Triangle Electric Corp. Founder Bradshaw Blazes Trail
appalachian power company, martinsville-henry county chamber, mhc master gardeners, nancy bradshaw, triangle electric,
Nancy Bradshaw is a Henry County fixture. Since founding Triangle Electric Corp. in 1965, the master electrician has remained plugged in to the community, serving as an active and constant reminder that anything’s possible. As the only woman completing her electrical contractor’s exam in 1972 in Richmond, Bradshaw says at the time she received a less-than-favorable welcome from her 49 male counterparts. Still, she persevered, carving out her own niche in a male-dominated field.
“The man who was heading the state board of contracts said, ‘I’m proud of you. This took courage,’” Bradshaw says.
Bradshaw’s interest in electrical work was first sparked while working in the meter department at Appalachian Power Company in Fieldale.
“Triangle Electric Corp. was started out of necessity,” Bradshaw says. “I married another employee and the power company had a rule that relatives could not work for the company. Since I was already familiar with electrical work, he stayed with the power company and I started an electrical business.”
Two employees and one truck later, Triangle Electric officially was founded in the basement of the Bradshaws’ garage. Today, the company is 22 employees strong, providing 24-hour-a-day service to residential, utility, industrial and commercial customers.
While Bradshaw has enjoyed a successful career, the community remains her passion. For more than three decades, Bradshaw has been active on church boards, with the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce and MHC Master Gardeners, as an active Ruritan and more.
“To be a part of a community while it reinvents itself is the most exciting event of my life,” Bradshaw says.
“We are truly the pride of the West Piedmont.”
Story by Melanie Hill
Photo by Ian Curcio
