After more than a decade in the electrical trade, Jonathan Sheriff is finally flipping the switch on his own venture — Zap Electric.
The Owensboro-based business officially launched this year, but it’s been years in the making. Sheriff said the journey began nearly a decade ago when he entered the trades as a way to turn his life around.
“I’m a person in recovery,” he said. “I chose the trades because I knew they were accepting of a background — and I liked the work. I’ve always liked it.”
It takes eight years to earn a Master Electrician license, and Sheriff said opening his own business was always the goal. But more than being his own boss, he said the motivation came down to one thing: family.
“I’m all about spending more time with my kids and being there for my family,” Sheriff said. “I’m tired of missing dances and everything else. Starting a business gives me the freedom to put family first.”
Zapp Electric currently consists of Sheriff and two team members. While he still works full-time on a four-day rotation in the industrial sector, he dedicates his off days fully to growing the business. So far, he said, word of mouth has kept them busy — and he hasn’t even started advertising yet.
The company offers residential, commercial, and industrial services, with Sheriff noting that his strongest skillset lies in industrial work, including instrumentation and automation. Still, Zapp Electric is willing to tackle just about any project.
“Really, we do it all,” he said.
Though still new to the scene, Sheriff hopes to develop strong partnerships within the local business community — whether that’s subcontracting, collaborating, or simply building trusted relationships.
“The hope is to get with other business owners in the community and build relationships,” he said.
Sheriff said integrity and honesty are at the core of his work. While he doesn’t promise the cheapest price in town, he said he offers competitive rates that reflect the value and seriousness of the work.
“Most electricians take the same amount of pride in their work because we have to,” he said. “If you mess up, something could catch fire or worse. So we do things the right way.”
Sheriff is also passionate about encouraging young people to consider the trades. His own son recently started college and will begin working alongside him to start the apprenticeship process.
“My kids can all become journeymen or master electricians themselves,” Sheriff said. “They’ll never have to go into debt for a college education and can still make almost as much as a doctor.”
For now, Sheriff is focused on building a name in the community.
“I just want to put the name out there as an option,” he said. “That’s my goal.”
Those interested in Zap Electric’s services can reach Sheriff directly at (270) 485-3025. For more, visit the company’s Facebook page.
The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for over a century.
Today, with nearly 1,000 members, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.
To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Kitty Jones, director of membership, at 270-926-1860 or kjones@owensboro.com.
By: John Kirkpatrick