Lark Electric today announced the launch of Lark Service, a dedicated commercial, industrial and residential electrical service division led by Terry Cooney, who spent more than two decades building and managing the service department at May Electric.
The launch marks a renewed commitment to the service business Lark acquired when it purchased May Electric in 2024, restoring the dedicated operating model and customer relationships that made May Electric a trusted name throughout western Kentucky.
With the backing of American Gridwork Partners, Lark Service will introduce dedicated account managers, real-time 24/7 scheduling, text-to-schedule capabilities, and around-the-clock emergency service response. The division will initially operate in Owensboro, with plans to expand into Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee.
Building on the May Electric Legacy
In 2024, Lark Electric acquired May Electric, bringing together two of Owensboro’s longest-standing electrical contractors under a single organization.
Founded in 1959, May Electric built its reputation around industrial electrical work, controls, automation and dedicated service. Its service department, developed under the leadership of Chris May and Terry Cooney, became a significant part of the business, establishing relationships with industrial and commercial customers that lasted for decades.
Following the acquisition, Lark focused on integrating the two companies’ employees, capabilities, and operations. While the combination expanded Lark’s industrial capabilities, the company acknowledges that it did not place enough emphasis on maintaining the dedicated service operation that May Electric had spent decades building.
“When we acquired May Electric, our focus was on bringing two strong companies together and building one larger organization,” said Ross Hyland, CEO of Lark Electric. “But in doing so, we didn’t do a good enough job prioritizing the service department that Chris May and Terry Cooney had spent so many years building. We didn’t always have the right electrician assigned to the right customer or the right type of work, and we allowed service to become too closely integrated with our broader construction operations.”
Hyland said the launch of Lark Service represents an opportunity to return to the dedicated service model that May Electric’s customers had come to expect.
“We have a second chance to build upon what Chris and Terry created,” Hyland continued. “The relationships, the experience, and the people who built that service business are still here. Now we’re bringing back a dedicated service department under the Lark Service name, with Terry leading it and the same commitment to customers that made May Electric successful. The difference is that we now have more resources, more reach and the ability to build this into something much larger.”
With the backing of American Gridwork Partners, Lark is now positioned to give its service business the dedicated leadership, resources and operational support it needs to grow. Lark joined the infrastructure platform in August 2026, gaining access to a broader network of electrical and infrastructure companies, additional resources for recruiting and training, and the ability to expand service operations into new markets.
“Chris May and Terry Cooney built a service business that customers trusted, and that foundation is still there,” said Grant Stark, Co-Founder and CEO of American Gridwork Partners. “Our role is to give Terry and his team the resources and support to build upon what they created. We’re not starting from scratch. We’re investing in the people, experience and customer relationships that already made this business successful.”
Terry Cooney to Lead Lark Service
At the center of the new division is Terry Cooney, who will serve as Director of Lark Service.
Cooney joined May Electric in 2000 as a service electrician, became an owner of the company in 2010 and helped grow its service department into approximately one-third of May Electric’s overall business.
Working alongside Chris May, Cooney developed long-standing relationships with industrial and commercial customers throughout western Kentucky, building a service operation recognized for its responsiveness, technical expertise and familiarity with the facilities it maintained.
Following May Electric’s integration into Lark, Cooney continued with the combined organization. The establishment of Lark Service will allow him to return his full attention to the dedicated service business he spent much of his career building.
“At May Electric, if a plant called, somebody went,” Cooney said. “It didn’t matter what time it was or how small the job looked. That’s how you end up with customers for thirty years. We’re bringing that same approach to Lark Service, but now we have the resources to build a dedicated team, invest in our people and reach customers in markets we couldn’t serve before.”
Cooney will oversee the division’s operations, customer relationships, recruiting and continued expansion.
A New Service Model Built Around Customer Access
Lark Service will operate as a dedicated commercial, industrial and residential electrical service division with its own electricians, scheduling and customer relationships.
As part of the launch, the division is introducing 24/7 scheduling support, allowing customers to request service at any hour. New text-to-schedule capabilities will enable customers to book appointments and communicate directly with the service team by text message.
Dedicated account managers will oversee customer relationships, coordinate service requests and help ensure that customers are matched with electricians who understand their facilities and specific electrical needs.
Lark Service will also provide 24/7 emergency service response, giving commercial, industrial and residential customers a direct point of contact when equipment failures, power interruptions or other electrical problems require immediate attention.
The division will serve manufacturing plants, food and agricultural processors, distribution facilities, healthcare facilities, municipal buildings, schools, commercial properties, apartment complexes and larger residential properties with more complex electrical needs.
Services will include emergency troubleshooting and repair, preventive maintenance, motor and controls troubleshooting, switchgear and electrical distribution service, generator and backup power testing, infrared scanning, lighting and controls upgrades, EV charging support and quick-turn capital projects. Residential offerings will include generator installations and servicing, as well as electrical service upgrades and replacements.
Why Lark Is Prioritizing Service Now
Lark is prioritizing a dedicated service division as its customers face increasing demands on their existing electrical infrastructure.
Industrial and commercial facilities are adding automation, robotics, networked controls, onsite generation and increasingly sophisticated electrical systems. As these facilities become more complex, customers require specialized electricians who understand their operations and can provide ongoing maintenance, troubleshooting and emergency support.
At the same time, Lark now has the organizational capacity to establish service as a dedicated business rather than managing it alongside larger construction projects.
Expansion Beyond Owensboro
Lark Service will initially operate in Owensboro, with plans to expand into Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee.
In these markets, electrical businesses within the American Gridwork Partners platform will incorporate Lark Service into their local offerings, extending the division’s capabilities into markets where the platform already has operating teams and established customer relationships.
The division is hiring licensed service electricians and apprentices across all three markets.
About Lark Electric
Founded in 1963 and based in Owensboro, Kentucky, Lark Electric is a commercial and industrial electrical contractor serving customers across Kentucky and the surrounding region.
Lark provides commercial and industrial electrical construction, industrial maintenance and service, power distribution, controls and automation, fiber and data, and related electrical infrastructure services.
The business has expanded through its combinations with May Electric and Patterson-Westbrook Electric and continues to invest in its people, capabilities and regional growth as part of American Gridwork Partners.
About American Gridwork Partners
American Gridwork Partners is a Nashville-based infrastructure platform focused on building and growing specialized companies serving America’s physical infrastructure. The platform brings together complementary capabilities across civil and utility construction, underground power and water infrastructure, commercial and industrial electrical, fiber and communications, controls and industrial automation.
American Gridwork Partners’ operating model allows its companies to maintain their local brands, leadership teams and customer relationships while gaining access to the capabilities, resources and relationships of the broader platform.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260921123992/en/
Media gallery
