YPO Global Family Business Network Publication Features Power & Tel

Throwback Thursday: The History of Power & Tel

In this month’s Throwback Thursday, we feature Power & Tel, the family business of Global Family Business Network Member, Jennifer Sims (YPO Southern 7). 

Power & Tel has long been known as a worldwide distributor for the communications industry.  They are recognized industry-wide for their ability to build and maintain longstanding relationships with its customer and manufacturing partners. In fact, that ability to focus on solutions that make the customer’s business or project successful are the foundation for their multi-generational success.

Power & Tel was founded in 1963 by Jennifer's grandfather, Miller Pentecost, and two others. The Company’s objective then was to provide contractors and service providers a reliable inventory source for the products they required to complete their projects.  

In order to meet this need, they developed strong long-lasting relationships with manufacturers who realized the value of having a respected sales partner that could also help eliminate or reduce their inventory costs associated with storing finished goods. Jennifer's father, Jim Pentecost ran Power & Tel from 1985 until 2013 at which point, she was honored to step up as CEO. 

They remain a family-owned company and their reliability and respect in the industry remain constant even as they provide products, services and solutions that support our partners’ success.

Today, they do more than just distribution; they solve problems ranging from a simple product/service need to providing our partners with complete end to end supply chain solutions and acting as an extension of their own company.

P&T serves thousands of customers all over the world, operates 10 distribution centers located throughout the United States, 3 in Canada, 1 in Mexico. Power & Tel’s mission remains as it was when they started to be their customer’s “Most Cost-Effective Way to have the Right Material at the Right Place at the Right Time – Every time.”