John Rafoth had just finished an electrical engineering technology degree from YSU and was about to move to Florida to start a pressure washing business. Instead, he applied to the electrician apprenticeship program before leaving. He decided if he was accepted into the program, he would stay in town.
Having worked through high school for a lighting maintenance company, he’d already gotten a first-hand taste of the trade, as well as some foundational skills. That helped him get accepted into the commercial electrician program through the Youngstown Area Electrical JATC, the first year it had been expanded to five years.
“It was great training for me; great schooling all around,” he said.
Each year he was assigned field work with a different local electrical contractor, and after topping out while working with Tri-Area Electric he accepted a position there.
“I stayed with them eight or nine years and realized I was ready to make a go of it on my own,” he said.
Affirming his entrepreneurial aspirations, a chance meeting with a friend of his brother’s in 2000 led to a job wiring a custom new construction home; an 18-month gig that would kickstart his new business, Rafoth Electric.
When that project was done, a connection of his at Old North Church in Canfield hired him to wire a building addition there, which kept him busy for nine more months. And right after that he moved on to a job on a dormitory renovation at Kent State University.
Thanks to positive word-of-mouth and a steady stream of work since then, Rafoth has made a successful business for himself.
“I’ve been very fortunate, and that first customer of mine is still a customer today,” he said.
Most of Rafoth’s work is commercial; specifically service work. Included in his fleet is a bucket truck that he uses for parking lot lighting maintenance, such as at the Southern Park Mall.
He said 80 percent of his work is repeat customers.
John Rafoth parlayed an 18-month project on a custom home 18 years ago into a successful electrical contractor business based in Canfield. Eighty percent of his business, he says, are repeat customers.
“I’ve got somewhere to go every day,” Rafoth said. “If you treat customers right, and you are professional, they’ll keep calling you.”
Rafoth Electric is part of the NECA-IBEW Electricians member contractors. Not only does he get value from being part of that organization with continuing education and code update opportunities, but he said it also adds credibility to his business.
“It’s a collegial environment among the members and we do a good job looking out for one another,” he said. “I’ve seen contractors share resources among each other when needed, and I for one can say I’ve gotten good referral work from other contractors.”