Desert View Systems looking to expand in the state
by Jayme Cook
This article first appeared in the August, 2017 issue of Electric Times, and is reprinted by permission. Tap Here to Visit the Electric Times Website.
It’s not often that a contractor gets to build up and own his own company twice, but that’s what happened with David (Mike) Scott, owner and president of Desert View Systems. What he and his wife, Debra, started as their business together in 1996 as Desert View Electric, is now Desert View Systems, located at 3152 N. Lear Avenue, Suite 1, in Casa Grande. The company specializes in commercial, industrial, and agricultural projects that cover the entire state of Arizona, and boasts a low voltage group as well as design build capabilities.
Desert View’s sizable client base and sterling reputation caught the interest of Interstates Construction, which in 2008, was working a massive agricultural project for Daisy Brand Foods. According to an Interstates newsletter, staffing in the then-rural town of Casa Grande became a significant issue, and after becoming acquainted with Desert View Electric, “it became clear that merging operations with Desert View would create something more than each of the firms could have accomplished separately in the area.”
Determining that Desert View Electric’s company mission and values were closely aligned with Interstates’ own, the construction company proposed to acquire the local electric contractor.
“It was a really tough decision,” said Scott. “Had it been any company other than Interstates, I don’t think we would have sold. We knew them to be a company with integrity and we still have a good working relationship with them to this day.”
Ultimately, Scott accepted Interstates’ offer in order to spend more quality time with his family, and to devote more time to volunteer in church activities. Interstates took on the entirety of Scott’s staff, save for the low voltage team that remained independent with Scott.
Fast-forward to five years after the acquisition and Scott reacquired the electrical division in 2013 under the name Desert View Systems. Inc. (DVS).
Scott, who said he sort of just fell into the electric industry because his father worked in it, confessed, “Believe it or not, I actually missed it.”
Though working low voltage jobs like fire alarm and security systems kept Scott and his team busy, he said he missed the ever-changing challenges of the industrial, commercial and agricultural electric work.
Michael Pool, who began work in the industry with Scott in the 1980s. took the position of vice-president of operations in 2013 when Desert View Systems was again able to open their electrical division.
“Fortunately, we were also able to get back the majority of our former employees as well as keep some of the Interstates team,” Scott explained. “With those key components in place, the company has continued to gain momentum and is again striving to build a team that is passionate about their work and committed to making a difference.”
One aspect of DVS’ success is the agricultural niche they have carved out for themselves. A particularly memorable project Scott recalled was a massive grain storage facility.
“When we were finished [with the electric work] on that project, the facility was capable of unloading and storing a 100-car train in less than 12 hours,” Scott recalled.
Scott said that generally he and his team go where the work is, though a rough idea of their service area is about an 80-mile radius from their home base in Casa Grande. Due to the amount of work the company has been doing in Arizona, a satellite office for the Phoenix area is currently underway. They also plan to open a satellite office in the northeast region, given he finds the right employees.
“A company is only as good as its employees, so we take the time to find the right people.” Scott said. “Our company philosophy has always been that we treat our employees and customers as good as family. If you are honest, fair, affordable, and offer a quality product, your customers will return.”
About 90 percent of DVS’ clientele is return customers. Scott said until recently, they’d never had the desire to advertise.
“We don’t even have the name of our company on our trucks,” he admitted, “but as we branch out further into the state, we need to get our name and our reputation out there.”
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