Lampton Electric fulfills the bill as a family affair

Mike, left, and Travis Ferreira work together on an exterior light pole. Mike is the adopted son and one of the dozen children of Travis and Jona Ferreira, owners of Lampton Electric. Mike is a student at Moberly Area Community College, and works with his father in the electrical trade. Contributed photo.

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

Travis Ferreira, a licensed electrician, and his wife, Jona Ferreira, are parents to a dozen children, ranging in age from 31 to 12. They have a blended family, one might say, with children biologically linked to either Travis or Jona, or both, and others connected via the heart.

Travis, a veteran employee of Lampton Electric, had his large family in mind on the day - more than a half dozen years ago - when Larry Lampton approached him with a proposition: Would Travis be interested in buying out the long-established Hannibal-based family-owned electrical business?

Travis himself rose up through the ranks of the electrical trade under the tutelage of Larry Lampton. Now, two decades into his career, and with a bevy of young people in his family fast approaching time to enter into the workforce, an opportunity appeared before him.

He envisioned the chance to train his offspring in the career path that he himself followed.

After careful contemplation, he and Jona decided to take the leap. They purchased Lampton Electric, keeping the name and contact information the same in order to be able to best serve both past and future customers.

Travis supervises the electrical work and Jona manages the scheduling and bookkeeping.

Three sons are working in the electrical business; one more will graduate this year.

Ultimately, “We would love for all our kids to work for us in various aspects of our life,” Jona said, whether it be in the electrical business or in other future business endeavors.

Lampton Electric is primarily - but not exclusively - residential-based.

“We get calls from lights that are out, to breakers that are tripped,” Travis said. A lot of time people want something new. “We’re changing out old fuse panels, upgrading, rewiring old houses. We do a lot of pole light work for shopping centers and restaurants; we do work for McDonald’s, they may have a new egg cooker” to install.

“We can do about anything,” he said. As an example, “We just installed radon pumps in a ladies’ basement.

“Anything that needs electric work, we will do it,” big or small. “Sometimes we change lightbulbs for people.”

“I do most of the calls,” Travis said, “the service type work; I go do that. Usually on Fridays I will do bids.

“I do the trouble shooting; that’s one of my favorite things. Figuring out why it doesn’t work and making it work.”

Jona is enjoying her role with the electrical business. Prior to working for their family’s business “I never found my passion, except for the kids.” Along their foster journey, she said, they fostered 70 kids in 16 years.

Travis Ferreira started at Lampton Electric in December 1999.

“I drove a truck before that. Larry (literally) picked me up off the street and said he needed an extra set of hands.

“I worked beside Larry; he would tell me exactly what I needed to do and I would go do it. After five or six years he sent me on jobs. I knew what the codes were. It became second nature.”

Over the years, “I learned everything; and I like the work, it is both physical and mental. I like using my head. There are calculations involved. I liked it. I stuck with it. 

“I fell into the electrical trade, and it was something I enjoyed doing; I didn’t hate it.” Prior to 1999, when he started working for Larry Lampton, “Most jobs I did for the money.

“I still get up and get ready to go to work every morning. Most people hate their job. Larry gave me a chance and I think it worked out for his benefit. I’m a good worker; maybe I called in sick once in 20 years. I may not feel good, but I’m not going to miss work. He had customers that depended on me.

“It has been a blessing,” Travis said.

He never thought he would end up where he is today. “I never had a thought in my head to become an electrician.”

His first career choice was to become a professional baseball player. When that didn’t pan out, he tried his hand at various professions.

One, he readily admits, stands out as the worst job he ever hand.

“When I got out of high school in Waterloo, Iowa, my mom had a friend who owned a septic service. They owned 240 ‘porta potties,’ and my job was to clean out the potties. I didn’t like that. Nastiest job I ever had.”

He currently has three sons working in the business, Trevor Anderson, Ray Ferreira and Mike Ferreira. Also working for the Ferreiras is a long-time Lampton employee, Mike Tatman, who has been with the company for 25 years.

In addition, Travis said, “My son Zach is going to school to be an electrician. He’s medically retired from Army and lives in Monroe City, working at Watlow part time. I hope (eventually) he will be back to work for me.”