History

Connecting businesses with success since 1913.

1913

Since 1913, I.B. Abel has been focused on understanding our customers’ needs. By building relationships with our customers and understanding their businesses, we are able to provide the most practical and cost-effective solutions to the many electrical and communication challenges they face.

We are centrally located to serve the Mid-Atlantic Region, and have also traveled successfully to work with our customers in many other states around the country.

1920s

As the demand for electricity continued to grow, the Abel's expanded their business further into the electrical construction field.

1930s

I.B. Abel stayed active in the business until his retirement in 1934, when Norm Abel decided to concentrate on electrical engineering and construction, and stopped selling appliances.

1940s

I.B. Abel & Son continued to keep pace with the growth of Central Pennsylvania through the first half of the 20th century. A 1945 publication by the York Chamber of Commerce noted that I.B. Abel "had wired City Hall, eighty-five percent of all the churches, a number of schools, fifty percent of the banks, and eighty-five percent of all the stores in York."

1950s

In 1950 Norm Abel's brother-in-law, Kent Bushey, joined the company. Soon thereafter Mr. Bushey took over the operation of the business and eventually bought the company. Then in 1951 Mr. Bushey incorporated the business in the state of Pennsylvania, and with this, changed the name to what it is today (I.B. Abel, Inc.).

1960s - 1970s

As the world modernized, so did Central Pennsylvania and I.B. Abel Inc. Much of our current customer base is a direct result of the foundation built many decades ago. I.B. Abel has provided the electrical construction for many of the manufacturing facilities, commercial buildings, schools and hospitals in our area. Then we worked very closely over the years to help them continue to modernize and grow.

1980s

1980 was the first time the company would be sold and managed by someone not related to the man who founded it in 1913. This management still fosters the belief that the way to build and maintain a solid foundation for a service business is to build a relationship with our customers and to understand the value of those relationships.

In the 1980's we expanded our market to encompass most of Pennsylvania and the state of Maryland.

Late 1980s - 1990s

In the late 1980's and into the 1990's we realized the need to develop our capabilities in the Tele/data field. We wanted to position the company to expand and grow as rapidly as the Tele/data industry itself. At the same time we wanted to maintain our reputation of performing the highest quality work with the best trained people.

We purchased a small Tele/data company in 1995 and set up a division within I.B. Abel, Inc. With this acquisition we got a very experienced work force. Now we have in place a 3 year apprenticeship program to train our future technicians. Each year these apprentices will get 180 hours of classroom training as well as constant on the job training. This apprenticeship program is of the same quality as the 5 year program that our electricians have gone through for decades.

Early 2000s

We expanded our Utility Service Division into a full service provider of high voltage power delivery services to the electric utilities, private and government markets.

And beyond

Now we continue our mission to recognize and understand the present and future needs of you, our customers. I.B. Abel is committed to exceed your expectations in meeting these needs through a responsive ethical and dedicated association.