Company History

After serving his apprenticeship with a local community service electrical shop in Covina, CA (Whitlock Electric), Dan Scherneck went on to act as Journeyman and then Foreman on several ground-up Sav-On Drug stores in the southern California area in the late 70s. In 1980 after acquiring his contractor’s license, Safeway Electric was born. The early years were spent developing relationships while serving area industrial concerns such as 7-Up Bottling, Weyerhouser, GATX and Briggs Plumbing Ware. As the industrial environment retreated in California, Safeway Electric migrated into the commercial construction market.

The small shop experience at Whitlock Electric demanded that we provide our own design on our projects. Seldom were we on a project that was pre-engineered. It was the normal course of business for us to provide all our own calculations and design. That experience has proven invaluable and has evolved into a complete AutoCAD based design department here at Safeway Electric that serves even the most challenging of projects.

In 1993, the decision was made to spin off an alarm division, Progressive Systems, to serve the Inland Empire’s Commercial/Industrial low-voltage systems needs. This allowed us to avoid the distraction of low-voltage systems within the electrical division while being able to capture and provide the benefits of the synergy to our clients with a spectrum of products that would normally require multiple contractors.

In 1997, we incorporated using the name Dantim, Inc. for the corporate parent of Safeway Electric.

In 1999, we were awarded the regional Gamewell Worldwide Fire Alarm Distributorship. Gamewell is well-known in the fire alarm industry as leader. They brought fire alarm to the United States installing the first system in Boston in 1851.

In 2001, we acquired the coveted UL-Listing as Fire Alarm Designers and Installers. This listing with Underwriters Laboratories allows us to provide fire alarm systems to the most demanding customers such as banks, schools and other public venues. This is an achievement we are proud of. It requires a deputy from UL to personally review our projects, our office, and our procedures to ensure that we meet the stringent criteria set forth to support this listing.

In 2004, we changed our alarm division name, Progressive Systems, to Safeway Security Systems to capitalize on a shared marketing campaign with Safeway Electric.

In 2005, we changed our corporate name, Dantim, Inc., to Safeway Building Services, Inc. In addition, we celebrated Safeway Electric’s 25 Years of Service in the Inland Empire!

In early 2006, the State of California required that all electricians in the state be either State-Certified Electricians or enrolled and attending a State-Certified Apprentice program by January of 2007. We met this substantial challenge in association with ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors). ABC provides our apprenticeship program that helps us develop the professional staff today’s construction environment demands. Many of our people have been with the company over ten years and some are now approaching 15 years with the company. We employ a stringent hiring process that excuses eight of ten applicants before the first interview takes place. Our interview process is detailed in that we are as much committed to building a team of character as we are to building a team of qualified craftsmen.

Today, Safeway Electric and Safeway Security Systems are d/b/a’s of Safeway Building Services, Inc., the corporate umbrella for the two companies. Safeway Electric was founded with the philosophy that we exist to advocate for our customers both internal (employees) and external (customers). We have grown to become a dominate force in serving the Inland Empire’s electrical construction, maintenance and service needs. From a residential service call to ground-up hospitals, we are “Building a Safe & Secure Inland Empire.”