Founder’s Story

The Inspiring Journey of Kurt Dickson: From Coast Guard to Founder of Dickson Electric, LLC

Dickson Electric, LLC was built from a willingness to work hard, take responsibility, and say “yes” to challenges others avoided.

Founder Kurt Dickson didn’t follow a traditional path into the electrical trade. After high school, he joined the United States Coast Guard, where he was responsible for maintaining navigation systems, batteries, lighting, and solar equipment on buoys and coastal infrastructure. It was during this time—working hands-on with critical electrical systems—that he discovered both an interest in and an aptitude for electrical work .

While still on active duty, Kurt began logging accredited apprenticeship hours and entered the electrical trade with a significant head start. After leaving the military, he completed his apprenticeship at an accelerated pace, earning his journeyman license in just two years—less than half the typical timeframe—before moving quickly into leadership and project management roles in the private sector .

When the company he worked for shut down, Kurt faced a decision many tradespeople never take: stay comfortable, or take the risk of building something of his own. Together with his wife and business partner Liz, that decision was made around their kitchen table—without guarantees, and with full awareness of the risk involved .

Dickson Electric, LLC officially began in 2014 and fully launched as an independent operation in 2016. Growth came not from advertising budgets or aggressive sales tactics, but from referrals, visible work, and reputation. The company grew steadily, then rapidly—expanding from one van to ten in a single year during the COVID period by continuing to operate safely as an essential service when many others shut down .

Throughout that growth, one principle never changed: be honest with customers. If a project was new or complex, Kurt was upfront about it. If something didn’t need to be done, he said so. That transparency—combined with a willingness to learn, adapt, and master new systems—became a defining part of the company culture .

Today, Dickson Electric, LLC remains a family-operated, veteran-owned company built on communication, accountability, and problem-solving. The mission is not rapid expansion for its own sake, but steady, responsible growth that supports employees, customers, and the surrounding community.

As Kurt often says, the goal isn’t to be the biggest electrical contractor—it’s to be the one people trust to do the work right.