Hammeke Electric is celebrating 25 years. The business at 167 North U.S. 281 has around 40 employees, including those at Petroleum Electric Services at 701 Adams St. in Great Bend and another store in Emporia.
Tim Hammeke said they started in 2001 at a shop by their house north of Barton Community College.
In 2018 the Hammekes acquired the property on North U.S 281, almost quadrupling their space. The company has grown to the point that General Manager Ryan Hameke offers evening training classes to help create more licensed electricians.
Ryan Hammeke is project manager for the big projects, such as the BTI building, the First Kansas Bank, Barton Community College’s Ag Facility and the National Guard building. “We’ve gotten to do a lot of cool projects around here,” he said.
Mike Dobson is in charge of the generator division, which has several employees. Alex Deist is in charge of the sales in that division.
Brant Harms, who was in law enforcement for 16 years before joining the firm, is in charge of security, from alarm systems to security cameras for homes or businesses. A new trailer goes to commercial businesses and events such as last Saturday’s Party in the Park. Harms said Hammeke Electric would be at the park to keep an eye on the area and record any incidents.
Officer Manager Jennifer Stoddard announced a Hammeke Electric promotion going on.
“Because of this being the 25th anniversary of Hammeke Electric, we thought we should do something big. Tim and Kim have decided that we are going to give away an 18 kW Generac generator on Sept. 4.” That’s when Hammeke Electric will host a Chamber After Hours event from 5-7 p.m. The prize includes the generator and basic installation within 20 miles of Great Bend.
There are conditions, such as entrants must be at least 18 years old and have the permission of the property owner. “And if you’re related to anybody that works here, don’t even try to enter,” she joked.
There are three ways to enter. Entries will be accepted at certain times on the Hammeke Electric Facebook page. Anyone who makes a purchase with the security department gets five entries. Finally, anyone who comes to the office and donates five non-parishable food items or hygiene or paper items for charity is entered. “The goal being, we’d like to within this next month have 2,500 pieces of either hygiene items or food to donate locally in the community.”
Chamber Announcements
• Heartland Farm will offer a salsa making class on Aug. 23 and registration is open for its Farm to Table Dinner on Sept. 6.
• Wednesday, Aug. 13, is the deadline for discounted early bird tickets to Sunflower Diversified Services’ 20th Annual Charity Gala on Sept. 13 at the Great Bend Events Center.
• Iron Therapy, which recently moved to 2317 Washington St., has added a supplements store.
• The next Chamber Coffee will be hosted by WyRica Adventures LLC at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14 at the Chamber Office, 1125 Williams St.
