History of Crown Electric, Inc.
Crown Electric, Inc. was started in 1977 by Tom King and Harold (Nick) Nickless along with two silent partners in Terre Haute, Indiana. Nick soon left the company. This left Tom to run Crown with his wife Kate, their son Tom, and his brother Joe. Brent Smith and Randy Hitchmough came to Crown Electric in early 1996 with the intent of purchasing the company from King. The purchase started in 1999 with a final buyout in 2004. They were supported from the beginning by a great office manager, Natalie Rohn. The company was sold to Yargus Enterprises in 2022.
History of Yargus Enterprises
Yargus Enterprises of Marshall, Illinois completed its purchase of Crown Electric Inc, a Terre Haute, Indiana Electrical contractor. The purchase was completed on March 2, 2022. Larry Yargus, owner of Yargus Enterprises, said, “We are very happy to add Crown Electric to our suite of services businesses to enhance our capabilities of being a leader in commercial construction in the Midwest. We plan to maintain the Crown Electric business at its current location and retain all of its employees. Yargus Enterprises also owns B&S Plumbing, Central State Construction, an electrical contractor in Marshall, Illinois and Hannig Construction, a regional commercial and industrial construction company in Terre Haute, Indiana. Crown Electric, Inc. is an electrical contracting and design firm in West Central Indiana and Eastern Illinois, and is part of the Building Equipment Industry sector. It began in 1977 and currently employees about 50 people. Over the past 42 years it has developed a solid reputation for providing high quality and cost-effective service for electrical installation in industrial, commercial and residential projects. Crown Electric provides full design/build electrical installation. Previous owners Randy Hitchmough and Brent Smith stated that they were very proud of the business that they have grown while being the owners. They thanked all of the Crown Electric employees for their hard work and dedication and know that the new owner will provide them new opportunities for growth. ​
Brent Smith has now retired from all activities and positions at Crown Electric, Inc.​
​
As of July 2023, Andrew Nickless has been named President of Crown Electric, Inc.
​
In September of 2024, sisters Meg Yargus and Anne Sheehy became majority shareholders in Hannig Construction, Inc. Larry Yargus is a shareholder. Meg Steward will be the new CEO of the company. We look forward to new opportunities this ownership change brings to the future of Crown Electric, Inc.
​
As of May1, 2025 Crown Electric, Inc. was awarded its certification as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) in the state of Indiana.
​
​