Ryan Lane, foreman at Santon Electric, outside the Salem Shepherd of the Valley assisted living space.

Santon Electric, MG Electric double the expertise for Shepherd of the Valley project

Major progress has been made at the Shepherd of the Valley senior living complex in Salem, and Santon Electric and MG Electric are member electrical contractors tied to different pieces of the project.

Santon Electric has been on site since September 2025, when much of the work centered on underground electrical infrastructure.

“It came down to using about 26,000 feet of four-inch conduit across the property,” said Ryan Lane, foreman, Santon Electric.

Santon Electric truck outside one of the 12 villas at Shepherd of the Valley in Salem where the company did work.
Inside villa at Shepherd of the Valley in Salem.

Lighting up quality living

Recently, the focus shifted to site lighting and completing the first 12 of 36 independent villas on the property.

An open house was held in mid-September to give the community a first look, with residents moving in since then.

MG Electric has been working between the clubhouse, assisted living and independent living buildings.

“We usually have about 12 electricians on site. Six are working in the clubhouse, and the others are roughing in the assisted living building,” said Mark Gentile, vice president, MG Electric.

MG Electric trailer outside the assisted living building for Shepherd of the Valley - where electrical contractors are working at the property.
MG Electric is moving between work at the assisted living building, clubhouse and independent living complex.

About 140 light poles are planned throughout the property, but installing them takes some strategy as construction moves through different phases.

Santon Electric can install pole bases in future construction areas but is holding off on setting some of the actual poles until cranes and other heavy equipment are out of the way.

“If we don’t wait, those poles would just get destroyed,” Lane said.

Lane welcomes that adjustment over battling the elements like earlier in the project.

“The winter was tough. Dealing with the snow, ice and mud. That’s the worst.”

Light pole installed on the Shepherd of the Valley property in Salem.
Apprentices with Santon Electric working on setting a light pole.

Designed for changing needs

MG Electric’s work at the clubhouse is well underway and has started to come together.

“The details are incredible. It’s going to be a state-of-the-art building,” Gentile said.

Electricians have started roughing in the assisted living building, and the three-story independent living complex is still in the beginning stages.

Amenities for residents will include an on-site restaurant, theater, fitness center, pickleball court, walking paths and more.

“We plan to be the complete continuum of care on this campus, and there’s nothing like it in Salem,” said Lauren Flauto, director of marketing, sales and communication, Shepherd of the Valley.

The complex is designed to give residents different living and care options as their needs change. It’s expected to be completed by summer 2028, and plans also include a future skilled nursing and rehabilitation building.

“When people call us, they say, ‘Salem really needed this’,” she said.

Wide shot of the clubhouse and space where restaurant, theater, fitness center, and more will be located.
Amenities on the property include a clubhouse, restaurant, theater and fitness center.
Early stages of the independent living complex where MG Electric will be doing work.
Three-story independent living complex in early stages of development.

Coordination closes the circuit

With multiple buildings, contractors and trades working across the property, communication has been an important part of the job.

Lane said project meetings are held twice a week, while the relationship between Santon and MG also helps with everyday issues in the field.

If one contractor is short on a piece of material, the other can sometimes step in to help.

“We’d just have to ask them for it, and the reply was always, ‘Just replace it tomorrow’,” Lane said with a laugh.

Gentile echoed the strong working relationship between the contractors and credited DeSalvo Construction for the planning and organization needed to keep a project of this size moving.

Manpower is another piece of that coordination. Gentile said schedules have to be watched closely as MG balances Shepherd of the Valley with other active projects.

“The good thing about IBEW is, if we need a few more people, we can make the call and get them there,” he said.

Wide shot of Shepherd of the Valley in Salem where electrical contractors Santon Electric and MG Electric are working on different parts of the complex.
The Shepherd of the Valley complex in Salem is expected to be completed by summer 2028.

Leaving an electrical legacy

Projects like Shepherd of the Valley carry an impact that goes well beyond the construction site. As communities look for more ways to support older residents, developments offering independent living, assisted living and future care options can help people remain connected to the places they call home.

For Santon Electric and MG Electric, that means the conduit, lighting and electrical systems being installed today will support a community designed to serve residents for years to come.

“It’s going to be great for the community,” Gentile said. “This is the kind of legacy project that shows the impact our contractors can have in the Mahoning Valley.”

Fittingly, the name of the road leading to the Shepherd of the Valley campus is Legacy Lane, located off of North Ellsworth Avenue.

“It’s pretty amazing to see how far this has come, and it’s going to be something special for this area,” Lane said.

Santon Electric and MG Electric are member contractors of NECA-IBEW Electricians, an association consisting of IBEW Local 64 in Youngstown, IBEW Local 573 in Warren and signatory electrical contractors throughout the Mahoning Valley.

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