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On Saturday, June 8th, APG family members and trusted partners gathered to celebrate the 2023 safety year and recognize the outstanding achievements of our apprentices and team members. The event was held at the beautiful and spacious Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, marking a special occasion as we also celebrated 40 years of excellence. The evening began with guests exploring our history exhibit, featuring APG artifacts from our early years. This nostalgic journey allowed everyone to appreciate our company's rich history. Attendees enjoyed a variety of food, drinks, and craft beers while perusing the exhibit. A highlight of the area was the Anniversary Signature Board, where employees had the opportunity to sign their way into APG history. The special anniversary program included a dedicated film about the company's leadership and a live interview with our founders, providing insight into our company’s journey and growth over the past four decades. This segment was a heartfelt tribute to the hard work and dedication that have propelled APG to its current success. To conclude the program, we held a Safety Drawing with an array of prizes and cash awards. This drawing was a fun and rewarding way to celebrate our team's dedication to maintaining a safe and productive work environment throughout the year. Following the program, a group photo of all employees was taken in the auditorium—a significant moment as it was the first company photo in 15 years. APG would like to acknowledge the hard work of those who put this event together: Bonnie Gerhart, who coordinated all of this with the help of Rachel Kotsch, Corrie Fernandez, Averi Samuels, Jenna Durst, Patty Mellon, Charmin Henley, Erick Shepard, Trina Rodriguez, Kevin Gerhart, and our DJ, Zak Davis. Special thanks also go to Megan Gurba, the Director of Catering & Sales at Ruth Eckerd Hall, for their invaluable support in acquiring the facility, setup, catering, and much more. The celebration was not just a recognition of our past achievements but also a moment to look forward to a bright future, built on the same values of excellence, teamwork, and safety that have guided us for the past 40 years. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event a memorable success. We look forward to many more years of shared success!
For forty years, APG has been providing top-quality electrical installations in the Tampa Bay area. Our company was founded on the principles of integrity, excellence, customer service, team satisfaction, and timely completion of projects within budget. As our company has grown, those principles continue to stand out in everything we do.
APG had its roots in The Doan Electric Company of Cleveland, Ohio, which by the mid 1980’s had grown into one of the largest and most respected electrical contracting companies in Northeast Ohio. In 1984, John Kavula and Jerry Lightner partnered with Doan Electric principals from the Goulder and Heiser families to found APG Electric in Largo, Florida. Our list of services expanded as we gradually added electrical engineering services, virtual design services, and the installation of specialty systems such as life safety, voice/data/video, security, and audio/visual. In 2009, John and Jerry began transferring some of their management responsibilities to newly appointed President Mike Henley and Executive Vice President Chris Johnson. This past November saw Jonathan Henley promoted to Vice President. As a state certified electrical contractor, Jonathan will soon become the primary qualifier of our contracting business – a responsibility John has handled for the past 40 years. While John and Jerry continue to play an active role in our company’s operation, they are eager to pass their legacy to the next generation of leaders who remain committed to the core values that have made APG what it is today. As we’ve grown, we’ve taken on larger and larger projects, including museums, luxury hotels, and five brand-new hospitals. Beginning this year, we’ll tackle what may be our largest contract yet as Tampa General Hospital and Gilbane Building Company begin construction of a new 530,000 square-foot patient tower. We’re grateful to our customers, clients, and friends who have helped us to become one of the most respected electrical contractors in the state. We also appreciate our employees for helping build a reputation for exceptional service and quality, and we thank you all for the past 40 years of support. Congratulations to everyone on achieving this amazing milestone! On November 4th, our APG family was thrilled to return to Busch Gardens for the 39th Annual APG Family Picnic. As one of our favorite destinations, Busch Gardens never fails to impress us with its thrilling rides and close-up animal encounters. We enjoyed the park’s numerous activities and the opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones and friends. After the park closed at 6 p.m., the real party began. We gathered at the Gwazi Pavilion and savored delicious hamburgers, hot dogs, and grilled chicken sandwiches, along with yummy sides and desserts. We also enjoyed theme park favorites like soft pretzels, churros, and caramel corn. After dinner, it was time to experience unlimited rides on some of the park’s most popular attractions, such as Cheetah Hunt, Cobra’s Curse, Montu, Iron Gwazi, and Gwazi Gliders. In the Gwazi area, guests tackled rope ladders and shot hoops for free prizes. Younger guests tested their skills in the carnival game areas with free unlimited gameplay. We closed out the park at 10 p.m. with unforgettable memories to cherish. We would like to thank everyone who attended our Family Picnic this year, and Busch Gardens for making it possible for us to bring our families and friends together for a day full of fun and comradery! We also want to give a special shoutout to Bonnie Gerhart and Busch Gardens’ Nevar Campbell, Event Sales Manager, as well as Missy Walker, Event Services Manager, for their outstanding work in organizing this fantastic event. We are already looking forward to next year! |