blue baackground

A rich HISTORY of impact

For nearly 70 years, companies, public institutions, developers and industry partners have relied on Cupertino Electric to design and execute first-of-their-kind electrical systems. Our history of delivering technically-complex projects fastwithout compromising quality or safetymeans that we are usually the first call when project failure is not an option.

Founded in 1954 by Gene Ravizza and Pete Kraljev, Cupertino Electric has fueled innovation in and around Silicon Valley by supplying the infrastructure that has enabled forward-looking companies to realize their vision. Since our humble beginnings, we have grown in the last six decades to serve sophisticated customers in a variety of industries. Despite our evolution and geographic reach, we are still guided by a few steadfast values: integrity, excellence, innovation, people and safety.

The Beginning1954

After returning from working in Morocco, Eugene “Gene” Ravizza purchases Kucher Electric for $12,500 and renames it Cupertino Electric, Inc. (CEI). The company gets its start by wiring homes in the San Francisco Bay Area.

CEI Founder Gene Ravizza
The Cupertino Electric fleet in the 1950s

Building a Portfolio1959

CEI’s reputation for integrity, technical engineering and quality grows. Foothill College awards CEI a campus electrical project. CEI builds its education project portfolio and lays the foundation for future technology projects in Silicon Valley.

"Yes, we were in the right place at the right time ... but we still had to work at it."
—Gene Ravizza, Founder

Gaining Momentum1960

Cupertino Electric designs and installs the electrical infrastructure at Fairchild Semiconductor, one of the first semiconductor fabrication facilities. This early success leads to projects with Siliconix, National Semiconductor and Hewlett-Packard (HP).

The Cupertino Electric team in 1960

"One of the things I've always enjoyed was 'people innovation.' Cupertino Electric had a medical plan for all employees before the union did. Then, in 1964, we had a profit-sharing plan that was the first in our industry."   
—Jim Ryley, Chairman of the Board of Directors

Cupertino Electric expands outside of California

Expansion1970s

The early tech boom continues, and Cupertino Electric helps build Intel’s headquarters. Based on its growing reputation as a problem-solver, CEI is asked by HP to expand its geographical reach and salvage a project in Colorado.

Healthcare Construction1974

CEI expands into healthcare, completing a large Silicon Valley hospital project for Good Samaritan.

Cupertino Electric works on Good Samaritan, a large healthcare facility in Silicon Valley
CEI works on the Monterey Bay Aquarium

The Monterey Bay Aquarium1985

Cupertino Electric designs and installs the electrical systems for the massive 1 million-gallon water tank at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

San Francisco Commercial1989

Cupertino Electric acquires Collins Electric and opens an office in San Francisco, California, expanding its commercial presence and reach in Northern California.

CEI expands into San Francisco
Jim Ryley becomes CEO of Cupertino Electric

Jim Ryley Becomes CEO1997

Jim Ryley, who started as an apprentice in the 1950s, becomes the second CEO of Cupertino Electric.

A LARGER FOOTPRINT2000

CEI repurposes a manufacturing building on North 7th Street in San Jose, Calif., to become its corporate headquarters. The facility gives the company room to grow its operations.

CEI renovates a manufacturing building for its new corporate headquarters in San Jose
Cupertino Electric works on the Network Access Point of the Americas in Miami, Florida

Big Data in Miami2001

Cupertino Electric builds Miami’s Network Access Point (NAP) of the Americas, the first carrier-neutral network access point that links Latin America and the Caribbean with the rest of the world. It's called “one of the most significant telecommunications projects in the world” by Verizon Terremark. 

"CEI is made up of people who step toward a problem to help solve it. We make delivery dates. We don't miss them."   
—Brett Boncher, Chief Operating Officer

A Mini City2003

In just four short months, CEI designs and builds the electrical system at the Thunder Valley Casino & Resort, which is like a mini-city. It is the first casino project for CEI.

CEI works on the Thunder Valley Casino & Resort
Cupertino Electric builds the TransBay Cable between Pittsburg and San Francisco

TransBay Cable Project2007

Siemens hires CEI to build the 400 MW, 200 kV TransBay Cable project, installing two converter stations for a new submarine HVDC transmission link between Pittsburg and San Francisco, California.

The Solar Play2007

CEI builds the largest solar project on a single corporate campus for Google and creates a solar-focused division in the process.

Cupertino Electric installs the largest solar project on a single corporate campus for Google
in 2008 CEI expanded into the Southern California area

Southern California Commercial2008

CEI expands into the Los Angeles area by opening a local office.

Power Generation2008

CEI builds the Lodi Energy Center, a 1x1 combined-cycle, nominal 296 MW Siemens “Flex Plant 30” power generation facility with a natural gas-fired turbine generator.

Cupertino Electric works on the Lodi Energy Center power plant
John Boncher becomes CEO of Cupertino Electric

John Boncher Becomes CEO2010

John Boncher becomes CEI’s third CEO, doubling CEI's revenue during his tenure. 

Modular Construction2010

CEI creates the modular construction company “NxGen” with a partner construction company. Three years later, the focus shifts and CEI moves the business in-house to focus on prefabricated modular data center projects for high-tech clients.

Cupertino Electric moves into prefabricated modular construction
CEI completes its third utility-scale solar project for Pacific Gas & Electric

Utility-Scale Solar2013

CEI completes its third utility-scale PG&E solar project, installing 85 MW of energy generation in roughly two years for the utility. ENR ranks CEI the largest electrical contractor in California.

"We don't believe in shying away from complex, big projects—or anything that hasn't been done before. I love that our teams never stop learning and integrate new ideas into everything we design, plan and execute.
—Rob Thome, Senior Vice President of Operations

Public Infrastructure Projects2014

CEI begins work at San Francisco International Airport, launching the first of many public infrastructure projects at the site, including the Harvey Milk Terminal. 

Cupertino Electric begins work at SFO
CEI serves as Design/Build electrical contractor at Levi's Stadium

Levi's Stadium2014

CEI delivers the 1.8 million square-foot Levi's Stadium for the NFL's San Francisco 49ers ahead of schedule as Design/Build electrical contractor.

Photovoltaic Success2015

CEI is ranked California’s largest solar EPC company by Solar Power World (and again in 2016), thanks to large-scale projects like Copper Mountain Solar 3 and the Antelope Valley Solar Project. 

Cupertino Electric is named the largest solar EPC company

"While delivering possibilities for customers, partners and the community is extremely important, none of it works if we don't create possibilities for our employees first.
—Tom Schott, CEO

Tom Schott becomes CEO of Cupertino Electric

Tom Schott Appointed CEO2018

Tom Schott becomes president and CEO. CEI reports record $1.25 billion in revenue, thanks to geographic expansion into several states, including Iowa, New Mexico, Ohio and Utah.

EV Charging Stations2018

CEI is ranked the largest electric vehicle (EV) charging station installer for PG&E. 

CEI becomes PG&E's top EV charger installer.
Cupertino Electric works on the San Francisco Public Utility Commission Headworks

Wastewater Treatment2019

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Headworks project breaks ground, demonstrating CEI’s commitment to public infrastructure projects.

Pandemic Response2020

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupts all industries, including construction. CEI leads by protecting employees with one of the industry’s most stringent Exposure Control Plans (ECP).

Cupertino Electric responds to the COVID-19 pandemic with its exposure control plan (ECP)

"Safety at CEI is a core value and is represented by a culture of protecting our co-workers and teams. Each person’s commitment to ensure no one goes home injured doesn’t just satisfy a performance number. It insulates our co-workers—and by extension their families—from pain and suffering.
—Bruce Baxter, Senior VP Production & Safety (2016-2021)

CEI works on the Merced 2020 campus expansion project and helps achieve LEED platinum status

LEED Platinum at UC Merced2020

The massive, multi-year UC Merced campus project is unveiled and awarded LEED Platinum status.

First Annual Ravizza Award2021

In May 2021, CEI announces first the annual “Ravizza Award” winners honoring company founder Gene Ravizza.

The 2021 Ravizza Award winners
Solar Power World ranks CEI in the list of top 10 largest EPC solar contractors

Nationally Ranked Solar2021

In July 2021, Solar Power World ranks CEI one of the 10 largest EPC solar contractors in the U.S.

A National Award of Merit2021

The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) awards the UCSF Wayne and Gladys Valley Center for Vision in San Francisco, Calif., with a National Award of Merit.

The Wayne and Gladys Valley Center for Vision is awarded a DBIA award.
49 South Van Ness wins a 2021 IPI Project of the Year Award.

A Project of the Year Award2021

In September 2021, the 49 South Van Ness Project in San Francisco, Calif., wins a 2021 International Partnering Institute (IPI) Project of the Year Award.

A Project Excellence Award2021

The UC Merced 2020 project in Merced, Calif., is recognized at NECA 2021 Nashville for earning the 2021 Project Excellence Award in the Educational category.

UC Merced 2020 receives the NECA Project Excellence Award in the Educational category.
Cupertino Electric employees

A Big Year2021

Cupertino Electric closes the year with its largest revenue number in company history: $1.625B.

CEI GIVES BACK2021

CEI creates the CEI Gives Foundation, a separate non-profit entity that funds CEI’s charitable giving and volunteering programs.

CEI creates the CEI Gives Foundation

"We're being very intentional with our inclusion efforts to ensure that we're not so focused on metrics that we lose sight of the problem we're trying to solve...[W]e're doing things like eliminating strict educational criteria from job postings, making training and educational opportunities more visible, recruiting in new communities, and investing in robust inclusivity training..." 
—Tom Schott, President & CEO

CEI works in more states than ever

BALANCED EXPANSION2022

With new data center and utility-scale energy projects throughout the country, CEI works in more states than ever before. Between 2020 and 2022, it begins work in Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Oregon and Washington, adding to its bedrock regions of California, Iowa, New Mexico, Ohio and Utah.

RECORD REVENUE2023

CEI reports record revenue of $2.05B in 2022, thanks to continued geographic and market expansino across the U.S. 

Project team members
Gavin Newsom visits Proxima solar site

GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM VISITS CEI SITE2023

A CEI solar site in California serves as the blueprint and backdrop for California Governor Gavin Newsom to announce clean energy initiatives in May of 2023. 

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