For more than two decades, Loren Wesley Vankirk has led Vankirk Electric as CEO and owner. Under his supervision, the electrical construction company grew from $5 million in revenue to more than $50 million and expanded its market share to cover more of the continental United States. Outside of his work, Loren Wesley Vankirk maintains an extensive coin collection.
Although coins have existed since about 650 BC, coin collecting is believed to have started during the rule of Caesar Augustus between 27 BC and AD 14. While many people hoarded coins to gain wealth, Augustus is the first known person who collected foreign coins and old coins and gave them to his friends on special occasions. Archeologists have also found coins from Roman times in different countries, including Switzerland. Since these groups of coins do not contain two of the same type of coin, they are believed to be early collections. From ancient times through the Renaissance, coin collecting was known as the “hobby of kings” and was primarily enjoyed by nobility in Europe. By the 17th century, coin collecting had become more academic, and numismatics was elevated to a science. In the 1800s, multiple coin organizations, including the American Numismatic Society, were founded, and handbooks were published for collectors. In the 20th century, coin shows and conventions began as the general public became increasingly interested and involved in coin collecting.
For more than 40 years, Loren Wesley Vankirk has been working as an electrical contractor. He holds or is qualified for electrical licenses in nearly two dozen states. He possesses extensive experience with electrical systems including lighting, wiring, fire alarms, phones, and other low-voltage systems. Loren Wesley Vankirk leverages this knowledge to lead Vankirk Electric as CEO and owner.Most phone wiring in residential homes consists of red, green, black, and yellow wires. These four wires are split into two pairs, one combines the red and green wire, and the other combines the yellow and black wire. The pairs are twisted around one another to prevent them from interfering with the other pair in any way. Each of these wires is also very thin, thus ensuring that they stand out from regular, thick electrical wires. When a phone line is placed into a building, only one pair of wires is needed. In most cases, the red and green wires are used for the phone line. Once the line is set up, the yellow and black wires remain unused. While this may seem pointless, having the second pair of wires keeps homeowners from having to rewire the entire home to accommodate a fax machine or other phone-related device.In recent years, the popularity of modems, answering machines, and other phone-related devices has increased the need for six phone line wires in homes. This grants homeowners the ability to set-up one phone line and two additional devices, if necessary. The number of phone lines in a building is also higher in multi-home buildings or commercial buildings. In these cases, a property owner may have eight colored wires or more installed.
Loren Wesley Vankirk, a longtime electrical contractor, leads Vankirk Electric as CEO. In this capacity, he leverages more than 40 years of experience in the field to oversee daily operations of the electrical construction company and handle its financing, marketing, and strategy. An avid traveler, Loren Wesley Vankirk has seen numerous places in Europe and is fond of visiting Mexico.One of the most popular tourist attractions in Mexico is Chichen Itza on the Yucatan Peninsula. A huge Mayan city, Chichen Itza was built around 400 AD and had grown into a center of Mayan economic and political activity just 200 years later. The city was comprised of various types of stone structures, including commercial and residential buildings. These buildings covered close to two square miles. Along the outskirts of the city, there were smaller homes that made up suburban-esque areas. However, some of the most notable structures in the city were the pyramid, El Castillo; a large cenote (sacred spring); and the astronomical observatory, El Caracol. These structures were testament to the Mayan’s advanced civilization.Over the next several centuries, Chichen Itza was abandoned a few times by the Itzas, a Maya group, before being conquered by the Toltecs. The influence of the Toltecs was strong and pushed Chichen Itza into becoming a religious and trade center. These conquerors also introduced the practice of human sacrifice to the Itzas.When the Mayan civilization fell into decline in the late 1400s and early 1500s, the city became entirely abandoned. It remained lost until a New York lawyer rediscovered it in 1842. Since then, Chichen Itza has undergone significant restorations by the Mexican government and Carnegie Institute, and has become a popular tourist destination.
As the CEO of Vankirk Electric, Loren Wesley Vankirk guides a Winder, Georgia company that has consistently expanded its market share over the past 25 years. A longtime Downtown Development Authorities member, Loren Wesley Vankirk has informed redevelopment and planning activities in Winder, including direct involvement in projects in the city's historical district.One of the historical buildings of the area is the Easy Pay Tire Store, which was purchased in the late 1940s by Larry and Dorothy Jones, who also operated a furniture store on North Broad Street until 2011. As reported in the Barrow Journal in 2015, the Easy Pay building was subsequently purchased by longtime area residents Wes and Karen Vankirk. While it was described as being “rundown” when it was acquired, the beauty of the historical structure was such that the decision to renovate it by the couple was nearly immediate. The successful transformation of the site is part of a larger trend of preserving the civic character of a small-town community situated within the Atlanta metropolitan area.
Loren Wesley Vankirk is a respected presence in the Winder, Georgia community who guides Vankirk Electric and provides contracting services across the nation. With a passion for business strategy, Loren Wesley Vankirk considers Richard Branson's first book, Losing My Virginity, as one of his favorite reads.Originally published in 1998, the book details the dynamic, work-centered, and risk-taking approach that brought Branson to the pinnacle of achievement. His innovative model drew from his accomplishments in creating global companies with limited bureaucracy and management hierarchy and no central headquarters. This allowed him to successfully take on British Airways and the business establishment, both in the air and in the courts. Along the way, Branson also had larger-than-life adventures, such as surviving a hot-air balloon crash in the Sahara Desert while en route to completing a pioneering circuit around the world. He also signed some of rock’s most noteworthy acts, from the Rolling Stones to Janet Jackson, and staged a rescue flight into Iraq before the Gulf War began. Richard Branson recently authored the follow-up book Finding My Virginity, which provides insight from the entrepreneur’s past 20 years. Its 2017 publication was timed to coincide with his 50th year as an entrepreneur.
A business owner and third-generation electrical contractor, Loren Wesley Vankirk serves as the CEO of Vankirk Electric, Inc., a comprehensive multi-family electrical service company. In addition to leading a national company, Loren Wesley Vankirk prioritizes giving back to the community by supporting nonprofit organizations such as Boys & Girls Club of Winder-Barrow County in Georgia.A youth development program for boys and girls aged 6-18, Boys & Girls Club of Winder-Barrow recently got a new home in the Wimberly Center for Community Development along with several other nonprofit organizations. The new 20,000-square-foot community center is at the former site of Winder-Barrow High School on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.One of the services this Boys & Girls Club chapter provides at the Wimberly Center is “Making Minutes Count for Success,” an after-school and summer camp program for children in 1st through 5th grades. The free program emphasizes leadership development, recreation, and homework assistance. It can accommodate 100 students from County Line, Holsenbeck, Kennedy, Statham, and Winder Elementary schools, and transportation is provided from certain pick-up locations.
A third-generation electrical contractor, Loren Wesley Vankirk holds or qualifies for an electrical license in more than a dozen states, including Georgia, Oklahoma, and California. The owner and CEO of Vankirk Electric, Loren Wesley Vankirk oversees a company that undertakes projects ranging from building renovations to wiring and lighting services.Many homeowners struggle with determining whether rewiring is necessary. One of the easiest ways to tell involves checking the age of the current wiring system. In the past, people had fewer appliances and electronics, meaning they could get by with less power in their home; today, however, with the prevalence of electronic devices, older homes need better wiring and more electricity to ensure the circuit breaker isn’t constantly blown. For this reason, it’s often recommended that homes are rewired every 25 years, or when the home is more than 40 years old.Furthermore, specific types of wiring require upgrades. Aluminum wires are no longer used in homes as they are prone to problems. Compared to copper wires, which are used in many modern homes, aluminum wires become defective faster. This leads to poor connections over time, thus causing the wires to overheat and catch fire. These wires may also void certain insurance policies.Finally, homeowners who experience a series of issues with their electrical system need to rewire their building. Problems like flickering lights, burning smells, and excessive use of extension or power cords signify that an electrical system needs updating.
Loren Wesley Vankirk leverages more than four decades of field experience to lead Vankirk Electric as owner and CEO. A former self-employed electrical contractor, Loren Wesley Vankirk either holds or is qualified to receive electrical licenses in more than 20 states, including Georgia, where he is based.Georgia has two electrical licenses that dictate how many amperes electrical contractors are allowed to handle within the state. A Class I license limits contractors to working on single-phase installations that do not involve more than 200 amperes. Meanwhile, a Class II license grants contractors the unrestricted ability to install and work on projects of any size.Both licenses are issued by the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board and require professionals to have at least four years of experience completing electrical contracting work under the oversight of a licensed contractor. Applicants must provide documentation of their work, including the size of the projects and their weekly duties, and must be at least 21 years old.Before sitting for the exam, candidates must submit an application to the Licensing Board either online or via mail. This application must be accompanied by letters from three references attesting to the candidate's knowledge and experience. A background check is also required. Approved applicants can then take the exam for the license they are working toward. Class I license exams comprise 155 multiple-choice questions, while Class II exams include 162 multiple-choice questions. Professionals have a total of eight hours to complete the exam and must receive a score of at least 70 to pass.
Loren Wesley Vankirk serves as the CEO of Vankirk Electric in Winder, Georgia. When he has time away from work, Loren Wesley Vankirk enjoys coin collecting.Since counterfeit coins are a common issue in the world of coin collecting, all collectors must be able to spot a fake without too much trouble. Some counterfeits are easily spotted. In many cases, fake coins have casting seams around the edges. Beyond that, some counterfeits have hole markings or designs or textures that aren’t associated with a particular coin. For example, smooth edges on a coin that should have fluted edges indicate that the coin is counterfeit.If collectors can’t spot any visible problems with a coin, they can check the coin’s weight. Counterfeit coins made of silver or gold rarely weigh the same as genuine coins. The difference in weight may be because counterfeit coins are made of different metals. The incorrect metals may attract magnets or conduct heat differently than genuine coins.
Skilled in electrical systems and real estate development, Loren Wesley Vankirk serves as the CEO of Vankirk Electric in Winder, Georgia. An avid live music fan and reader, Loren Wesley Vankirk counts Sir Richard Branson’s Losing My Virginity among his favorite books.Published in 1998, Losing My Virginity is Sir Richard Branson’s first autobiography, in which he recounts the first 43 years of his life as a risk-taking, fun-loving entrepreneur. Nearly 20 years later in 2017, he published the book’s sequel, Finding My Virginity.The latest autobiography picks up from where Losing My Virginity ended at the dawn of the new millennium. Sir Richard Branson explains how he reinvented the Virgin brand and created billion-dollar businesses across different sectors. Finding My Virginity also includes reflections on the loss of a Virgin Galactic test flight, nerve-wracking acquisitions, and devastating personal losses.As an entrepreneur and a leader, Sir Richard Branson explains the importance of hiring the right people and encouraging them to take risks and think big. He also highlights company culture and customer service as differentiators in which companies should invest to ensure success.
Loren Wesley Vankirk leads Vankirk Electric’s daily operations as its CEO. He has increased the company’s revenue from $5 million to $50 million in just five years. Loren Wesley Vankirk maintains active involvement with several nonprofits, including United Way of Northeast Georgia.Established in 1887, United Way is a nonprofit focused on providing solutions that strengthen the education, financial stability, and health of every community in the world. Toward that end, it facilitates various initiatives, including the 2-1-1 Program.A free, confidential national service accessible to over 14 million individuals across the United States and Canada, the 2-1-1 Program helps people find the assistance they need, whether it’s with employment, food, housing, or relief. People who are dealing with abuse, addiction, and health issues can also call 2-1-1 to find reliable resources in the local chapters. The service extends to veterans in need of emergency assistance and people who are coming out of correctional and mental health facilities or have been impacted by human trafficking. The 2-1-1 service is accessible 24/7 and available in all languages.
Loren Wesley Vankirk serves as the chief executive officer of Vankirk Electric, an electrical subcontractor with services in Winder, Georgia, and surrounding communities. Under the direction of Loren Wesley Vankirk, the company successfully expanded from a local family business to a national company. Mr. Vankirk supports several nonprofit organizations, including The Tree House in Winder.Established in 1996, The Tree House aims to strengthen communities by offering counseling, education, and assistance to children who have suffered or are suffering abuse. The Tree House partners with schools, churches, childcare centers, and other civic groups in selected counties in Georgia to teach the importance of preventing abuse. The organizers of The Tree House community outreach conduct training sessions, including Child Abuse 101, Mandated Reporting, and Social Media Safety. The Tree House recently added “Stewards of Children” training to teach adults the responsible way of preventing, recognizing, and reacting to child abuse.
A third-generation electrical contractor, Loren Wesley Vankirk leads Vankirk Electric as CEO. Responsible for all company operations, strategy, financing, and marketing, he grew the business from $5 million to more than $50 million in revenue within five years. In addition to this, Loren Wesley Vankirk is also involved in real estate acquisition and renovation, and his company recently renovated an old building in downtown Winder, Georgia.When rewiring an old building, the first step is checking which permits and codes are necessary for the job. Typically, homeowners and property owners are free to complete electrical repairs in their building, but these repairs must be inspected to make sure they follow local rules and regulations. Because of this, having an electrician assist or advise on the project is ideal.Once all the permits are obtained, property owners can begin figuring out how to access the old wires. Numerous holes may need to be cut in the wall so that it’s easy to run new cables and remove old cables. In some situations, old wires can be pulled out through a single hole, but this isn’t always the case. Property owners who don’t want to cause major disruptions to their home can leave old wiring in place and thread new wiring through the walls.Sometimes old wiring systems lack the number of circuits necessary to meet the demands of modern technology and appliances. When this happens, property owners may need to plan for more circuits and change their electrical service to properly support the new circuits. The main service panel may also need upgrading if it’s under 100 amps to ensure it can properly support the new circuits.
Experienced with a wide range of electrical systems, low-voltage systems, and real estate development matters, Loren Wesley Vankirk serves as the CEO of Vankirk Electric. In his free time, Loren Wesley Vankirk enjoys collecting coins and he has a large collection. Listed below are three myths of coin collecting.1. Older coins are more valuable. The age of a coin does not greatly impact the value of said coin. Rather, the value is determined by supply and demand. When the supply of said coin is low and the demand is high, the value of the coin goes up. For this reason, older coins aren’t necessarily more valuable than newer coins, especially if the older coins were produced in large amounts.2. The cleaner the coin, the better it is. Shiny coins might look nice, but as a collector, shine does not equate to value. In fact, cleaning a coin before selling it can damage the surface and dramatically lower its value. Also, the amount of shine on a coin may even signify a coin of lower quality in comparison to a dirtier coin.3. Limited editions are always rare. The U.S. government mints and sells some coins in perfect condition. Since these coins have pristine color, are struck in silver or gold, and are limited editions, many novice collectors think they are valuable. However, limited edition coins are designed to appeal to a commercial market and may not be a rare as people think.
Under the leadership of Loren Wesley Vankirk, electrical construction company Vankirk Electric has increased its revenue from $5 million to $50 million over a five-year span. When he’s not busy managing his business, Loren Wesley Vankirk enjoys playing golf.Below are four things to remember to ensure you follow good golf etiquette the next time you’re on the green:- Maintain the course. At some point, you are bound to cause some damage to the course on which you are playing. This may be in the form of creating a divot when trying to hit the ball or disturbing sand in a bunker. Regardless, always repair the damage, leaving the course as you found it.- Don’t be late or slow. Everyone is concerned about time, so you should avoid being the player who is always late. Make sure you arrive at least 30 minutes before your tee time to give yourself enough time to practice, and encourage the rest of your group to play faster if you know you will play slowly.- Remain quiet. The course is supposed to be peaceful, and nothing quite disrupts that more than another player screaming and yelling in anger. Even if you get frustrated about your shot, control your temper and never throw your club. Meanwhile, put your cell phone on silent during the game.- Be aware of your surroundings. When you are hitting the ball, make sure you know where other players are so you don’t accidentally hit them. You also want to be aware of where you are walking so you don’t interfere with someone’s shot.
Licensed as an electrical contractor in nearly two dozen states, Loren Wesley Vankirk is the owner and CEO of Vankirk Electric, an electrical construction company based in Winder, Georgia. Active in his community, Loren Wesley Vankirk is involved with numerous charitable and community organizations, including Casa de Esperanza.A Latina organization, Casa de Esperanza seeks to end domestic violence in the Latin@ and Latina communities. The organization does this with the help of volunteers.Individuals who wish to help the organization can do so on an individual basis as an administrative, family advocacy, children’s activities, or donation drive volunteer. Through these positions, volunteers assist with everything from fulfilling Casa de Esperanza’s reception and administrative needs to collaborating with advocates, planning activities for kids, and organizing a donation drive.Individuals can also support Casa de Esperanza as an administrative or a family advocacy intern, youth amig@s mentor, or community engagement assistant. These positions are a bit more intensive and require volunteers to leverage leadership development curriculum to support youth and provide support to people who have survived domestic violence, among other things. All of these positions are categorized as internship opportunities.Finally, there are group volunteer opportunities at Casa de Esperanza. These opportunities are more limited and only encompass Adopt a Family efforts through the organization’s holiday project Proyecto Navidad and donation drive organization and support.
Serving as the CEO of Vankirk Electric in Winder, Georgia, Loren Wesley Vankirk is responsible for the overall operations, marketing, financing, and business strategy of the company. Outside of his professional pursuits, Loren Wesley Vankirk enjoys traveling in Europe and Mexico.Mexico is home to hundreds of beaches and resorts. Travel & Leisure, a magazine with nearly five million readers, recently announced that Viceroy Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen is its 2018 Top Resort Hotel in Mexico.Beating last year’s winner, The Resort at Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas, the Viceroy Riviera Maya is an exclusive adults-only resort that features 41 villas with individual private plunge pools and access to a full-service spa, an award-winning restaurant, and seven miles of pristine, white-sand beach. For adventure-seeking guests, the Viceroy Riviera Maya offers a wide range of activities, including scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, and skydiving.
Successful business leader Loren Wesley Vankirk has served as the CEO of Vankirk Electric for more than two decades. In this capacity, Loren Wesley Vankirk oversees the direction of the electrical construction company and is responsible for implementing corporate strategies, managing company resources, and increasing revenue.In business, the only ways to generate more revenue are to increase the number of customers, transaction frequency, average transaction size, and/or prices. Increasing the number of customers is a pretty straightforward strategy for increasing revenue. When there are more customers making purchases, revenue will naturally increase. Businesses can increase their customer base by offering newsletters, maintaining excellent customer service, and keeping an up-to-date website.Increasing transaction frequency and transaction size is a bit more challenging. For transaction size, businesses must focus on upselling their products and services to ensure that each customer is spending more money on each transaction. Meanwhile, transaction frequency requires businesses to get existing customers in the door more often. This can be accomplished by developing ongoing relationships with customers to encourage them to return more often.Finally, companies who do not change their transaction volume, size, or frequency can still increase their revenue by increasing the price of their product or service. When doing this, businesses must be careful that they don’t alienate their existing customer base by raising prices too much. Instead, it may be safer to cross-sell or bundle complementary products and services together.
Talented electrical contractor Loren Wesley Vankirk leverages over 40 years of industry experience to oversee operations and strategy at Vankirk Electric as its CEO. A member of The Georgia Club, Loren Wesley Vankirk enjoys golfing when he’s not busy leading his company.Located near Athens, Georgia, The Georgia Club provides members with numerous resort-style amenities. The Club is also home to the Chancellor’s Course, a well-manicured, 27-hole golf course. This course is one of the country’s top-rated and was designed by Denis Griffiths. Most holes feature generous fairways and are lined with hardwood trees to add some difficulty.Players of all skill levels can enjoy the Chancellor’s Course, thanks to its focus on par-3 and par-5 holes. Each par-5 hole allows golfers to enjoy a more challenging experience and includes plenty of opportunities to reach the green in just two shots. The course also maintains a few par-4 holes, the longest of which covers more than 460 yards and requires some creative thinking. While these may be the more challenging holes, the course’s par 3s are frequently more difficult than they appear and are still difficult enough to be enjoyed by skilled players.Golfing on the Chancellor’s Course normally costs between $59 and $69 on weekdays. During weekends, prices increase to between $69 and $79. The Georgia Club also makes the greens available to junior players below the age of 18 and has putting and chipping greens for practicing.
