Who We Are
VA Electric is a family-owned business in Albuquerque, New Mexico specializing in helping our customers realize the product of their dreams right here in Albuquerque and the surrounding areas.
“Through nearly 20 years, I have had the pleasure of working with VA Electric on numerous building projects both large and small. VAE and their employees have always performed their electrical contracting work at a high level of quality and efficiency. They work as a true team member and partner with the owner, architect, A-E team and other contractors to see projects through successful completion. In my experience, VAE and its personnel are professional, understanding and innovative, and I look forward to working with them in the future.”
Our History...
VA Electric was started by Vicente and Katherine Aragón in 1989. They originally called it “5A Electric,” with the 5 displayed as the Roman numeral V, as a tribute to the five members of their family – themselves and their children Vincent, Don, and Mona.
Vicente had always been interested in electronics. As a young man, he served three years in the Army and was trained as a radioman. Upon leaving the Army, he became an apprentice with the electrical union and started down the path that would take him toward his life’s work. After working in the electrical industry for several years, Vicente decided to go out on his own, and VA Electric was born. Among its first clients were Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia Labs. And its first employee was Vicente’s son, Vincent. Vincent began working part-time while earning a degree from the University of New Mexico, and learned everything about the electrical business from his father. Sister Mona helped out by working in the office in the early years.
Meanwhile, Vicente’s son Don was following in his Dad’s military footsteps. He earned a double major at the University of New Mexico and upon graduation was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. After the basic officer’s course at Quantico, Virginia, he was stationed in California as an Infantry Platoon Commander. Over six years Don achieved the rank of Captain and was transferred back to Quantico, where he attended Amphibious Warfare School and began working for Marine Corps University.
At that time, Don decided it was time to return to civilian life. He left the Marine Corps and began working for what is now one of the world’s largest companies, Amazon, as an area distribution manager. During this time, his Dad started urging him to come home to Albuquerque and join the family business. After a year and a half, Don agreed.
All this time, Vincent had been working with their Dad to build VA Electric into a thriving, reputable business. Over the years, they’d changed the name from 5A to VA Electric, and the company grew from just the two of them to a group of trusted employees. Vincent was officially the Vice President of Operations, overseeing field crews at project sites. When Don returned in 2000, he learned the daily operations side of the business from Vicente. In 2009, Vicente decided to pull back from full-time involvement in the business. Don became President of the company, focusing on VA Electric’s business operations and strategic development.
VA Electric has grown even more since then. The company now has 26 employees. Vicente and Katharine are still Board Members and are involved in major company decisions. And the family legacy continues, Don’s youngest son Rey Is an Electrician and Project manager and his oldest son Alejandro is a project manager as well. That multi-generational legacy, more than anything, is what makes Vicente so proud.
Don explains it this way. “I think Dad is proud of what he built. He always said he wanted something to leave behind for his family, and he has done that. Dad says, ‘It’s not often that somebody gets to realize the dream that they have built and enjoy it while they’re still alive.’ It’s a legacy, and that makes our Father happy and proud. He gets to see the legacy he started as it continues to grow.”
And as it grows, Don and Vincent will continue to honor what their parents started by being honest, trustworthy, and innovative -- doing quality work they can be proud of and operating VA Electric with integrity.