Two of Iowa’s most renowned specialty contractors are now one.

At the end of 2021, Baker Group completed a merger with ABC Electrical Services, a privately owned company that has served the Des Moines area since 1959. In more than six decades of service, ABC has become one of the most recognized specialty contractors in the region, working on some of the most visible and complex commercial, multi-tenant, government, healthcare and industrial projects in the state.

The merger brought nearly 70 employees and additional expertise to Baker Group.

“ABC is a very good fit for us in vertical market segments that they have been in for years and we have not,” says Mike Lipp, P.E., Vice President of Baker Group’s Electrical Business Unit.

ABC’s low voltage expertise includes structured cabling, data fiber and more. Lipp says it is a great move for both companies.

“It is a win-win,” he says. “The team at ABC gains access to a great deal more resources, specifically when it comes to building project management, and they also gain a more consistent workload. For Baker Group, we have gained bandwidth from extremely talented professionals and entry into some new markets.”

Adds BJ Baker III, Chairman of the Board at Baker Group: “Each of the 70 people from ABC brings with them different stories and different experiences. Every one of these people bring value to our overall team.”

The decision to pursue ABC began organically. With some key members of ABC’s team nearing retirement, informal conversations about the future of the company started with the team at Baker Group. Eventually the merger became a possibility. In the end, it was the intangibles that convinced leadership at ABC that joining Baker Group was its best move.

“ABC and Baker Group have been working together for 30 years,” says Tim Gerald, a Project Manager in Electrical and a former owner at ABC. “Already having a relationship with many people and knowing the company culture made it an easy decision to join the Baker Group team.”

Customers of ABC can expect the same great service they have received for decades. The merger enhances both organizations by providing more resources and capabilities to serve great clients.

“I can’t say it enough; these guys (from ABC) are good,” Lipp says. “They are professional project managers, professional superintendents and professional skilled tradesmen. It has been so good to meld the two companies because they brought such quality people.”

With the addition of the ABC team, Baker Group now has more than 1,100 employees at its locations in Ankeny, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities.