Since its founding 36 years ago, Lynnfield, Massachusetts-based subcontractor JM Electrical Co. has grown significantly in size and scope, from a firm of two employees to a staff of 180.

The family-owned company recently completed its 20,000th project, a control system installation in a gene therapy lab for Sarepta Therapeutics in Andover, Massachusetts.

The subcontractor got its start on the Boston Marriott project in Copley Square, and has since done electrical work for other major Boston projects including the Millennium Tower and the Seaport District as well as projects at Cambridge Crossing (shown above) and Kendall Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The firm completed its first 10,000 jobs in its first 27 years in operation and the next 10,000 in the following nine years.

JM Electrical specializes in building control and automation projects, which make up 80% of its business. Its clients are colleges and universities, corporate headquarters, hotels, hospitals and companies in the burgeoning life sciences sector in the greater Boston area.

Founder Paul Guarracino’s sons currently serve in the company’s leadership — Matthew Guarracino as principal and CEO, John Guarracino as principal and COO and Andrew Guarracino as an assistant project manager.

“Our niche has been really big controls and building automation systems since inception,” Matthew Guarracino said. “And we do dabble in some other things, but we stick to what we know and we try and refine what we know, we try to do it better. We're not looking to be a one stop shop for all electrical services. What we're looking to do is focus on our core competency, do it the best we can and deliver the best service we can to customers in that market.”

Over time, the firm has incorporated new technologies and gained a focus on sustainability — many of its projects earn LEED certification.

“The Boston market has just blown up, [and] we've felt it's been our obligation to support our customers to the best of our ability, and doing so that's forced us to grow,” Matthew Guarracino said.

The firm recently invested in a warehouse prefabrication facility in Woburn, Massachusetts. According to a company press release, this move will allow the contractor to assemble many of its components offsite, reduce its project completion timelines and offer a faster and more efficient assembly process in tandem with the site build that is not subject to weather delays.

The company also expects that its factory expansion will allow it to hire additional staff and expand its apprenticeship program, including its partnership with the training program at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 103 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. 

“Given that there's limited capacity with technicians in the greater Boston area, we've seen the need in the market to start prefab,” Guarracino says. “So we bought this facility, and now we're growing our prefabrication and warehouse activities to help better serve the market."