By Cynthia Yeldell Anderson
NASHVILLE, TN — In many ways, Phyllis Poole is a rare commodity.
Poole is an African-American female master electrician and owner and CEO of Lady Electrical Company, LLC.
She is also a foreman with numerous high-profile projects under her belt.
But Poole’s road to success in this male-dominated field was not without its share of hurdles.
Poole started Nashville-based Lady Electrical because of her passion for the field. She also noticed the differences between how male and female workers were treated which made her want to step up and be the example for the women who want a career in the field like she does.
“When I got here it was uncommon for a woman to be in the trade as an electrician. Being a woman they don’t take you serious on the knowledge you have and the work you can provide,” Poole said. “They would give me just enough information that didn’t set me up for success. At that point, I got frustrated but also inspired and told myself, ‘I have to start my own business to truly grow and enjoy the work I do.’”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 6.7 percent of electricians are Black and only 2.9 percent are women, which makes a black female electrician very rare in the United States.
Poole has been an electrician since 1997. While working on her associate degree in electronics, a coworker informed her about an apprenticeship program in the electrical trade. She had an interview and was accepted into the four-year program in St. Louis, which required her to work under an electrician four days a week and go to school one day a week to become a journeyman.
After the program, Poole was able to work by herself and eventually have her own apprentice. Throughout her career, Poole has worked in construction, often dealing with existing buildings, remodels or new construction. She was determined to learn all that she could and soon she had the opportunity to become a foreman and oversee her own crew on construction projects.
Poole’s responsibilities included reading blueprints, coordinating with other trades on installations and ensuring her crew was doing their work correctly and had all the information they needed.
“It was different because they were not use to seeing a woman in this position,” Poole said. “You just have to show them you have the knowledge with confidence and continue to do your part and the respect will follow.”
Poole moved to Nashville in 2017 where she worked in construction and continued to run into the same issues she had in St. Louis working in a male-dominated field. She didn’t think she could have her own business in a male dominate field, until a friend asked her, “What’s stopping you?”
Poole first got a limited license to work on projects under $25,000 but found a lot of areas did not accept that license. She decided to dream bigger, taking business courses and obtaining her contractor’s license.
She started Lady Electrical in 2020. By the end of 2022, she was able to walk away from her full-time job and run Lady Electrical full-time.
“I was nervous at first. It was new,” Poole said. “Construction is up and down. I have been blessed to not experience a slow moment. Each year my revenue has increased and this year I see it increasing maybe three times the amount of last year.”
Poole’s business involves both commercial and residential projects, including new and remodel calls. About 60 percent of her work is new construction, 30 percent is remodel, and 10 percent of service calls to residential.
“I learned from my clients that people are excited to see a female electrician in their home that has the same amount of skills and knowledge as a male in this field,” Poole said. “they also feel more comfortable not having to worry about a male coming into their home alone.”
Lady Electrical is starting to see an increase in commercial projects, including service calls and new installations, and has partnered with other local contractors on major solar installation projects. Poole employs three men, one of whom has been working with her for the past two years.
She encourages other women to go into the electrical profession.
“A lot of people look at it as a man’s job, not fit for a woman,” Poole said. “I look at it as an opportunity. It’s an opportunity you can take and grow and go anywhere in the world with. It is something that nobody can take from you once you learn it. You can still be a lady and work in a man’s field.”
