‘Happy Crew, Happy You’
Marco Sylvester and JMES Electric Find Their Sweet Spot
“Happy Crew, Happy You” is the motto of JMES Electric, and it comes from founder and owner Marco Sylvester. For Marco, the quote expresses the company’s focus on each employee’s well-being and voice – the right formula for what he calls a “bulletproof team chemistry.”
Marco was barely out of high school – only 18 – when he was offered the opportunity to join Local 103. That was back in 2013.
“I took advantage of the opportunity given to me immediately,” Sylvester said. “My uncle is a signatory contractor, so I worked for him to start and ended up working for several shops. Once I obtained my electrical license, I wanted to pursue my own dream.”
Sylvester took the plunge, founding JM Electrical Services (JMES Electric) in 2018. The company started small, focusing on your basic residential service calls – light installs, plugs, small fixes, etc. He signed with Local 103 to become a signatory contractor in 2020. At the time, the company had only three or four employees. Within two years, the JMES payroll peaked at just under 50.
Today, JMES operates with a carefully structured team: an Operations Manager, Project Manager, Assistant Estimator, and Warehouse Manager supporting a field staff of 15–30 electricians. The firm’s focus has moved on from residential to commercial and government renovation-style projects ranging from 1,500 to 60,000 square feet, with project values typically between $30,000 and $2 million.
The JMES touch lights up varied locations all over Boston and its surrounding neighborhoods, from the United States Post Office at Woburn Center Station to the Boston Seaport to glam retail spots on Newbury Street and Copley Plaza, among other areas in and around Greater Boston. Each new collaboration has strengthened their reputation for quality and professionalism. “We’ve grown to be a trustworthy commercial electrical subcontractor,” Marco says.
Looking at the company’s timeline, it’s impossible not to notice that its formative years coincide with the COVID epidemic, one of the most uncertain economic periods in recent history. Far from hindering the business, circumstances presented an unexpected opportunity.
“During COVID, a lot of people were doing renovations to their houses,” Sylvester said, “and we were able to gather the financial resources needed to move into commercial projects.”
The work was there, but meeting the demand proved extraordinarily challenging for the young entrepreneur.
“Marco worked about 90 to 120 hours a week. He didn’t stop,” says Operations Manager Nikki Foley, noting that for more than two years, Marco managed the field, office, estimating, and administration himself. Lacking any formal business training, Marco learned by doing, making his share of mistakes but always walking away smarter and prepared for the next challenge. “I just kind of taught myself—sink or swim,” he said. “As time went on, I identified tasks that needed to get done, documented them, and made sure they were implemented into future projects.”
Nikki, who joined the company just over three years ago, continues to be inspired by Marco’s drive and work ethic. After years working in the corporate healthcare space and being stuck in a narrow role, she was energized by the opportunity to grow with a small company and “wear different hats,” she says. “Marco saw what I could do. I love this company as if it were my own.”
Together, Marco, Nikki, and their team of electricians have successfully built capital, relationships, and credibility—laying the groundwork for an expanded portfolio of corporate retail and federal work.
JMES has proven it can scale—executing approximately $12.1 million in contracts in 2024 and $14.1 million in contracts in 2025. Year-to-date, the company holds $4.7 million in contracts. But Marco’s aim is to maintain a sustainable size and structure -- 20 to 25 employees and annual revenues of $7 to $10 million.
Nikki agrees. “That seems to be the sweet spot—where we can have a good hold on everything and have everything run smoothly.”
A wise approach, given today’s intensely competitive market for electricians in the Boston area, especially for smaller shops looking to win bids against larger firms. But the JMES leadership has no intention of ceding ground. The company has leaned into relationship-building and professional development through NECA Boston programs and training courses for its staff.
At the center of JMES’ success is its culture. “Our shop consists of dedicated, hard-working electricians who take immense pride in their installations, company growth, and customer relations,” Marco says. “We take a lot of pride in everyone having a voice.”
