Brandon Heinzen – Hunt Electric

For more than 26 years, Brandon Heinzen has embodied what it means to grow with purpose. Starting as a field electrician and rising through the ranks to project manager, operations manager, and now business development leader for healthcare at Hunt Electric, his journey is one of grit, mentorship, and ownership—both literally and figuratively.

At Hunt Electric, an employee-owned electrical contracting firm headquartered in Minnesota, ownership is more than a title—it’s a way of thinking. The company delivers some of the region’s most complex work across healthcare, data centers, commercial, and automotive sectors, backed by a strong in-house prefabrication operation and design. Every project is guided by four clear principles: honor commitments, control risk, keep people safe, and be the constant owners that people can rely on.

For Heinzen, that constancy begins with people.

“I don’t work for a title,” he says. “I work for the opportunity—the right fit and feel for the job.”

His focus isn’t on hierarchy but on impact: creating value for clients, nurturing emerging leaders, and ensuring healthcare projects improve not just buildings, but lives.

That mindset has earned him a reputation as one of the most trusted names in the Twin Cities construction scene—and a growing presence throughout the Midwest.

“When you come to Hunt Electric, you don’t leave Hunt Electric,” he says, referring not to retention statistics, but to a culture where relationships endure long after ribbon cuttings.

The Hunt Electric way

Founded in 1965 and now employee-owned, Hunt Electric stands out for its unique ability to combine technical excellence with empathy. Each employee is an owner, which means accountability is built into every phase of work—from design and prefabrication to installation and maintenance.

“We control our destiny,” Heinzen says. “Our clients pay our paychecks. That’s how we think about it.”

It’s that ownership mentality that drives the company and the leadership framework Heinzen helped develop for project managers. Through weekly check-ins, milestone-based mentorship, and a growing PM apprenticeship program, he ensures that knowledge and accountability flow both ways.

“Never focus on just your trade—add value every day,” he tells his teams.

Heinzen believes success in construction comes down to one thing: the effort in the field has to match the dollars and cents. His teams are trained to think strategically, manage risk proactively, and always consider the owner’s perspective.

“Be part of the owner’s fabric,” Heinzen says. “If you do that, you’ll do a better job for them.”

That philosophy has become the blueprint for how Hunt Electric approaches healthcare projects—complex environments where safety, coordination, and reliability can literally mean the difference between life and death.

Reliability in healthcare

The modern hospital is a living environment—constantly evolving, adapting, and expanding to meet community needs. Heinzen’s fingerprints are on some of the Twin Cities’ most critical healthcare facilities, including Methodist Hospital, Lakeview Hospital, and the Park Nicollet Clinics Network.

At Methodist Hospital, originally built in the 1950s, Hunt Electric led a comprehensive modernization project that replaced the outdated electrical infrastructure with new switchgear, generator controls, lighting controls, and distribution systems. The project also included a comprehensive arc flash and coordination study—a crucial step that ensures breakers don’t trip during life-saving procedures and that electrical teams know exactly what personal protective equipment (PPE) to wear for any task.

The impact went far beyond power reliability.

“When you improve safety and efficiency, patient satisfaction goes up,” Heinzen says. “That can directly affect how hospitals are reimbursed and how they grow.”

That project, completed between 2018 and 2023, became a template for reliability—a playbook Heinzen now uses to guide healthcare clients through modernization and expansion efforts across the region.

At Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, a 423,000-square-foot regional hub scheduled to open in 2028, Hunt Electric is applying those same lessons on a grander scale. Built on 64 acres, the new facility will include a central utility plant, shared sterile processing, urgent care, surgical suites, imaging, and inpatient care—all powered by Hunt’s integrated electrical systems.

“This project isn’t just about the hospital,” Heinzen says. “It’s about the community around it—the families, the hotels, the restaurants, the growth that follows. It changes everything.”

Hunt Electric’s work also extends to the Park Nicollet Clinics Network, where Heinzen has led continuous upgrades across more than 40 clinics since 2007. From infrared scanning and torque checks to generator installations and data center support, Hunt’s dedicated 10-person team keeps the clinics running smoothly—providing the continuity that supports the entire healthcare ecosystem.

That kind of reliability is what defines Hunt Electric as, in Heinzen’s words, “the heartbeat of healthcare.”

A culture that cares

For Heinzen, leadership isn’t about control—it’s about connection. He’s built his reputation on relationships, mentorship, and an unwavering drive to “do it right the first time.”

“Work is my friends, work is my family,” he says. “The reputation that you build by taking care of people is tremendous. The more you do for your client, the more valuable you are.”

He believes in blending technical skill with emotional intelligence—what he calls “using your head and your heart.” Hospitals, he explains, aren’t like other job sites. They demand empathy, patience, and precision.

“You’re working around patients, doctors, nurses—people doing critical work,” he says. “You need to be safe, courteous, and strategic. Everyone, from electricians to management, has to care as much as the medical team does.”

That culture of care extends internally, too. Hunt Electric’s low turnover and high engagement come from giving people ownership of their success. Heinzen fosters this by pairing apprentices with experienced leaders, encouraging open dialogue, and celebrating individual strengths.

“You need role players, and you need superstars,” he says. “The key is building teams where everyone knows their value.”

That philosophy has created a workforce that is both skilled and loyal—and it’s one reason Hunt Electric’s healthcare division continues to thrive, even in competitive labor markets.

“I tell our people, I don’t care if you end up working for Hunt Electric or a competitor,” Heinzen says. “But you should work hard & smart enough and have such a great reputation that hundreds of people are calling you every day to hire you. If you’ve done that, then you’ve done your job here.”

Scaling excellence across the Midwest

As Heinzen transitions into his expanded role from operations manager to healthcare business development leader, his sights are set beyond the Twin Cities. He’s working to scale Hunt Electric’s healthcare model into new markets, bringing with him the reliability, mentorship, and client trust that have defined his career.

Technology offers options for crafting a range of delivery methods for projects. The company’s focus is on adapting to clients’ needs and delivering a custom project that clients can understand and be proud of for years to come.

“Construction is still about people,” he says. “You can have all the tools in the world, but if you don’t have trust and accountability, you don’t have anything.”

His competitive drive is legendary.

“We will always find an approach that delivers an exceptional project and leads to overall success for those impacted,” he says.

But behind that confidence is humility—the recognition that every win is shared, and every project is a team effort.

“I’ve been through every part of this company,” he says. “There’s nothing I ask people to do that I haven’t already done myself.”

That authenticity, paired with relentless energy and empathy, is what makes him not just a leader, but a coach, mentor, and constant.

In the end, Heinzen’s story mirrors that of Hunt Electric: a legacy of ownership, craftsmanship, and care. Together, they’re not just wiring buildings—they’re powering the future of healthcare, one relationship, one hospital, and one community at a time.

Finding certified electrical talent is increasingly competitive; this is where a dedicated construction staffing partner becomes essential.