One of the items that makes Gulf Coast Electric unique and makes the company stand out from its competition is not only the experience, expertise and the level of commitment of the field electricians but the experience of the Gulf Coast Electric Management Staff. The management staff of GCE has well over 100 years of experience in the electrical business. There is not much in the way of electrical wiring or electrical troubleshooting along with providing First Class customer service that the management staff has not experienced.
Jeff R. Linn
President / Owner
In 1979 Jeff R. Linn graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois and relocated to Destin, Florida. Mr. Linn took a job as an electricians helper with a small local electrical contracting firm and advanced rapidly to job foreman.
In 1980 Mr. Linn opened his own electrical contracting business, Gulf Coast Electric. The company operated out of a small garage/office located on Holiday Isle in Destin. In 1984 the company incorporated to J. R. Linn Electric Inc. d/b/a Gulf Coast Electric. A few years later the company had grown to over 35 employees, 25 trucks and operated out of a 3,000 sq. ft. office/warehouse located on Commerce Drive in the heart of Destin. Mr. Linn is a State of Florida Certified Licensed Electrical Contractor. Gulf Coast Electric was responsible for millions of dollars of electrical work in the surrounding communities both residential and commercial. The company at that time was split into three divisions with a manager for each division. Residential Division providing electrical wiring of custom homes and renovations, Commercial Division and Service Division providing all types of electrical service work. Today Mr. Linn is still involved with the everyday operations of the company on a much smaller scale as the company is primarily involved in Electrical Service work. Today however just as he was over 30 years ago, Mr. Linn Still deeply cares and feels a responsibility for each and every customers utmost satisfaction along with the well being of the employees of Gulf Coast Electric.
Don Joiner
Vice President / Operations Manager
Don Joiner began doing electrical work in 1973 after a four year tour of duty in the US Army. In 1980, Don opened an electrical contracting company in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and ran the company until 1990. Don has held a Master Electrician license with the State of Florida. In June of 1991, Don went to work at Gulf Coast Electric as the company supervisor and estimator and was later promoted to Vice President/Operations Manager. Don has been happily working at Gulf Coast Electric for the past two decades. Like Mr. Linn, Don has enjoyed helping to build the business over the years and he views customer satisfaction as one of the most important aspects of building and maintaining a strong business and good customer relations.
Dave Hawkins
Service Manager
Dave Hawkins started work with Gulf Coast Electric in 1993 as a Service Electrician. Dave brought vast experience to the company having been a foreman on projects like the Food Service Facilities at the Orlando International Airport and the Space Shuttle Payload Facilities for the Units States Air Force in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Dave was promoted to Service Manager in a short period of time. Dave is a licensed journeyman electrician with the State of Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the electrical industry. Dave is responsible for daily scheduling of the Service Electricians, assisting with complex issues, emergency services, estimating and invoicing completed jobs.
Ken Lesko
Warehouse Manager/ Purchasing Agent
Ken Lesko is the Purchasing Agent / Warehouse Manager for Gulf Coast Electric. Mr. Lesko is responsible for materials procurement and inventory control for not only the companies warehouse but also the inventory control of the companies service fleet of vehicles. He is in charge of shipping and receiving and provides delivery support for field electricians along with being in charge of vehicle fleet maintenance. Mr. Lesko is extremely resourceful and talented in finding hard to locate electrical materials and components. He brings years of experience to Gulf Coast Electric having been in charge of Purchasing and inventory control at other businesses before joining Gulf Coast Electric in 1997.
Judy Young
Office Manager
Judy Young is the Office Manager for Gulf Coast Electric and is a customer service extraordinaire. Judy has been with the firm since 2005 and is in charge of the daily operations of the office. Judy acts as a call taker processing work orders and scheduling jobs. Judy is in charge of all county and municipality permitting Judy’s strongest trait lies in customer service, Judy truly cares about each and every customer’s personal satisfaction with the electrical work performed by the company. Judy has vast experience in office management and customer service having worked for two major glass companies in the area before coming to Gulf Coast Electric in 2005.
Judy Hartman-Linn
Comptroller
Judy Hartman-Linn relocated to Destin Florida in 1983 and started work for Gulf Coast Electric in 1986. Judy is educated and experienced in customer service having worked at the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana, Illinois and was involved in the large animal veterinarian industry. Judy provides secretarial duties to Gulf Coast Electric which includes call taking, scheduling and customer service requirements. Judy is the Comptroller for the firm and is 100% responsible for all financial transactions.
