The Making it in Big Sky series is sponsored by the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce and written by the Explore Big Sky staff.
Encore Electric expanded to Montana in 2016 and brought their electrical construction, technology and maintenance expertise to Big sky in 2020. For this recent Making it in Big Sky, Explore Big Sky spoke with Bill Frye, who started in 2016 as a foreman and worked up to be the director of the Montana business unit, leading all of their work across the state of Montana.
Explore Big Sky: Let’s start with the history of Encore Electric—when did it expand to the Big Sky/southwest Montana area?
Bill Frye: Encore Electric was founded in 2003 by a group of electricians who wanted to put on a repeat performance, again and again, for our customers. We’ve grown as our customers have grown, and in that time, we have joined them as they’ve expanded their operations.
Our team has been working in Montana since 2016, and opened our first office in Big Sky in 2020. We currently have an office in Big Sky and one in Belgrade to serve our customers in the Southwest Montana area.
EBS: When did you become involved and what is your role with the company?
BF: I started with Encore Electric in March 2016 as a foreman. I’ve worked as a service account manager and operations manager with the team as well. Now, I am the director of the Montana business unit, where I lead teams on all of our work in Montana. We have an amazing group of talented people here at Encore Electric in Montana, and I’m proud to continue to lead them as they do great things day in and day out.
EBS: What services do you provide the Big Sky area and what is in highest demand right now?
BF: We provide many services in the Big Sky and Southwest Montana area, from electrical construction and technology solutions, all the way to electrical maintenance and service. We pride ourselves in providing all things power, technology and energy to all manner of electrical construction and service projects, and there’s no job too complex for us to handle.
EBS: How has the business changed over the years in our region?
BF: The tremendous growth in the area over the last 10 years has demanded more complex electrical solutions for these world class resorts and communities. This growth has brought many challenges to building in the area from lead times on equipment to competing for qualified resources to build projects.
EBS: What are some of Encore Electric’s core values as a company and what sets you apart?
BF: Encore Electric has a strong sense of civic and organizational pride, and those are embodied in our core values of People, Principle, Service, and Strength. Our team is dedicated to serving our customers and our legacy, and we operate not only to provide for our families and loved ones, but to serve the communities where we live and work, as well. We build complex projects, and we work hard to exceed our customers’ expectations.
EBS: What is the best business advice you’ve received that sticks with you today?
BF: People support what they help create. When building a team direction of the team isn’t as important as getting the “right” people in the “right” place on the team.