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AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS

Summit's rapid growth through a crowded industry is an immediate indication that a strategy based on absolute customer service is needed, wanted and rewarded. However, a more specific accounting of Summit's résumé can be found among its long list of awards and achievements. Below is a small sampling of Summit's honors — both in the industry and from communities and individuals acknowledging Summit's positive influence:

Fastest-growing company: The New Mexico Business Weekly newspaper listed Summit in their Fast Trackers 2006 compilation of New Mexico's fastest growing public and private companies. Summit ranked No. 22 with a 15.9 percent growth in revenue between 2003 and 2005. It's unusual for a company that's nearly 30 years old to be called a "fast tracker." In terms of short-term revenue growth, by percentage, young companies finding their footing have a distinct advantage. In fact, only four of the 25 companies listed are older than Summit. Still, Summit has yet to reach its plateau, marking revenue gains each and every year of its existence. The Fast Trackers list was published July 21, 2006.

Ethics in Business Award: The Samaritan Counseling Center in Albuquerque, N.M., hosts an annual banquet to recognize area businesses that operate with a high standard of ethical conduct and social responsibility. The awards are highly coveted, and only a few are given out each year. In 2003, Summit Electric Supply was honored to receive the award in the large business category. In addition to Summit's commitment to its customers, Associates and Suppliers, this award recognizes how Summit and its individual Associates have a positive impact on their communities.

Most Admired Company: Each year, the Albuquerque Journal newspaper publishes the top 100 privately owned businesses in the state, and a luncheon is held to recognize those businesses and hear an address by an important dignitary, celebrity or famous athlete. At the 2004 event, based on voting by the attendees, Summit was named the Most Admired Company. It's a source of pride to be so honored, since the annual balloting isn't meant to recognize the biggest company or even the best. Rather, the vote elegantly determines the "most admired" — obviously a highly coveted distinction.

Service-contract mastery: One of the specialized services offered by Summit is the Just-In-Time Service Contract (JIT), and it's a business concept that only the best can even consider. The contract is an agreement between Summit and a Customer in which Summit agrees to "warehouse" the Customer's materials in exchange for exclusive rights to provide those materials. Further, Summit agrees to fill every order, delivered, within 24 hours at a "fill-rate" of 95 percent or better. The efficiency and precision involved in such a deal is enormous, and Summit not only seeks such contracts but has been documented as mastering the idea. In 2000, Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., named Summit its Vendor of the Year among 33 other companies holding service contracts. Summit has also served Los Alamos National Laboratory with JIT contracts, and the Lab has awarded Summit with multiple certificates of excellence.

Gold-level certificates: Summit is a member of the National Association of Electrical Distributors, and that organization offers an intensive training program called EPEC, the Electrical Products Education Course. There are various levels of training, and many distributors require their employees to pass at least the first level. The highest level is the Gold Level, and 133 Summit Associates have obtained this rare certification (as of March 2006). As a measure of this accomplishment, the NAED reports that only 716 people in the world possess Gold Level certification.

Patriotic honors: Summit Electric Supply often has responded to local and national crises with donation drives and is a frequent partner of the American Red Cross. Associates have also had a direct, hands-on involvement in providing relief efforts to such disasters as Hurricane Katrina and the Cerro Grande Fire in Los Alamos, N.M. But the outpouring of generosity was never more evident than in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks. In addition to raising nearly $100,000 for the Red Cross and Salvation Army, Summit purchased patriotic billboards and bus panels in Albuquerque, N.M., (home of Summit's headquarters) to raise the community's morale. One billboard featured an American flag and the words, "Wherever public spirit prevails, liberty is secure." A national industry trade publication took special note of the gesture and honored Summit with a special award.

Vision & Vitality: Also in 2004, Summit was honored to receive a VIVA Award from the Association of Commerce and Industry of New Mexico, the local arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers. VIVA stands for Vision, Investment, Vitality and Action. Summit was one of six New Mexico companies to be honored.

Marketing excellence: Unlike many industry colleagues, Summit has invested into the creation and maintenance of a top-rate Marketing Department dedicated to encouraging open lines of communication — with customers, suppliers and Summit's far-flung Associates. Each year, The Electrical Distributor (TED) magazine focuses exclusively on marketing efforts and honors outstanding performances with a Best of the Best Award. Summit has won seven such awards, including best web site, best promotional campaign and best advertising campaign. On April 25, 2006, Summit was named Best of the Best in two categories: Direct Promotion (for a partnership with Sylvania to promote lighting to five separate markets) and Merchandising (for the renovation of the La Porte Service Center).

• Read the article in New Mexico Business Weekly

Human Resources excellence: The New Mexico Society of Human Resources honored Summit with a 2003 Employer of Excellence Award. Nominations for the award were taken from throughout the state, and Summit won among businesses rated medium-sized (100 to 500 employees). A spokeswoman for the society said Summit was honored for "providing a work environment that embraces employee-supportive practices, programs and benefits."

National rankings: A respected monthly industry magazine, Electrical Wholesaling, each year publishes a list of the top electrical distributors in the nation based on gross sales. The research involved is no small matter, as literally hundreds of companies are included in the compilation. Summit was thrilled back in 1988 to "break into the charts" with sales earning a ranking of No. 173. Since then, Summit has steadily grown and branched out into new markets. The latest rankings show Summit at No. 23.