Scott Coates
 |
2017
Scott Coates
Business
Class of 1971
Scott Coates, class of 1971, went from the halls of Beatrice High School to being CEO of a company he founded. Coates Electrical and Instrumentation Inc. (CE&I) is a full-service electrical contractor specializing in industrial electrical, communications, instrumentation, power, and control systems.
He started his company in 1994. Prior to 1994, leaving nothing to chance, Scott began learning business law and accounting principles. He began training his first apprentices, Jason Coates, and Shawn Lueders, who later became founding members of the corporation. Scott, Jason & Shawn began wiring small residential remodels and service projects on nights and weekends. This was the beginning of what would prove to be a powerful collaboration of their efforts.
During these first few small projects, the three of them started wiring custom homes and learned their first valuable lessons, which have helped to form the efficient business model the corporation utilizes today. In April of 1996, Scott started working for the business full time and two weeks later Jason and Shawn joined him.
Over the years they have tried to read the ever-changing market and predict where the greatest opportunities would be. This has led them from construction of industrial mining installations to wiring homes, remodeling grocery stores, building new stores, automation, integration, chemical weapons destruction, robotic control, handling of hazardous & nuclear waste, building and remodeling of schools, churches, theaters, maintaining oil refineries, constructing hydrogen and industrial gas plants, and many other applications of power, automation, integration, and control.
As the company has grown many key individuals have been helpful to their success. Coates is proud to have created a highly successful and skilled team to meet the needs of his customers.
In addition, he and his wife Leslee started Coates for Kids. In 2005 Coates Electrical donated new coats and gloves for 34 children. The program continued to grow and in 2015 the program was able to provide 2,500 children with new warm coats and mittens.