Every once in a while, anniversaries at City Electric Supply (CES) overlap in serendipitous ways. That’s exactly what happened when the CES Live Oak branch and District Manager Stephen Mathis Jr. celebrated 25 years together — alongside two longtime customers whose businesses grew with the branch. Their story is one of shared opportunity, steady growth, and lasting friendship.
Every CES branch is planted with purpose, rooted in places where there’s a real need and the right people to meet it. The people who make a branch successful are behind the counter, in the warehouse, and serving customers day after day. Deeply entrenched in their communities, those everyday moments evolve into partnerships — and often, friendships.
Parallel beginnings
Stephen Mathis Jr. joined CES fresh out of high school, starting in the warehouse when the CES Live Oak branch had been open only a month. His career grew as the branch did. Over the next 25 years, he progressed into the role of district manager while staying closely tied to the branch that gave him his start.
Around the same time, two more people in Live Oak were also embarking on new adventures.
James Head had often tinkered with electrical work, and in 1990 that he began his formal education and training under a licensed electrician. Six years later, at the age of 35, he launched Head Electric. When CES Live Oak opened in 2000, Head was excited to finally have a supplier in town.
David Wood was working at a telecommunications company when he felt the pull toward the trades. In 1999, at the age of 31, he took a leap of faith and started Wood’s Electrical Services. The CES Live Oak team was a steady source of support as he built his business and found his footing in the industry. Together, the three of them grew as both professionals and friends.
Partners in business
After 25 years in business, CES Live Oak has built up not just young team members, but also the local businesses they serve.
“It gets to a point where you’re kind of in business together with your customers,” said Mathis Jr. “They rely on you as much as you rely on them.”
Wood shared the sentiment: “I’ve always felt like CES was part of my team, and I’m part of theirs. In the last 25 years, there haven’t been many days that didn’t involve the branch. They made it easy to grow and operate my business.” Head echoed that trust, saying, “When my customer needs something, I’m going to find a way to get it done — and Stephen’s never failed to help me follow through on my promises. He’s one of the reasons I don’t do business anywhere else.”
Friendship through the years
Though he’s no longer at the CES Live Oak branch every day, Mathis Jr. still maintains regular contact with Head, Wood, and many others. Decades of shared milestones have turned these business partnerships into real friendships.
“At the branch’s 25th anniversary party, I got to catch up with one of my first customers,” Mathis Jr. said. “He told me he’d watch me grow up with CES, from getting married to starting a family. He was involved in all that because of our partnership-turned-friendship.”
Wood agreed: “He’s definitely a friend — there’s no question about that. We’ve had a lot of laughs and good times over 25 years.”
“It’s been a long, prosperous relationship,” Head added. “Even though he’s grown to be district manager, he never fails to answer my phone calls. He’s always been there for me, and I take every opportunity to brag on him.”
A legacy of opportunity
Looking back on 25 years of CES Live Oak, the three friends are grateful for the journey and the growth opportunities that have come from it.
“I’ve been there since day one. It was an honor to celebrate their milestone with them,” said Head.
At 19, Mathis Jr. couldn’t have known that the first job he’d take out of high school would turn into a 25+ year career, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“The first thing that comes to mind when reflecting is happiness,” shared Mathis Jr. “I’ve enjoyed every position I’ve been in, but my favorite part has always been interacting with customers. We’ve shared a lot of life together and formed great friendships.”
His advice to future generations? Soak it all up.
“Learn as much as you can about every position and take every experience as a learning experience. Even if you don’t think you need it at the time, it will help you down the road.”
Wood has enjoyed having a front-row seat to that growth.
“Stephen really put in the work,” recalled Wood. “He started out stocking shelves, and most of the time customers didn’t even see him. He was doing his thing, learning everything he could, and it paid off. That’s one thing I appreciate about CES: no matter where you start, they offer the opportunity to succeed. They take care of their own.”
A ripple effect
The legacy of CES Live Oak goes far beyond transactions and projects. It’s decades of trust, friendship, and opportunity, embodied in the parallel 25-year journeys of both the branch and Stephen Mathis Jr. It’s proof that when you invest in people, success ripples outward — from team members, to customers, to communities.