At age 28, Kyle Kautzman is a seasoned electrician with 10 years experience and several hundred hours of education through the electricians’ union in Seattle.

He began as an apprentice after graduating from Sequim High School in 2004 and opened his own business, Meyer Electric, in 2011. Why not Kautzman Electric? He named the business after his grandfather, in tribute to him.

“We wire new homes and remodels and make service calls,” Kautzman said. “We’re exclusively residential electrical, but I’m trained as a commercial journeyman, so I would like to take it up a step to commercial installations. There are a lot of good mentors in this town and I listen to them for advice.”

Some of his professional customers include Integrity Property Development, Haley-McFarland Construction, Aspen Ridge Homes, Landmark Property Management and Bishop Enterprises.

Kautzman is paying it forward by hiring apprentices J.J. Hickle and Joel Anastasi and journeyman Harley Shrader, all recent Sequim High graduates.

“We’re a really young crew so it only takes us about three days to wire a duplex and two days on a standard house,” Kautzman said. Remodeling is an entirely different challenge.

“With remodeling, you have to find a lot of things the homeowners have done themselves that they don’t realize they’ve done wrong,” he said.

When considering a career, Kautzman wanted to be true to his nature.

“I am entrepreneurial-minded so I was looking for something I could sell someday. I really enjoyed electrical and I like getting to know my customers and them getting to know me,” Kautzman said.

“I hope people will think of me when they have electrical needs. I have 10 years in the field and I feel I have something to prove because I try harder and go the extra step — to be as efficient as possible and make sure no time is wasted. I pay close attention to detail and I work with my customers to find the best electrical solution for them.”

Kautzman typically does the following jobs for his residential customers: new breaker panels, new light fixtures, circuit interrupter outlets, hot tub and ductless heat pump wiring and motion detectors.

“Any upgrade at all,” he said.

Kautzman said he believes in buying local and playing local — he sponsors youth soccer and adult-co-ed soccer teams, and coaches youth wrestling in Port Angeles. He also has a blue belt in martial arts and teaches two classes a week.

With his busy schedule, he’s also fitting in a wedding in May.

As a professional electrician, Kautzman adamantly said the most important thing about working with electricity is safety.

“Electricity should be treated as a loaded gun — respect it — and if you don’t understand it, stay away from it,” Kautzman said.

To potential customers, he added, “You should consider giving me a chance. I charge very fair prices and I work very hard.”