Lensey King remembers working alongside his grandfather, one of the first Black licensed electricians in Etowah County, at only eight years old.. Now, his wife and children help run it. His electrical business is not only his life’s work, but a part of his family’s legacy as King passes the company on to his children.
Experts say running a family business is not an easy feat, with only 30% of family-owned businesses in the United States surviving into the second generation, 12% into the third, and 3% into the fourth and beyond, according to a Johnnie Parker Sr., King’s grandfather, was a vocational school instructor at J.K. Weaver Technical School and owned a small electrical contracting company in Gadsden, Parker Electric Company, which his family helped him run.
Griffin Electric, a sponsor for the electrical competitions, offered King an apprenticeship at age 19. While working at Griffin Electric, he balanced other electrical projects at R&T Electric and Parker Electric.