ESCO was founded by Wayne Engle as a small electrical contractor called E&S Electric. Wayne and his business partner, Larry Swan, completed their first commercial project – the Post Office located in Hiawatha, Iowa, that still stands today. Shortly after forming E&S Electric, Wayne bought Larry out, and ran E&S Electric until the mid 1980s when he added his two sons, Dave and Dan. From 1964 to 1985, E&S Electric expanded, doing business in five different states with over five branch offices. The primary focus was wiring street lights, commercial projects, light industrial projects, and residential homes for Skogman Construction.