Our History

In 1943, Sheldon D. Smith moved his family from Michigan to Largo, Florida. Sheldon was somewhat of a prodigy, a jack-of-all-trades if you will, and had several business ventures ranging from a restaurateur to a used car dealer to an electronics repairman. His passion, however, was always electronics — especially radio electronics. Sheldon established Smith Electric Company in 1947 to take advantage of the post-war construction boom. At that time, the company worked on a variety of projects in the electrical industry: service, residential, commercial, and industrial electrical wiring. Most notably, Sheldon completed most of the original McDonald’s restaurants on the central west coast of Florida.

In 1961, Sheldon and his longtime friend, C. Robert Stuler, formed a partnership creating S&S Electric Co., Inc. for a contract job at Guy Lambardo’s Port of Call Resort in Tierra Verde, Florida. However, the partnership was short-lived and only lasted four years. The work at Tierra Verde was completed, and after several other projects, Stuler decided to leave the company to seek other business endeavors.

Shortly thereafter, Vern and Barbara Smith, Sheldon’s son and daughter-in-law who had both worked for the company for many years, became full partners. The company grew steadily, moving gradually towards a niche in residential electrical wiring. When Sheldon retired in 1977, Vern and Barbara took full ownership of the company.

In 1984, the company relocated from its original home in Largo, Florida, to its current facility in Oldsmar, opening up the growing developments of Hillsborough, Pasco, and North Pinellas counties.

S&S Electric is now a third generation company with Vern and Barbara’s sons, Chris and Shawn, managing the company’s continued growth. Christopher, like his father, grew up in the business, and is now the company’s Executive Vice President managing the construction and services operations. Shawn joined the family business in 1997 and is currently the company’s President managing business operations and new product development. Vern and Barbara’s daughter also worked for the company until her death in 1995 from Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH).

With an existing customer base made up many of the nation’s top homebuilders, S&S Electric began seeking new business opportunities and in 1994, S&S Electric established its Air Conditioning Division. As Florida’s building industry continued to prosper and customers spread to new communities across the Gulf Coast, the company established offices in Sarasota (1991), Ft. Myers/Naples (1995), and East Hillsborough/Brandon (2000).

S&S Electric is positioned as the leading home technology systems provider for West Central Florida and beyond. The Smith family truly believes that their success and longevity are due to commitment, quality, service, and integrity of their employees. Many of their employees have been with the company for a number of years and have become managers, helping to shape and develop the direction of the company.

This continued emphasis on exemplary service, quality products, superior workmanship, honest value, and hard work is what makes the award-winning team of S&S Electric is the right partner for your next home project.

Affiliations & Memberships

Committed to maintaining a high level of industry involvement, as well as pursuing high levels of industry education, S&S Electric is a proud and active member of the following industry associations:

Licensing & Certification

At S&S Electric | S&S Air Conditioning, we understand that our customers expect quality workmanship and a high level of professionalism. We pursue and maintain licenses and certifications that verify our skills and competencies, as well as assure our valued customers that we practice integrity, technical competency, and responsibility in the workplace.

Licensed by the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations State License: S&S Electric Co., Inc. - EC0002779, EC13003932, CAC1814177; S&S Electric Co., LLC - EC13003993; S&S Air Conditioning, LLC - CAC1815359