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Jim is a proud second-generation member of Chicagoland’s electrical industry. After fighting for his country aboard the USS Davidson (DE-1045) in the Vietnam War, Jim returned home, completed his electrical engineering degree at Marquette University, and worked for a few of Chicagoland’s largest electrical contractors as a member of IBEW Local #9, the same chapter that his father, Stephen, belonged to during his electrical career. Being knowledgeable in electrical wiring and design, he started Excel Ltd. in the basement shop of his family’s home. Jim has always been a wealth of information for anyone looking to further their knowledge of electricity and lighting control. He is always willing to help a design engineer find a solution for any project requirement, and he still carries a sparkle in his eye every time one of Excel’s controllers help light up Chicago’s night sky. Jim lives in Hawthorn Woods, IL, with his wife of over thirty-five years, Sue. He has a fond love of football, fishing, photography, and tinkering around the house. Many customers and vendors will always remember Jim for the cigar that’s often hanging out of his mouth.
Sue knows what it takes to help build a successful small business. While raising two sons, and working as a full-time special education teacher, she somehow managed to oversee Excel’s bookkeeping, payroll, and employee benefit functions. Sue is detail-oriented and selfless. She has been an integral part of Excel’s operation for over thirty years, and even in retirement from being a teacher, her impact is felt daily. Excel owes its success and lasting impact in the electrical industry to the many hours Sue, and all of its employees, put in on a weekly basis. Sue enjoys reading, gardening, spending time with her family, and pampering Jim and Sue’s pride and joy: a Boston terrier named Abby.
Andrew is a proud third-generation member of Chicagoland’s electrical industry. He attended Purdue University’s College of Engineering, but later transferred to DePaul University in Chicago where he received a bachelor’s degree in accounting. By transferring to DePaul, Andrew was able to work part-time at Excel Ltd., and gain valuable insight from his father, Jim. It has always been Andrew’s dream to work with his father, and he is proud to carry on the legacy that Jim created. Andrew enjoys spending time with his wife, Sara, and his dog (and the unofficial Excel Ltd. mascot), a boxer named Luca. He has picked up Jim’s “bad habit” of enjoying a good cigar, and never misses a Notre Dame football game on television. Go Irish!
Chris is a proud third-generation member of Chicagoland’s electrical industry. He attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI, and received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Chris is an integral part of the Excel team, and not only lends his knowledge to design lighting controllers, but has made huge strides in Excel’s CCTV cabinet and PLC control capabilities. Like father, like brother ~ Chris also enjoys a good cigar (are you noticing a pattern?). He takes great pride in his saltwater fish tanks, a good martini, and his black lab, Daisy.
