadium, and University Square.

2009-10

A large state-of-the-art Office / PreFabrication Shop / Warehouse facility is built in Madison and the company moves its headquarters there. The Janesville office, headquarters since 1931, becomes a branch office.

2000s

2000

John Westphal purchases Brett Westphal’s stock and becomes sole owner of the company.

2007

The company acquires Bakke Electric of Waterford (Racine), WI. A new Madison office and shop is constructed at 29 Marsh Court.

2005

Maiken Westphal and Fritz Westphal, children of John Westphal, join the firm after completing their education. They represent the fourth generation of the family to work in the business.

CAMP RANDALL

2001

The company closes Bakke Electric Co. and acquires Globalcom Technologies, a low voltage construction firm providing structured cabling services to clients.

Maiken Westphal joins the company as a Project Manager / Estimator, marking the entrance of the fourth generation of the family into the business.

Major projects completed included the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery and the Memorial Union on the UW-Madison, Alliant Columbia Air Quality Control System, national datacenter modular prefabrication projects, and many educational and commercial projects in southern Wisconsin.

2012

2020

Maiken Westphal is named Vice President, the first member of the fourth generation of the Westphal family to serve as an officer of the company.

2010s

2017

In Janesville, the company sells its home since 1956 on St. Mary’s Court and moves to a new office and shop facility built on Janesville’s east side.

WESTPHAL & CO. – JANESVILLE 2016

WISCONSIN INSTITUTES FOR DISCOVERY

The warehouse area of the Madison facility is reconfigured to become a state-of-the-art PreFabrication facility. PreFab and sub-assembly work for all of the company’s projects begins in earnest.

Dan Zurawik named President of Westphal & Co., Inc.; Jim Marshall named President of Globalcom Technologies.

2014

2019

Opened our newest branch office in Milwaukee.

OUR PROJECTS

In our extensive portfolio you will be able to find mid- and large-size projects that we have had the privilege to work on.

OUR SERVICES

We are a full service contractor – we can provide any and all electrical and technology construction services our clients require, from large industrial and institutional facilities to a residential service call.