Border States history

1953 The company enters the construction market, with the addition of General Electric Supply Company as a vendor, providing access to wire, conduit and electrical contractor supplies.

1956 Thompson-Stolee Co. moves to a facility in Grand Forks, North Dakota, establishing the first warehouse.

1958 Harold Madson joins the business, and Thompson-Stolee Co. is incorporated.

1959 With one branch in operation, annual sales top $1 million.

1960 Thompson, Stolee and Madson establish two new companies.

1961 – Border States acquires Northwest Electric Supply Co. in Fargo, North Dakota, which includes authorization to sell Allen-Bradley products.

1967 Computerization begins when Dean Ferguson, Controller/Credit Manager, takes a home study course in FORTRAN computer language.

1969 Thompson-Stolee Co. is sold to Northern Plumbing Supply of Grand Forks, North Dakota.

1974 Border States opens a third branch location in Bismarck, North Dakota, to provide better delivery options to customers in western North Dakota, eastern Montana and parts of South Dakota.

1978 Border States acquires its first fleet of delivery trucks to serve locations not normally covered by commercial truck lines.

1979 Border States opens its fourth branch in Minot, North Dakota.

1980 Border States opens its fifth branch location in Dickinson, North Dakota, to provide a more central location for shipping to western North Dakota and eastern Montana.

1981 Border States is ranked the 25th largest electrical distributor in the United States

1983 A recession causes the company’s annual sales to drop 15%.

1984 Paul Madson is named President, with Harold Madson serving as CEO and Board Chair.

1989 Border States implements the Rigel operating system and installs an IBM AS/400 computer that expands memory capacity by 24 and storage capacity by 48.

1990 Border States acquires Korber Electric in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to expand its footprint and diversify business, reducing reliance on oil and agriculture.

1992 Border States deploys its first job trailer.

1995 The company begins promoting material management solutions to customers.

1997 The first Executive Committee is established.

2002 Border States establishes an industrial supply division.

2004 Border States acquires its first truck-mounted forklift on a 40-foot tractor-trailer in Phoenix, Arizona.

2006 Tammy Miller is promoted to CEO and Board Chair.

2007 Border States acquires Minnesota Electric Supply Company, adding eight branch locations in Minnesota.

2008 Border States takes on Ameren/PAR Electrical’s “Power on Project” sales model, where only services are provided.

2009 Border States signs a long-term supply chain agreement with Xcel Energy and establishes a new branch location in Denver, Colorado.

2010 A recession causes sales to drop 13.8% for the year, resulting in all employee-owners taking a pay cut to avoid layoffs and preserve the company’s stock value.

2011 Border States’ “Service Excellence” initiative launches.

2013 Border States opens a branch location in Greeley, Colorado, to serve the oil and gas market.

2014 – Border States launches its intranet site, “Borderline,” to bring real-time communication to employee-owners.

2016 Border States acquires Shealy Electrical Wholesalers, adding 17 branches in North Carolina and South Carolina.

2017 Border States acquires Kriz-Davis Co., adding 19 branch locations in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

2018 Annual sales exceed $2 billion.