Today we’d like to introduce you to Ceanne Fusting.
Hi Ceanne, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2019, Steve’s parents were having their electrical panel replaced and began chatting with the seasoned electrician who’d been in the trade for years. He casually mentioned he was considering taking on an apprentice to help with the workload. They told him, “Our son Steve could do it. He’s smart, hardworking, and learns quickly.”
Steve’s mom approached us with the idea, and that’s how we got started in the electrical industry. With our first baby just a couple of months old, Steve switched career paths and began working as an apprentice for that electrician. We knew early on that one day we wanted to start our own electrical company – with Steve performing the work and Ceanne doing all things business. To make that dream real as soon as possible, Steve enrolled in the Harford County Electrical Contractors Association Electrical Apprenticeship. While this allowed him to fast-track earning his Master Electrician License, it meant years of long days in the field followed by night classes – all while raising a newborn.
During that time, we welcomed our second baby, which made the schedule even tougher, but we kept going. Steve earned his journeyman’s license and eventually graduated from the apprenticeship with one of the highest GPAs in the graduating class.
When Steve passed his Master Electrician exam, allowing us to provide electrical services independently, we officially formed Fusting Electric LLC. Ceanne built the website, set up social media, designed the logo, created business cards, and put together the van graphics. In July 2023, we bought our van and booked our first job the very next day. We still laugh about how eager we were to get started. On that first drive to the job site, the tools slid all over the back of the empty van because we hadn’t even installed shelving yet.
Things took off faster than we expected. Our first full week in business, we completed six jobs. We were both still working full-time, with Steve doing electrical work at night and on weekends and Ceanne handling marketing and customer service. Within just a few weeks, it became too much to juggle, and we decided to go all in on Fusting Electric, leaving our previous jobs behind.
We started small, but the business grew quickly because of our focus on quality work, clear communication, and always going above and beyond for every customer. Thanks to local homeowners who trusted us with their projects, Fusting Electric has continued to grow year after year.
We’re still a small family business, but we’ve come a long way since that first sliding-tool van ride, and we’re only getting started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.
While Steve was working full-time in the field, he was also attending night classes to earn his Master Electrician License. That season was tough. Long days for him, long nights for me at home with the kids. We got through it, but it was exhausting.
We’ve had to navigate the challenges of working together as spouses. When you run a business together, work and family don’t stay neatly separated, especially when you’re not together during the workday. We once tried to institute a “no work talk in bed” rule, which failed almost immediately because with young kids, sometimes that’s the only time we get in the day to have an uninterrupted conversation.
We’re still figuring out the whole work-life balance, but we’re learning as we go. The business is growing, our family is growing, and we’re growing with it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Fusting Electric. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
With us, you get a Master Electrician at your door performing the work, not just supervising it on paper. We’re also known for clean, organized installations and clear communication. Many of our reviews mention that we left homes cleaner than we found them and that county inspectors have complimented our work.
We’re a small, family-owned electrical company based in Severn, Maryland. While we can handle most residential electrical projects, we specialize in panel upgrades and replacements, EV charger installations, and electrical work for additions and remodels.
We value honesty. We don’t believe in upselling people on things they don’t need. We explain options clearly and let homeowners make informed decisions. That approach has built a strong reputation and a loyal customer base.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Steve’s first boss once told him that if he wanted to start his own electrical company, the most important thing was having a wife who was just as into it as he was. At the time, we remember thinking it sounded a little sexist. But it turned out he was right.
Having two people focused on two different sides of the business has been critical to our success. Steve brings the technical knowledge and field expertise. Ceanne handles marketing, branding, systems, and customer communication. If one person had tried to do all of it alone, burnout would have happened before really ever getting started.
In the trades especially, there’s a tendency to keep things casual or cut corners on the professional side. If you’re just starting out, or even just doing side work, treat it like a real business from day one. Get a professional email address. Set up a business phone number. Build a simple website. Create a logo. Take a decent headshot. Set up a Google Business profile. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive, and you can do it all yourself. When you treat it like a real business, your customers will too.
And don’t try to be something you’re not. If you’re small, own it. Don’t pretend to be a big company. Explain why being small is an advantage. The right customers will choose you because of it, not in spite of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fustingelectric.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/fustingelectric
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/fustingelectric
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/fustingelectric
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fustingelectric
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/fustingelectric
- Yelp: https://yelp.com/biz/fusting-electric-severn
