Why Van Meter?

As a 100 percent employee-owned company, we understand that when you succeed, we succeed. That’s why each one of our employee-owners works hard to improve customers’ productivity and profitability by delivering superior products and innovative services.

Here’s how we work to create lasting value:

Unparalleled customer service. We’re dedicated to providing everything you need to succeed, including:

  • Product specialists
  • On-call technical support
  • Drive-through pickup
  • Online ordering
  • And more

Delivering superior products. Our expert product specialists recommend and select the right products for your exact needs.

  • More than 800 best-in-class brands
  • $130 million worth of in-stock inventory
  • Same-day delivery
  • 25 branches across seven states
  • And more

Customized services and solutions. We are all empowered to find the best solution for your needs, whether it comes from finding the right product or creating an entirely new service.

  • Dedicated teams to develop custom innovative solutions
  • Empowered employee-owners encouraged to make decisions
  • Shared purpose to succeed with, and for, our clients
  • And more

History

A history of forward thinking.

installed base evaluations (IBE)

R.L. Van Meter and R.W. Lemley founded The Van Meter Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, just before the start of the Great Depression in 1928. Proving they were forward thinking from the beginning, the bright duo outfitted their headquarters with fluorescent lighting—the first building west of the Mississippi to have such a feature.

Despite the daunting task of selling new technology during difficult economic times, The Van Meter Company survived—and thrived. Powered by the motto “Service is our first thought,” The Van Meter Company succeeded because they believed that owners, employees and customers should treat each other as family.

Underlying their commitment to service was their tireless spirit of innovation. Each employee was encouraged to listen to customers and motivate manufacturers to create better solutions. They understood that when customers’ businesses grew, the whole “family” grew.

Now, more than 90 years later, 500+ employee-owners remain committed to these values. Whether our customers need wire services, technical support, project management assistance or additional solutions, our team is ready and willing to go above and beyond.

Purpose & Culture

More than products, a shared purpose.

We work. We grow. We innovate. We advance. That’s because our purpose is more than electrical distribution. Our shared purpose is to create lasting value for those we serve.

Because every employee is also an equal owner in our company, we value each other as well as our customers. Here are the beliefs that guide each and every one of us, every day:

van meter people iconPeople

We help our people to be their personal best.

van meter partners iconPartners

We build strong relationships with our customers and suppliers.

van meter place iconProgress

We improve ourselves and our company every day.

van meter place iconPlace

We make a difference in the places where we work and live.

van meter profit iconProfit

We grow to reinvest in our business and our people.

Employee Ownership

Empowering people is the best way to power progress.

employee ownership culture

When you work with a team member at Van Meter, you’re not just working with an employee—you’re working with an owner. An owner who’s empowered to make decisions, create solutions and do what’s right for your business. Because we know that when our customers succeed, we succeed.

Van Meter is proud to say that we’ve been 100 percent employee-owned since 2005. We understand that each of us is responsible for growing our business, and to do that, we work to grow our customer’s business by nurturing relationships, developing innovative services, and delivering best-in-class products on time.

We place the power in our employee-owners’ hands with an ESOP, Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The Van Meter ESOP is a retirement plan that requires the company to create a trust to acquire stock. Unlike a 401(k) plan, employees do not contribute to the ESOP. Van Meter makes all contributions. The Van Meter ESOP Committee works together to ensure all employee-owners understand the value of owning our company and our future.

Learn more about ESOP companies by visiting The ESOP Association and the National Center for Employee Ownership.

Community Outreach

We are grounded.

community outreach

We’re a small company with a big heart. It’s our honor to give back to the communities, organizations and people that power our personal and professional lives.

We are connected to our communities. We coach local t-ball teams. We walk for the cure. We serve our schools. And we support local theater productions. In fact, each year our employee-owners volunteer more than 7,000 hours to local communities. And, as a company, we’re honored to donate more than $650,000 annually to local charities.

When you do business with Van Meter, you help us extend our gifts to many. Because, from where we stand, being an integral part of the communities we serve and contributing to the quality of life is vital to our success.

Van Meter Named 2024 Distributor Of The Year, Awarded Rockwell Automation Bradley Cup
Van Meter Named 2024 Distributor Of The Year, Awarded Rockwell Automation Bradley Cup
Van Meter Inc. was named the 2024 Distributor of the Year and awarded the Bradley Cup during Rockwell Automation’s “Make it Matter” Automation Fair in Anaheim, CA, on Tuesday, November 19.
Van Meter Appointed As Authorized Rockwell Automation Distributor in NE Minnesota & NW Wisconsin
Van Meter Appointed As Authorized Rockwell Automation Distributor in NE Minnesota & NW Wisconsin
Van Meter announced that effective today they are the newly authorized Rockwell Automation distributor in the greater Duluth-Twin Ports, Minnesota market, which extends into northeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Mielke Electric Works, Inc. was the previously authorized distributor.
Where To Find The Perfect Job Candidate Without Looking Too Hard
Where To Find The Perfect Job Candidate Without Looking Too Hard
Looking for that perfect candidate to fill your vacant position? Well, you might be looking for a while. Just a couple years ago, workers across the country were quitting their jobs in record numbers in what has been called the “Great Resignation.” Now, as fewer workers are voluntarily leaving their roles and unemployment remains low, how do you find people who will elevate your business?
First Responders In The Workplace: How Van Meter Fires Up Employee-Owners To Serve Their Communities
First Responders In The Workplace: How Van Meter Fires Up Employee-Owners To Serve Their Communities
Working in electrical distribution and emergency response might seem like two wildly different jobs, but did you know several Van Meter employee-owners are able to do both? The two roles even share some similarities that allow them to thrive at each. Here’s why three first responders say working at Van Meter helps them make a bigger impact in their community
Meet the former Van Meter Employee-Owner spreading agape love
Meet the former Van Meter Employee-Owner spreading agape love
Hubble worked for Van Meter from 1997 until he retired in 2018. For him and his wife, Patricia, their investment of time and money into the Agape Shoppe was possible because of Van Meter’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).