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Chapman Metering
Electricalmarketing 241 Chapmanmetering595
Electricalmarketing 241 Chapmanmetering595
Electricalmarketing 241 Chapmanmetering595
Electricalmarketing 241 Chapmanmetering595
Electricalmarketing 241 Chapmanmetering595

Kriz-Davis Buys Chapman Metering

March 20, 2015
The 17-employee company will continue to operate as Chapman Metering, and will be a division of and a wholly owned subsidiary of Kriz-Davis Co. with the current leadership, headed up by Larry Chapman, remaining in place.

In an effort to offer advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) deployments as a value-added service, Kriz-Davis Co., Grand Island, Neb., plans to acquire Chapman Metering, LLC, Avoca, Iowa, from Western Ventures Inc., a subsidiary of Nishnabotna Electric Cooperative, Harlan, Iowa, and Larry Chapman. The acquisition will close April 1.

Tim Berry, president and CEO of Kriz-Davis Co. said in a company press release, “With our business philosophies being very closely aligned already, this is an excellent opportunity for both companies to diversify our business models and better serve our public power customers. We will immediately have an in-house solution for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) deployments as well as other system automation offerings. With Larry’s expertise in the industry, we’ll only keep growing from there.”

Chapman Metering was established 55 years ago by Lawrence Chapman as a watt-hour meter testing service and has grown to provide services in the public power market to over 500 clients in 17 different states with more than 100,000 meters serviced per year.  Today, the company is regarded as one of the premier service providers in the utility metering industry.

Tim Berry, president and CEO of Kriz-Davis, told Electrical Marketing in an email that the sophisticated level of testing service that Chapman provides is a new area for Kriz-Davis. “In the past we have always outsourced that portion. Being aligned with our System Solutions sales team, this acquisition seemed to fit both companies very well.

“We’ve had a long relationship with extremely successful results when working with Chapman Metering. Kriz-Davis distributed the products to the utility customer, and Chapman would then have a direct relationship with that utility to provide the installation or other necessary services required.  Kriz-Davis’ skill sets in distributing Smart Grid technology products and Chapman’s in the field  installation and  technical expertise made for a perfect fit to align our individual business offerings moving forward. Kriz-Davis Co. will be strategically expanding our business portfolio, and Chapman will have additional resources to maintain and grow their customer base.”

Berry added that Chapman Metering primarily serves the public power and investor-owned utilities markets with a primary focus on meter validation and certification; technical training; and substation, commercial, and residential metering. “Larry Chapman and the Chapman Metering team are industry leaders in this area and have the capability for full system deployment of advanced metering systems,” he said in the e-mail. “This ranges from simple meter installation to advanced meter programming and modifications, to building a data bridge into the end user’s demand side management, SCADA, and distribution automation systems, as well as the customer’s business and billing software.”

The 17-employee company will continue to operate as Chapman Metering, and will be a division of and a wholly owned subsidiary of Kriz-Davis Co. with the current leadership, headed up by Larry Chapman, remaining in place.  It will draw upon the various resources and benefits Kriz-Davis is able to offer, including the employees becoming a part of the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). There will also be expanded services available in the future as a part of the agreement.

“This is an exciting time for Chapman Metering. With this change, our company is now positioned to offer more extensive services than we ever have and will remain successful for many years to come,” said Larry Chapman, general manager, Chapman Metering, in the press release. “Our current and future customers will continue to enjoy the same high level of service we are committed to providing; they will just see a broader offering of services for us to meet their needs.”

Berry said that while Kriz-Davis and Chapman share some of the same geographic footprint and some of the same customers, “there’s a distinct line drawn regarding specific roles and responsibilities between the two companies.” “In all cases, Kriz-Davis Co. only sells products and only in an assigned geography designated by a manufacturer’s authorization, and in all cases, Chapman Metering only offers services for metering solutions, but has an open geography across the U.S.,” he said.

“Chapman Metering currently has existing business relationships with more than 500 utility clients in 17 different states.  Some Chapman customers are and will be located outside the established Kriz-Davis geography or assigned territory for its manufacturers’ geographic area for authorization.  In all cases, Chapman Metering will solely maintain their existing and traditional services role with their existing customer relationships and new clients to come.”

In other news at Kriz-Davis, the company announced that it will open a new branch in Kansas City, Kan., later in 2Q 2015, its 18th full-line stocking location. A company press release said the new facility will allow Kriz-Davis to expand its geographic footprint for development of a new customer base and to better serve existing customers with a physical presence in the Kansas City area.

The 17,000-square-foot facility will house counter sales, a training center, and offer a local daily delivery service.  In addition to his division manager duties in St. Joseph, Ted Myers will oversee management of the branch serving the contractor, utility, industrial and commercial/institutional markets. “We are excited to invest in and bring our service offerings to the Kansas City area. Our new location complements our strategic plan and will allow us to grow with our customers in this market for many years to come,” Berry said in the release. Kriz-Davis is ranked #44 in Electrical Wholesaling’s 2014 Top 200 listing.