BOCKMON & WOODY ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC.

Underground Division Continues Growth & Success with the Help of Quality Case Construction Equipment

By Ian Hoover, Editor

Bockmon & Woody Electric Co., Inc. (Bockmon & Woody), started as Bockmon & Womble Electric when Glen G. Bockmon and Harold Womble teamed up to establish the corporation in 1955. Glen G. Bockmon retired in 1984, making his son, Glen A. Bockmon, a partner. In 1990 when Harold Womble retired, Gary E. Woody became a partner and together Bockmon and Woody was established, and they pushed the company to new heights. Woody had been working for Bockmon & Womble for 17 years as a senior foreman. He was joined by partners Jeff and Greg Bockmon when Glen A. retired in 1999. All three partners, Gary E., Jeff, and Greg, began their careers as shop helpers and learned the electrical business from the bottom up. In 2014, Gary E. Woody’s sons, Gary M. and Nick, joined the partnership. They also worked their way up from shop helpers, to working in the field, and eventually management. Gary M. graduated from the University of Oregon with a Business degree and is currently VP/chief estimator. Nick graduated with a business degree from California State University, Sacramento, while working summers for Bockmon & Woody and is now VP/superintendent.

David Renfrow is the underground superintendent for Bockmon & Woody and is responsible for supervising eight to 15 digging crews on multiple projects each day. “When I started at Bockmon & Woody five years ago, the partners were interested in diversifying and starting a directional boring division. We all met with the common goal to eventually begin performing all of our underground work,” says Renfrow. “In the past, we hired owner-operators to come in and do the trenching, digging, and augering, but thought it would be better to develop our own fleet and invest heavily into our underground division. The new division has been a profitable and successful endeavor for the company.”

Bockmon & Woody Electric Co. operator William Morales on a Case 580 Super N digging to install electrical conduits at Franklin High School’s football stadium in Stockton.

Renfrow says that Bockmon & Woody specializes in commercial and industrial electrical projects throughout Northern California. “From Bakersfield to the Oregon border and Tahoe to the ocean. We perform all of our own trenching, directional boring, and any other excavation duties,” continues Renfrow. “From open trenching on electrical conduit jobs and digging to install electrical pipe, maintenance holes and vaults, to excavating for solar projects, our crews do it all in-house. We also self-perform other disciplines like demolition, patch paving, and concrete replacement, when the job calls for those services.” Bockmon & Woody is signatory to the operators, laborers, and electricians International Union.

Bockmon & Woody’s underground division is currently working on several projects, including rebuilding the football field and facilities at Franklin High School in Stockton. “Our crews are installing an entirely new athletic facility at Franklin High School. This includes a new synthetic turf field, bleachers, concession stand, restrooms, lighting and all electrical,” says Renfrow. “We have a Case backhoe and mini excavator on-site that are kept busy digging trench each day. This is a great example of how having an in-house underground division can make us more efficient through greater vertical integration.”

The work going on at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is another excellent example of how vital an underground division is to the everyday jobs Bockmon & Woody face each day. “We are upgrading the electrical system on two entire blocks by installing high-voltage electrical lines within the interior of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Our underground crew is using a Case backhoe and skid steer to dig electrical conduit, maintenance holes, and cable holes, along with some demolition and asphalt patch paving.” The company is also working at the Port of Stockton, installing a new round-about intersection and interchange that crosses over the San Joaquin River and into the Port. “We are augering holes for new light foundations and a new traffic signal,” says Renfrow. “The Case skid steer is equipped with a trencher and augering attachment that makes the workflow so much more productive.”

Bockmon & Woody Electric Co. operator Ryan Ramsey on a Case 580 Super N digging for installment of conduit for street lights and traffic signal for a new roundabout at the Port of Stockton.

Bockmon & Woody is also in the midst of a trenching and directional boring project at the University of Pacific (UOP), in Stockton. They are installing solar panels and infrastructure throughout the student and employee parking lots. “We are utilizing several Case machines on this project, including two backhoes, a skid steer and a mini excavator. Our underground crew is digging trench and performing directional boring as needed to install the electrical for the solar systems,” continues Renfrow. “They are using backhoes to auger holes for parking lot light poles and a skid steer for the patch paving areas, among other duties.” Bockmon & Woody is working on another solar project at the San Joaquin County Landfill, where they are using their Case machines to install new electrical infrastructure.

When Bockmon & Woody decided to form an underground division five years ago, they knew that they would have a choice in what type and brand of heavy equipment would go into their fleet. “We are longtime Case construction equipment users and have been dealing with Sonsray Machinery since they took over the territory as well as with the local Case store before that time. Bockmon & Woody purchased their first Case backhoe in 2001, and our operators are very familiar with and love operating all of the Case machines,” says Renfrow. “We have a Sonsray dealership right here in town that maintains an excellent parts inventory, has a tremendous service department, and is always a pleasure to work with on and off the job site. Whether we need them out in the field or are dropping a machine off for routine maintenance, we know that we will get friendly, efficient service.”

Above & Below: Bockmon & Woody Electric Co. operator Jesse Garcia using Case TR310 compact track loader and Case CX31B mini excavator purchased from Sonsray Machinery working on a solar canopy project at University of the Pacific.

Renfrow says that owning over renting has many advantages. “In a rental situation, you don’t know what you are going to get from job to job. Owning and maintaining an in-house fleet keeps our operators with the Case equipment they are familiar with and prefer. Our Case equipment comes available with pilot controls and a pattern changer valve that allows them to run with a choice of either backhoe or excavator controls,” says Renfrow. “We are currently working with our Sonsray representative, Mike Titus, to purchase a new Case CX130 mid-sized excavator and will need at least one more Case backhoe and two new Case skid steer loaders before the end of the year. Mike is an extraordinary asset for both Sonsray and Case. He is very familiar with the entire Case product line and the precise capabilities of each machine. Mike is very hands-on and easy to get ahold of when you need him.” Bockmon & Woody currently owns seven Case Super N backhoes, two Case mini excavators, and several Case skid steer track loaders. They also own other nonCase machines that include trenchers, telescopic forklifts, scissor lifts, and a large inventory of trucks, trailers, and attachments.

Renfrow says that they are expecting to remain very busy throughout 2022. “Ever since Jan. 1, we have been nonstop full steam ahead,” continues Renfrow. “We are completely booked to the end of the year and already bidding jobs for 2022.” Bockmon & Woody Electric Company, Inc. is currently operating with a staff of approximately 160 highly trained International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) electricians, operating engineers, laborers and management staff. The company remains diverse as they continue their growth and expansion. For more information on Bockmon & Woody Electric Company, Inc., visit bockmonwoody.com or call their Stockton corporate office at (209) 464-4878. Cc