Longevity, Diversity, and Value

  
 

Founded in 1963 and spanning three generations, Power & Tel is a national stocking distributor of communication equipment enabling connectivity ― providing even the most ancillary products. 

We ensure your entire list of materials is well-advised and on the job site, allowing contractors, carriers, and service providers to finish projects on time and within budget.

                                              

  
  COMPANY: Power & Tel, Power & Telephone Supply Company  
  TYPE: Privately held, family-owned company  
  INDUSTRY: Communications   
  FOUNDED: May 1, 1963, Memphis, Tennessee ― 58 Years of Service  
  FOUNDER: Miller Pentecost  
  CHAIRMAN: Jim Pentecost  
  CEO: Jennifer Pentecost Sims  
  PRESIDENT: Dale Stevenson  
  CERTIFIED DIVERSITY PARTNER: Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)  
  WORLD HEADQUARTERS: Piperton, Tennessee  
  DISTRIBUTION CENTERS & SERVICE LOCATIONS: Power & Tel is strategically located throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico serving customers and businesses in more than 70 countries around the globe.   
  AREAS SERVED: Worldwide  
  INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS: ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, TL 9000:2020  
  PRODUCT OFFERING: 800+ industry suppliers, 25,000+ products stocked, 99.9% accurate delivery.  
  SERVICES: Sourcing, forecasting, inventory management, supply chain programs, global logistics, and value-added service offerings.  
  BY THE NUMBERS: 370 employees, average tenure 10.5 years with 3,000+ combined years of experience, and 4,500 customers served in over 70 countries.  

Why Power & Tel?

Service is Our Yardstick

Power & Tel does not manufacture; our product is our employees and their ability to serve customers. 

Our Mission

The Right Material. The Right Place. The Right Time.

We are our customer's most cost-effective way to have the right material at the right place, at the right time.

Good People Make the Difference

Our customer's, employees, and  suppliers are continually making a difference. 

 

 

Our History

  
 

2023: 

  • Power & Tel celebrates 60 years in business.

1963: 

  • Power & Telephone Supply Company (Power & Tel) is founded and open for business in 1963 by Miller Pentecost.

  • The original building in Memphis, Tennessee — opened in 1963.

Miller Pentecost in Office at Power & Telephone Supply Co     

  • Founder, Miller James Pentecost. 

  • The Memphis, Tennessee building — after 20 years of remodeling.
  • The first salesman hired, Layburn Dye.

First employee and salesman hired, Layburn Dye
 

1965: 

  • The first profit-sharing plan was established.

  • Power & Tel Lexington facility opens, July 1965.

                                  

1981:

  • Power & Tel Des Moines facility opens.

                   

1983:

  • The Miller & Virginia Pentecost Scholarship program is established.
  • Introductory issue published of Power & Tel's internal company newsletter, The Strand.

 

1984:

  • Power & Tel dramatically improves distribution efficiency as computers are connected and brought online company-wide after successfully transferring 12,000+ stocked items from a Kardex system to computer network.

  • Jim Pentecost, second generation, joins the company after over a decade with Bell Laboratories. 

 

1987:

  • Power & Tel acquires Mid-West Telephone Supply, now able to serve the US from the Rockies to the East Coast. 

1988:

  • Power & Tel hosts an inaugural sales meeting.

1990:

  • Jim Pentecost becomes company President.
  • Power & Tel receives the first fiber optic cable into inventory.

                     

1993:

  • New distribution warehouse and corporate office groundbreaking on Yale Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee.

  • A year of sharing, Power & Tel establishes a charitable matching contributions program.

1994:

  • Power & Tel goes global with an international division headquartered in Miami, Florida. 

     

1995:

  • Power & Tel acquires GenCab and opens Canadian operations, now able to serve coast-to-coast.

  • Power & Tel Los Angeles facility opens, now able to increase service offering to AT&T.

     

1996:

  • Power & Tel gains ISO 9001 certification. 

1999: 

  • Gifts that grow, Power & Tel partners with Community Foundation of Greater Memphis to expand matching charitable contributions program.

2001:

  • Power & Tel Mexico facility opens. 

     

2004:

  • Miller Pentecost was recognized for his service to the business community at Power & Tel's 40th-anniversary celebration with a Proclamation from the United States House of Representatives.
  • Jennifer Pentecost, third generation, joins Power & Tel Portland operations, having worked for Fortune 500 companies HP & IBM.

  • Power & Tel acquires Cable-Tel.

2005:

  • Power & Tel gains TL 9000 certification.
                        

  • Cincinnati Bell's Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) program starts.

2009:

  • Eastlink's Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) program starts.

2012:

  • Jennifer Pentecost Sims becomes President of Power & Tel Canada Ltd. 

        

2013:

  • Jennifer Pentecost Sims become the new CEO, succeeding Jim Pentecost, who will serve as Chairman of the Board.

     

  • Power & Tel receives Woman-Owned certification from both the Mid-South Minority Business Council and the State of North Carolina.

  • Power & Tel reaches WBE status with the certification from certifying partner, the Supplier Clearinghouse. 

     

  • Power & Tel celebrates 50 years in business.

  • Jim Pentecost receives the TIA Spirit of Innovation award.

2015:

  • Power & Tel receives WBE certification from certifying partner, the Women's Business Enterprise National Council.

2017:

  • Power & Tel gains corporate environmental certification to the new ISO 14001 standard.

2018:

  • Jennifer Pentecost Sims receives the TIA Commitment to Service award.
        

     

2020:

  • Power & Tel relocates world headquarters to a new campus in Piperton, Tennessee.

     

2021:

  • Power & Tel holds the first virtual global sales meeting prompted by a pandemic.

  • Power & Tel donates former global headquarters to Ave Maria Home, long-term care, and retirement community. 
                                    
  • Power & Tel donates the former warehouse to the non-profit Binghampton Development Corporation (BDC). 
                                       
        
  
 

EXECUTIVE LEADERS

  
Jennifer Sims Pentecost, CEO

JENNIFER PENTECOST SIMS
Chief Executive Officer     Joined Power & Tel in 2004

DALE STEVENSON
Board Advisor                         Joined Power & Tel in 1982  

JACKIE THOMAS
Chief Financial Officer              Joined Power & Tel in 1989   

 

THOMAS TIGHE 
Executive Vice President,    Corporate Strategy                     Joined Power & Tel in 2010 

MIKE KRUSZEWSKI
Executive Vice President,          Sales & Marketing                      Joined Power & Tel in 2017             

MATT SPINOLO
President and Chief Operations Officer                              Joined Power & Tel in 2018