New River Electrical Employees looking down a manhole.

Our History

New River Electrical Corporation’s vision was established well before our company was founded in 1953. Our founder, Sherill W. Stockton, was a chief electrician in the Navy who envisioned the opportunity for reputable outside contractors to join major utilities. Mr. Stockton possessed the experience and high moral character standards that were and are instrumental in the core direction that we were founded on.

From our first contract with the Ohio Power Company to build a small substation, New River Electrical has grown into a diversified and progressive national company with over 1,100 employees and is registered to conduct business in 38 states, the District of Columbia, and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Milestones
  • New River Electrical's founder Sherrill Stockton.
    1953

    New River Electrical Founded by Mr. Sherrill Stockton

    Founded New River Electrical Corporation on May 27, 1953. First job – Construct a wood pole distribution substation near Jackson, OH.

  • An image of a yellow New River Electrical crane truck.
    1950s

    One of The First Ford Flat Bed Trucks With an A Frame (Late 50s – Early 60s)

  • A piece of a equipment record slip detailing New River Electrical's first truck purchase.
    1950s

    Equipment

    Asset record for New River’s first A-Frame purchased from L.T. Halstead T-11.

  • A microwave communications system for Southern Railroad in Alexandria Virginia.
    1961

    NRE Awarded Contract to Construct a Microwave Communications System for Southern Railroad

    Phase 1 ran from Alexandria, VA to Atlanta, GA. Phase 2 ran from Atlanta to Jacksonville, FL and from Atlanta to New Orleans, LA.

  • Group photo of the former New River Electrical management team
    1967

    Management Team

    (Top L-R) Unknown, Ben Switzer, Charlie Noell, Unknown, Sherrill Stockton, Paul O. Dickey (Bottom L-R) Vernon Wilbourne, Unknown, James A. King, Jr., R.C. Furr

  • 1967

    Benjamin Switzer Hired as Second Ever Treasurer for NRE

  • 1968

    Awarded Substation Unit Contract for Appalachian Power Company in Virginia and West Virginia

  • 1968

    A-Frame Trucks Were Replaced with Boom Cranes

  • 1968

    NRE Constructs 765kv Substation in Rockport, IN, the Largest in a Wave of New Substations Built at This Voltage

  • 1970

    Awarded Kingsport Power and Wheeling Electric Unit Contracts

  • New River Electrical's Board fo Directors sitting at a table in a meeting in the 1960s/70s
    1960s - 1970s

    Management Team

    Board of Directors and Principal Owners of NREC include Vernon Wilbourne, Benjamin Switzer, Sherrill Stockton, Jim King, and Charlie Noell.

  • Former New River Electrical President Jim King.
    1974

    Jim King Promoted to President of New River Electrical

    Mr. King was hired in 1958. Served as president from 1974 - 1995.

  • A group of New River foremen at a meeting in 1980.
    1980

    Foremen's Meeting

  • A green and yellow NRE crane truck from 1981 at an outdoor job site.
    1981

    New River Electrical Crane Truck

  • 1984

    Adopted the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

  • A black and white photo of a large truck and trailer moving a 765kv transformer for a rigging job across the railroad.
    1984

    Rigging and Hauling Crew Moves 765kv Transformer.

  • Photos from the 1985 Roanoke flood inside of New Rivers garage.
    1985

    Flood of 85'

    Corporate office flooded. The waterline reached 4’.

  • 1986

    New River Electrical Awarded Our First Underground Residential Distribution (URD) Contract with Columbus Southern Power

  • 1988

    Awarded Our First Overhead Distribution Contract with Columbus Southern Power

  • New River Electrical's first underground transmission project at Caper Hatteras bridge in North Carolina.
    1994

    Job Spotlight: First Underground Transmission Project

    Cape Hatteras, NC 2.4-mile 115kV transmission line under the bridge.

  • Former New River Electrical President Charlie Noell.
    1996

    Charlie Noell Promoted to President of New River Electrical

    Mr. Noell was hired in 1962. Served as president from 1996 - 1999.

  • A spotlight project of a 1997 duct bank from Lake Meade to Las Vegas.
    1997

    Job Spotlight: 69kV Duct Bank - 9 Miles

    Provided power to substations from Lake Meade to Las Vegas 115kV. Largest contract to date.

  • Former New River president Tom Wolden.
    2000

    Tom Wolden Promoted to President of New River Electrical

    Mr. Wolden was hired in 1992. Serves as president from 2000 - 2019.

  • A group shot of New River foremen at a meeting in 2000.
    2000

    Foremen's Meeting - Charleston, West Virginia

  • New River's first female employee Dianne Sink sitting at a desk and a headshot.
    2004

    Dianne Sink

    Ms. Sink was hired in 1969 as a receptionist. She was NRE’s first female employee. Ms. Sink retired in 2004 as NRE’s Corporate Secretary & First Safety Director.

  • New River Electrical's Westerville, Ohio office.
    2013

    Westerville Campus Built to Support Northern Operations

  • Longest tenured New River employee Richard "Buddy" Furr.
    2014

    R.C. "Buddy" Furr, II

    The longest-tenured employee in NRE history. Mr. Furr was hired in 1968 as a shop helper. Retired in 2014 as an Ex. Vice President. Created Underground Transmission Division.

  • The overhead industrial electrical tower in the shape of a goal post sitting above two NRE work trucks in Canton, Ohio.
    2016

    Job Spotlight: Overhead Transmission Project at Pro Football Hall of Fame

    Overhead Transmission built with custom poles in Canton, OH. Outside of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. View The Project

  • Former New River President Chris Whitely.
    2019

    Chris Whitely Promoted to President of New River Electrical

    Mr. Whitely was hired in 2006. Served as president from 2019 - 2021.

  • Two New River Employees looking at each other with sunglasses and white hardhats with the NRE logo on them.
    2019

    New River Electrical Awarded Company's First General Contract Job in Tyson’s Corner, VA

  • A substation installation at Broadford, Virginia.
    2021

    Job Spotlight: Broadford Substation

    Largest substation project to date.

  • Current CEO/President of New River, Robert Arritt.
    2021

    Robert Arritt Promoted to President of New River Electrical

    Mr. Arritt was hired in 1988. Currently serving as President. View Leadership at New River Electrical