GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) - One man in Gulfport has been a true light to the community for years. Christopher Washington has been wiring homes and flipping switches for nearly 15 years on the Gulf Coast, but his interest in the profession started much earlier.
“I started as a kid loving electrical stuff. My mom used to buy stuff for me, and I used to tear it up, going to the electronics, and some kind of way I would fix things,” said Washington, owner of Washington Electric.
Washington created his business in 2007, specializing in installing wire, lighting, maintenance, and repair. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina provided the opportunity that pushed him to formalize his skills into a business.
“I wanted to learn the fundamentals of exactly what I was doing so I could explain it to customers or anybody else,” Washington said. “And I finally jumped the bridge and said I want to do this, and that’s what happened.”
For Washington, getting the business started wasn’t difficult. The challenge was learning to leave fear behind and have faith in his professional skills.
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“It was more of me being scared of myself. It’s like you don’t know the Chinese language and you’re just trying to get out there to understand it,” Washington said. “I knew how to do the work. I had to learn the business side of it.”
Washington said understanding finances is crucial for contractors who know their trade but struggle with business operations.
“You’ve got to know how to budget your money and what you charge for because it,” he said. “You have to do your homework.”
Washington eventually recognized he needed help after spending 14 to 15 hours away from home daily. The overwhelming workload and paperwork forced him to hire additional workers.
“I had to get 2 or 3 people to help me. And I had to make sure they knew what they were doing,” Washington said. “Even though they are out there doing the work for customers for me, I have to always double-check.”
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Washington said his attention to detail stems from his passion for the work.
“This is something I love to do, and you have to love something to be successful at it,” he said.
Washington Electric serves customers in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties.
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