Taylor Groves – Stansell Electric Company

The roads, runways, intersections, and transportation systems that people rely on every day rarely draw much attention when they are working properly. Drivers expect traffic signals to function, airport runways to stay illuminated, and roadways to remain safe. Behind those systems, however, are teams of construction professionals whose work often goes unnoticed but has a direct impact on public safety and economic growth.

For Taylor Groves, director of construction for Stansell Electric Company’s East Tennessee division, that reality is what makes the industry rewarding. While he began his career focused on project execution, his responsibilities today revolve around much broader areas: leading people, building culture, and preparing an organization for continued growth.

Groves joined Stansell Electric in 2019 after spending more than three years as a construction coordinator with Hodges Group. Since then, he has advanced from project manager to division leadership, guiding one of the company’s fastest-growing segments while overseeing major transportation and infrastructure initiatives across Tennessee and neighboring states.

Stansell Electric, a third-generation family-owned company headquartered in Nashville, provides electrical construction services across multiple markets. While one side of the organization focuses on traditional electrical construction, Groves leads the transportation and infrastructure division in Knoxville, which specializes in signalized intersections, roadway lighting, intelligent transportation systems, and other public infrastructure projects.

Growing into leadership

When Groves joined Stansell Electric, his focus was squarely on project management. Like many construction professionals, he developed his expertise through hands-on experience and time spent in the field learning from experienced crews.

“I learned by spending a lot of time in the field with the guys,” Groves says. “I focused on the fundamentals of what we do and how I could make the most impact on the team. ”

Over time, his responsibilities expanded beyond individual projects. Almost 3 years ago, he stepped into the role of divisional director, taking responsibility for the Knoxville operation and helping shape the business’s future direction.

The transition required a significant shift in perspective. Instead of focusing primarily on schedules, budgets, and project execution, Groves found himself concentrating on organizational structure, employee engagement, and cultural development.

His division now includes over 60 team members, supported by a leadership team comprising senior project managers, superintendents, and operational leaders. Rather than managing every detail directly, Groves spends much of his time leading leaders.

“Leading a people leader who leads other people is very different,” Groves says.

That evolution has been particularly important as the company has experienced substantial growth. Stansell Electric has grown numerically & geographically, creating both opportunities and challenges.

As the workforce grew, the divisional structure had to evolve as well. Groves helped guide a large effort to restructure reporting relationships, improve accountability, and create a more sustainable management model.

The changes were necessary. The new structure allows leaders to focus more intentionally on coaching employees and strengthening performance.

Culture through growth

One of the challenges that accompanies rapid expansion is preserving culture.

When Groves first joined the division, the team was small enough that nearly everyone knew each other personally. Leaders understood employees’ strengths, opportunities, and family situations. As the workforce expanded, maintaining those connections became more difficult.

“A few years ago, when there were fewer of us, we knew each other very well,” Groves says. “Now we add new members almost weekly, so there’s a greater effort to remain connected. Ultimately, it has made the team a lot stronger.”

Rather than viewing that reality as a drawback, Groves sees it as a leadership challenge that requires deliberate effort. He spends significant time meeting with peer groups, developing relationships with customers, participating in community activities, and working on long-term culture and strategy initiatives.

Much of his current role involves ensuring the team embodies the company’s core values as the organization grows larger and becomes more complex.

Safety remains one of those foundational principles.

Throughout the division’s expansion, Stansell Electric has maintained a strong emphasis on injury-free operations, employee engagement, and long-term career development. Groves believes project success is ultimately tied to the performance and well-being of the people performing the work.

The company’s family-oriented culture also plays a significant role in retention and employee development. As a family-owned business with deep roots in the region, Stansell Electric has built a reputation for investing in its workforce and creating opportunities for advancement.

Groves frequently emphasizes trust, accountability, and relationship-building as essential ingredients for sustained growth. Whether interacting with employees, clients, subcontractors, or public agencies, he views strong relationships as a competitive advantage.

At the same time, he admits he still misses aspects of project management.

“But I do miss the construction stuff,” Groves says. “I like getting into the weeds every now and then.”

Projects that protect people

While leadership consumes much of Groves’ time today, the projects his team delivers continue to provide a tangible reminder of the division’s purpose.

One of the most notable is an innovative wrong-way driving detection system being implemented by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

The progressive design-build project addresses a growing public safety concern involving drivers entering highways through exit ramps, a mistake that has contributed to numerous serious accidents and fatalities. The system uses cameras, detection devices, warning technology, and flashing signs to identify wrong-way drivers and alert both motorists and transportation officials.

Unlike many traditional construction projects, the initiative required Stansell Electric to participate in both the design and construction processes.

“It is a unique partnership focused on public safety,” Groves says.

The system will ultimately cover nearly 100 ramps throughout the Louisville and Lexington areas, making it one of the most significant intelligent transportation system projects undertaken by the division.

The Kentucky effort represents just one component of a diverse project portfolio.

The Knoxville team is also performing electrical work associated with a new runway at Knoxville’s regional airport, supporting ongoing expansion tied to increased airline activity and passenger growth. Additional projects include roadway improvements in Gatlinburg, transportation infrastructure work associated with the University of Tennessee, pedestrian safety enhancements and specialized electrical installations for professional and collegiate sports facilities.

Together, those projects demonstrate the increasingly important role transportation infrastructure plays in supporting economic development, mobility, and public safety across the region.

Balancing growth and purpose

Outside of work, Groves’ life has recently entered a new chapter.

He and his wife welcomed their first child, a daughter, and much of their free time now revolves around family life. When they are not spending time with their daughter, the couple enjoys cycling, working outdoors, and staying active.

Those personal priorities provide balance to a profession that often demands long hours and constant attention.

As Stansell Electric continues to grow, Groves remains focused on ensuring the company never loses sight of the people who make that growth possible. Technology will continue to evolve. Infrastructure demands will continue to increase. Organizational structures will inevitably change.

What he believes should remain constant is the commitment to developing leaders, creating opportunities, and building teams capable of making a lasting impact.

For Groves, the future is not defined solely by larger projects or bigger numbers. It is defined by creating an organization where people can succeed, grow, and contribute to the work that improves communities. Whether it is a safer highway interchange, a brighter airport runway, or a stronger team culture, the goal remains the same: leave things better than they were before. In an industry built on foundations, that may be the most important structure of all.