When Kristen and Lee Lewis look at the business they’ve built in West Virginia, it’s hard to believe how quickly it all came together. In just a few short years, the husband-and-wife team has grown their Mister Sparky Electric franchise into a thriving operation with roughly 25 employees, all while redefining what it means to be an electrician in their community.
Lee began as a journeyman electrician before becoming an instructor in the field, a role that ultimately sparked a passion for teaching. That path led him to earn a master’s degree in education. Kristen, meanwhile, spent her career in nursing — a profession she loved, but one that was both demanding and exhausting.
“I was having a rough day at work, and Lee came to meet me at lunch and told me that he was considering this franchise,” she said. “That started our conversations with the brand.”
The Lewises had long recognized a need for reliable electrical services in their area. In fact, they had joked about starting their own electrical business before. But the reality of running a company felt overwhelming.
“We were not businesspeople, so we had no idea how to run a business,” Kristen said. “That was what was so appealing about the franchise. They give you a guide.”
That structure became a deciding factor. “While I’m not a businessperson, I can follow instructions,” she said. “There is guidance on every facet of the business. What better way to do it than to follow this guide for success?”
Initially, the plan was for Kristen to leave nursing and run the business full time, while Lee continued working elsewhere. That plan changed fast.
“Within the first three months, we were seeing more demand than we expected,” Kristen said. “At that point, it made sense for Lee to come on board full time and step away from his previous role.”
They officially launched their Mister Sparky Electric franchise in July 2022. Since then, they’ve tapped into the brand’s systems, training, and customer-first approach backed by Authority Brands.
Beyond the systems and structure, Kristen said the people behind the brand made a lasting impression. “It was very apparent very early on that these were all our type of people,” she said. “The camaraderie and the support were so important. ”
That sense of warmth and accessibility helped the Lewises take the leap into business ownership with confidence. “The warmth around this brand was what we needed to go on this crazy journey with,” she said.
Today, Kristen leads the business with a mission that goes far beyond revenue growth. “This is my favorite job we’ve ever had,” she said. “And I loved being a nurse more than anything in this world. I never thought I had made the wrong career choice — but this is my favorite thing I’ve ever done.”
From the beginning, the couple focused on two core goals: creating a workplace people are proud to be part of and becoming a trusted resource for the community.
“We wanted to build a place where people are really proud to work and be a part of — a sustainable resource that can grow and give employees a good living,” Kristen said. “We also wanted to build that same resource for the community — a reliable place people can call on during tough times.”
That mission has delivered tangible results. “Three years in, it’s been incredibly rewarding to see what that effort has led to,” she said. “We have young electricians earning competitive salaries and taking real pride in where they work. They’re building meaningful careers, supporting their families and delivering a high level of service to our community.”
Kristen pointed to emergency response efforts, including providing electrical services during Hurricane Helene last year, as some of the most meaningful moments of their journey.
“That is incredibly rewarding,” she said. “I love coming to work every day.”
Under the Lewises’ joint leadership, the business has become known for more than just technical expertise. “We have redefined our industry to the point where we are so much more than what people expect when they hire an electrician,” Kristen said.
At the heart of that shift is pride in the trade, in the team, and in the work itself. “We’ve created a place where we really focus on the pride of being an electrician,” she said. “This is what you chose to do because this is what you are good at.”
Looking ahead, growth remains a key focus. “We are very growth-driven here. We always want to grow,” Kristen said. “My goal is to continue replicating exactly what we have here all over the East Coast. Our work matters. And we are really proud of what we have done.”
For more information, visit: https://1851franchise.com/mister-sparky-electric.
Mister Sparky Electric
SPONSORED
Kristen and Lee Lewis, a husband-and-wife team in West Virginia, are turning their entrepreneurial passion into a rapidly expanding, mission-driven business that is elevating the electrical trade.
When Kristen and Lee Lewis look at the business they’ve built in West Virginia, it’s hard to believe how quickly it all came together. In just a few short years, the husband-and-wife team has grown their Mister Sparky Electric franchise into a thriving operation with roughly 25 employees, all while redefining what it means to be an electrician in their community.
Lee began as a journeyman electrician before becoming an instructor in the field, a role that ultimately sparked a passion for teaching. That path led him to earn a master’s degree in education. Kristen, meanwhile, spent her career in nursing — a profession she loved, but one that was both demanding and exhausting.
“I was having a rough day at work, and Lee came to meet me at lunch and told me that he was considering this franchise,” she said. “That started our conversations with the brand.”
The Lewises had long recognized a need for reliable electrical services in their area. In fact, they had joked about starting their own electrical business before. But the reality of running a company felt overwhelming.
“We were not businesspeople, so we had no idea how to run a business,” Kristen said. “That was what was so appealing about the franchise. They give you a guide.”
That structure became a deciding factor. “While I’m not a businessperson, I can follow instructions,” she said. “There is guidance on every facet of the business. What better way to do it than to follow this guide for success?”
Initially, the plan was for Kristen to leave nursing and run the business full time, while Lee continued working elsewhere. That plan changed fast.
“Within the first three months, we were seeing more demand than we expected,” Kristen said. “At that point, it made sense for Lee to come on board full time and step away from his previous role.”
They officially launched their Mister Sparky Electric franchise in July 2022. Since then, they’ve tapped into the brand’s systems, training, and customer-first approach backed by Authority Brands.
Beyond the systems and structure, Kristen said the people behind the brand made a lasting impression. “It was very apparent very early on that these were all our type of people,” she said. “The camaraderie and the support were so important. ”
That sense of warmth and accessibility helped the Lewises take the leap into business ownership with confidence. “The warmth around this brand was what we needed to go on this crazy journey with,” she said.
Today, Kristen leads the business with a mission that goes far beyond revenue growth. “This is my favorite job we’ve ever had,” she said. “And I loved being a nurse more than anything in this world. I never thought I had made the wrong career choice — but this is my favorite thing I’ve ever done.”
From the beginning, the couple focused on two core goals: creating a workplace people are proud to be part of and becoming a trusted resource for the community.
“We wanted to build a place where people are really proud to work and be a part of — a sustainable resource that can grow and give employees a good living,” Kristen said. “We also wanted to build that same resource for the community — a reliable place people can call on during tough times.”
That mission has delivered tangible results. “Three years in, it’s been incredibly rewarding to see what that effort has led to,” she said. “We have young electricians earning competitive salaries and taking real pride in where they work. They’re building meaningful careers, supporting their families and delivering a high level of service to our community.”
Kristen pointed to emergency response efforts, including providing electrical services during Hurricane Helene last year, as some of the most meaningful moments of their journey.
“That is incredibly rewarding,” she said. “I love coming to work every day.”
Under the Lewises’ joint leadership, the business has become known for more than just technical expertise. “We have redefined our industry to the point where we are so much more than what people expect when they hire an electrician,” Kristen said.
At the heart of that shift is pride in the trade, in the team, and in the work itself. “We’ve created a place where we really focus on the pride of being an electrician,” she said. “This is what you chose to do because this is what you are good at.”
Looking ahead, growth remains a key focus. “We are very growth-driven here. We always want to grow,” Kristen said. “My goal is to continue replicating exactly what we have here all over the East Coast. Our work matters. And we are really proud of what we have done.”
For more information, visit: https://1851franchise.com/mister-sparky-electric.
Sign up for the 1851 Franchise newsletter to get our biggest stories before everyone else
By signing up, you agree to our user agreement (including class action waiver and arbitration provisions), and acknowledge our privacy policy.
No related articles found
