HOW CES BROUGHT MAJOR GROWTH TO HOUSTON NORTH
Darron Rocka has worked at City Electric Supply (CES) for over 16 years—and the last seven months have brought major growth. The Houston North District Manager recently oversaw three renovations, two relocations, and the launch of a new branch.
Houston North Revitalized
On March 26, CES opened a new location in the Houston North district: a captivating Jersey Village branch, just minutes from the area’s acclaimed Sam Houston Race Park.
Now overseeing 11 CES locations, Rocka has put a lot of work into growing his territory. Since 2023, he’s managed renovations of the Houston Northwest, Humble, and Spring branches. These remodels included new flooring, updated counters, and more. The goal was to create a more open concept: a layout that would foster seamless customer-team member interactions.
But the expansion didn’t end with these upgrades. Rocka also helped to move the Huntsville TX branch from its home of 20 years to a brand-new location.
Meanwhile, the Tomball branch underwent a relocation of its own, moving just 3 miles down the road.
“We’ve been busy giving our customers and team members a better place to work,” Rocka explained.
The excitement has been palpable.
An Overwhelmingly Positive Response
Rocka has enjoyed watching CES grow. The Tomball and Huntsville locations, in particular, have been a part of CES from the beginning.
“They were really old locations that needed a lot of renovations,” Rocka explained. “Tomball was the most exciting for me because I worked in that market before I joined City Electric Supply. And not only was it a new location, but it was originally going to be my office—just minutes from my house.”
Rocka got to help design the new Tomball building and watch it come to life. The district manager especially likes the second floor, which features an upper deck the landlord built into his office.
He likes the Huntsville layout too. At approximately 6,500 square feet (double the size of its former location), it features a side entrance by the counter area, several offices, and a large warehouse.
“Anytime you take a profitable branch and move it, there’s concern that customers will be frustrated,” said Rocka. “Fortunately, in order to get to the next supply house, you’ve still got to pass our new Tomball location. So we’ve stayed ahead of the curve.”
In Huntsville, Rocka added, people were happy from the get-go. Both customers and team members were ecstatic.
“Everybody’s in a great mood,” he said. “Some customers might joke about us being farther away, but they’re still walking in the door. And CES will continue to expand our footprint and grow.”
Why Reinvest in Existing CES Branches and Teams?
Moving forward, CES will continue to invest in its branches.
“Having the right people has helped us grow,” said Rocka. “Ongoing training plays a role in this too.”
So does reinvesting in the business. To drive long-term growth, renovations and expansions like these that took place in the Houston North district are essential.
The main thing, Rocka explains, is to focus on one branch at a time.
The district manager also recommends getting multiple contractor bids for each project.
But most importantly, he suggests staying motivated and involved in the business.
“I’ve still got a lot in the tank,” he added. “I’m going to keep on rolling and doing whatever it takes to help CES grow.”
Other branches can expect the same support from City Electric Supply to continue to help them grow.
