Dennis Harter Named President of Kaiser Electric
Date Posted: January 28, 2025
Posted In: News, Organizations, People,
One of St. Louis’ largest electrical contractors, Kaiser Electric, is kicking off 2025 with new leadership. Dennis Harter, a 26-year veteran of the electrical industry, has been named president of Kaiser Electric. He succeeds Ken Naumann, who is stepping into an advisory role as president emeritus of Kaiser. He will also serve on the firm’s board of directors. Harter will manage day-to-day operations of the firm, which employs 30 office staff, including engineers, project managers and accountants, and 120 IBEW Local 1 electricians and communication technicians in the field. Kaiser is reporting revenues of about $46 million in 2024, one of its best years ever.
“In Dennis’ last five years as vice president of operations, he has brought a great deal of operational efficiencies to Kaiser Electric,” noted Naumann, who served as president of Kaiser since 2014. “We have worked closely together to fortify staffing to support our work in the field and deliver ever more complex projects. I am confident that with Dennis’ energy, skill and innovative spirit, Kaiser will continue to reach new heights of success.”
Naumann also noted that Harter’s veteran status has enabled Kaiser to receive certification as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVE), opening up additional opportunities.”
Harter served in the U.S Navy and U.S. Army, including deployment Kosovo and Afghanistan. Like Naumann and Mike Casey, project manager and Kaiser’s third shareholder, Harter began his career in the electrical industry as an IBEW Local 1 electrician completing his apprenticeship at the IBEW/NECA Electrical Industry Training Center. He has been with Kaiser Electric for nine years.
“We have a close-knit culture and are not burdened by bureaucracy,” said Harter. “That enables everyone to be on the same page and learn from every project. It energizes continuous innovation to deliver the best outcomes for our customers.”
Kaiser performs a great deal of work for the healthcare industry and is a member and annual sponsor of the Missouri Society for Healthcare Engineering (MOSHE). It also does significant work for industrial and commercial enterprises. Among Kaiser’s most recent benchmark projects are:
- SSM Saint Louis University Hospital new acute care center;
- Washington University School of Medicine IOH Vertical Expansion Lab fit out; and
- Boeing Building 65, SIL South Expansion.
Founded in 1952, Kaiser Electric is perennially listed as one of the region’s largest electrical contractors by the St. Louis Business Journal. The firm has been honored six times in the AGC Construction Keystone Awards, most recently in 2018 for its work on the Emergency Generator at St. Mary’s Hospital for SSM Health. It also has been saluted for best practices by the St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers and in St. Louis Construction News and Review’s (CNR)’s Regional Excellence Awards. The American Subcontractors Association (ASA) Midwest Council has bestowed eight safety awards to Kaiser.
Based in Fenton, Mo., Kaiser Electric is a full-service electrical and communications contractor for commercial and industrial clients. It provides electrical design, construction and maintenance.