President Robert M. Garrett (center) and the RMG Electrical, Inc. team pictured in front of the company’s Houston office.

RMG Electrical, Inc. installs control wiring and instrumentation tubing on equipment for an original equipment manufacturer.

Robert M. Garrett, President of RMG Electrical, Inc. (RMG), has been an electrician for over 38 years. He first got into the industry while he was still in high school. A classmate’s father owned an electrical contracting company and asked if he wanted to help on the weekends.

“Even though it was grunt work, I liked it,” remembers Robert.

Two years of working weekends and summers during high school turned into a full-time job after graduation and, eventually, a fulfilling decadeslong career. Robert dedicated the first 10 years to training for his master electrician license. Finally, with his license in hand and seed money in the bank, Robert set off to start his own company.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, RMG is a fully licensed industrial and commercial electrical contractor that handles electrical installations, repairs and inspections. “We can do any type of electrical service,” explains Robert. “It can be something as small as installing or repairing lights or plugs in an office, or as large as designing, building and installing a 10,000-amp service to a building.”

Getting Technical

RMG also specializes in motor controls and automation. The firm works with companies that manufacture industrial equipment—including oilfield, offshore and hydraulic equipment—to design the electrical control portions of their systems. The control panels typically include a programmable logic controller (PLC) and a human-machine interface (HMI), such as a touchscreen.

In addition to designing, building, programming and installing these systems, RMG also handles the troubleshooting, support and repair of equipment in manufacturing facilities—even traveling as far as Saudi Arabia to oversee the factory acceptance test for a manufacturer of oil water separators.

“How many local contractors have traveled all the way to Saudi Arabia to support their customers?” asks Robert. “We have.”

RMG has also worked on a complete design, build, program and installation for a deep well injection site at RBC Energy Services in Victoria, Texas. The project included designing and building custom controls for equipment that would allow a user log in with a computer to check the system status and operate the equipment remotely. “We installed and wired everything, including underground motors and electrical—it was a turnkey system,” says Robert. “It showcased our automation capabilities combined with our licensed electrical contractor installation abilities.”

When Champion Fiberglass opened its newest pipe fabrication line in Houston, RMG installed all of the control wiring, working alongside other electrical contractors and automation firms on the project. For Robert, this level of teamwork is the key to success on any project. “RMG is more than just an electrical contractor on a job,” he says. “When we join a project, we’re part of the team—that’s the biggest difference.”

Although RMG’s specialization is in motor controls and automation, the company also works as a service contractor, meaning no project is too small. RMG will send a service truck out for something as simple as repairs to office lighting. The team’s scope also includes general electrical work for commercial and industrial customers, and the company is broadening its services to take on more construction-specific projects.

RMG has always avoided the residential market, choosing to focus on both commercial and industrial, the latter of which complemented their motor control and automation expertise. RMG is now working direct with Generac and is offering sales, installation and service as an authorized dealer for whole home residential generator needs. RMG will also continue to offer generators for commercial and industrial facilities as well.

Training the Best

One characteristic that Robert believes sets RMG apart from other electrical contractors is the team members’ technical expertise.

According to Robert, there are two types of electricians. The first type is a mechanical installer. “They simply install what they’re shown how to install, though they can still be very skilled at it,” explains Robert.

On the other hand, the second type of electrician understands the mathematical and technical reason behind their work and knows the correct national electrical code article to support it. “That’s the type of electrician we employ,” he says.

At the same time, RMG doesn’t necessarily hire people who already have this high level of expertise—instead, Robert personally trains his employees in a classroom environment, teaching them the skills and knowledge they need to be successful.

“You can’t necessarily hire people that know how to do this work. Even licensed electricians don’t necessarily understand motor controls.”

Robert focuses on providing the master electrician level courses that will help his team members better understand the trade. This approach to training has been a success. Alongside Robert, RMG has two additional master-level electricians, Corey Burgard and Jason Odom—both of whom have been with the company for close to 15 years. “I think that says a lot about our company,” says Robert.

‘For Quality, Call RMG’

Robert describes RMG as a smaller “niche” company, and he believes the size and focus allows his firm to hone in on elevating the quality of the work. “We’re able to focus on quality in a way that a company with hundreds of employees may not be able to,” he explains.

This emphasis on quality has recently made its way into RMG’s new slogan: “For quality, call RMG.”

And quality workmanship doesn’t only apply to the finished product or project. A self-described “perfectionist to a fault,” Robert instills in his team members the importance of maintaining neatness and order in their work. “You’re either a person that cares about everything being neat, straight and right, or you’re not.”

He cites the national electrical code, which says an electrician’s work is to be done in a neat and workman-like manner. “We focus on that.”

If a customer wants someone who truly cares about the work, Robert says RMG is the best answer. “We’re going to go above and beyond. We aren’t going to put profit above our reputation, and our employees know this. We aren’t going to cut corners.”

Steering the Way

As someone who spent the early years of his businesses as a one-man show, Robert is proud to now have a team of 12, whom he considers family. “Because we’re small, I think we work together well. It’s an odd family, but what family isn’t.”

He explains that when hiring, he hires for personality. “I look for people I would enjoy sitting down talking to in a casual setting.”

This approach has helped attract employees that blend well into the RMG family. The close-knit environment means team members are comfortable sharing ideas and making suggestions about the business—in fact, their input is encouraged, and Robert is happy to let them steer the way.

“I like supporting employees when they have ideas,” says Robert. “My goal is to let my employees take RMG where it’s going to go. There was a time when it was just me. Now the employees are driving the company.”