Got Watts Electric, Solar & HVAC

Jeremy Carlock: High Wattage

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

PLEASANT HILL — While pursuing a career in law enforcement, Jeremy Carlock decided to cushion his professional future by learning a trade on the side. Little did he know, this secondary venture would later become his primary livelihood. “After high school, I enrolled in the California Highway Patrol Academy,” he recounts. “When one of my classes was put on hold, I went to work for a family friend who owned an electrical company. I figured it would be good to learn a skill that would keep me employable, in case I was ever laid off from law enforcement. After a couple of years, I decided to switch my focus to electrical work and applied to a union apprenticeship program.”

Having transitioned into full-time electrical work, Jeremy thought his future was secure—that is, until the economic downturn of 2008 left him without a job. However, amidst this seeming career setback, he was able to find a silver lining. “The 2008 crash hit the electrical industry really hard,” he remembers. “The company I worked for went from 125 employees to about 15, and I was one of the last to be laid off. Fortunately, I had been doing a little electrical work on the side, so it allowed me to devote more energy toward developing my own business. Things really started to take off around 2010, and my business has been growing ever since.”

Today, as CEO of Got Watts Electric, Solar & HVAC, Jeremy says his favorite part of his job is getting to the root of difficult problems. “I love troubleshooting—sometimes I call myself a professional problem solver. Whether it’s determining the cause of a malfunction or figuring out a creative way to access a hard-to-reach space, problem-solving is probably the most enjoyable part of it for me.”

A lifetime resident of the East Bay, Jeremy resides today near Benicia. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending quality time with his two young sons. “My boys and I like going on RV trips and boating adventures together,” he details. “I also enjoy riding my motorcycle and Can-Am racing.”

In regard to a professional philosophy, Jeremy invokes the age-old Golden Rule. “My staff and I try to treat everyone the same way we’d want to be treated,” he explains. “So, when it comes to our customers’ projects, we take care of them and make sure they’re happy. We take the same detail-oriented approach on every project, regardless of its size, because to us, the customer’s satisfaction is always the top priority.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Jeremy says it would be a toss-up between two choices. “I would either rent a motorhome and take my family on a road trip or fly us to Mexico and hang out on the beach. Whichever sounds better at the time—I guess I can’t go wrong either way.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What are your favorite TV shows?
A: “Gold Rush” and “Deadliest Catch.”

Q: What’s your favorite season?
A: Summer—it’s warm, and I’m able to get outside and do things.

Q: What’s your favorite type of food?
A: I like Asian cuisine, particularly Thai and Japanese food.

Q: What was your favorite toy as a child?
A: Legos.

Q: Who’s your favorite movie monster?
A: I like vampire movies, so I’d have to say Dracula. He’s like the Sean Connery of vampires!