Meet Our Diamond Certified Expert Contributor

Drew Michels: Finding the Spark

By Julie Deacon, Diamond Certified Research Writer

Drew Michels’ journey into the electrical industry began when he was just 16 years old. “My uncle took me on some jobs with my brother, and that’s where it all started,” he recalls. “It sparked my interest and eventually became my career.”

After graduating from high school, Drew continued building his experience in the electrical field. As he accumulated the hours required to advance in the profession, he earned his contractor’s license and began charting a new path toward business ownership. After more than a decade, he says his favorite part of the work is still the intellectual challenges it provides. “A lot of this job is basically puzzle solving, so it takes brain work. When you have something complicated to figure out and you’re able to solve it, there’s a real sense of accomplishment.”

Just as rewarding is helping clients through stressful situations. Whether he’s responding to a home with a major electrical issue or restoring power to a business, Drew enjoys being able to provide solutions when people need them most. “The best feeling is when someone has lost power to their building and you’re able to restore it,” he says. “You get to save the day a little bit.”

When it came time to establish his own company, Drew chose a name that held both professional and personal significance. Ohms Electric is named after Ohm’s Law, a fundamental principle in electrical engineering, but it also reflects a family connection. “It’s an electrical term, but it also happens to be my son’s initials,” he explains. “It just made sense.”

A lifelong resident of the Bay Area, Drew currently lives in Oakley with his wife, Jocelyn, and their two children, Owen and Summer. He says his favorite parts of life in the East Bay are the family-friendly atmosphere, relative affordability and convenient access to the Greater Bay Area. “I like that it’s safe and you can get more for your money here while still being close to everything,” he affirms.

Outside of work, Drew enjoys staying active through a variety of sports and outdoor pursuits. He spends his free time skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing whenever possible, and he enjoys following baseball and basketball when they’re in season.

If given the opportunity to retire tomorrow, Drew already knows where he would go. “I’d probably move to El Salvador,” he says. “My wife is from there and I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the culture over the years. It’s also a great place for surfing, so I really enjoy spending time there.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q. What’s your favorite number?
A. 22. It’s the day I was born.

Q. Do you prefer being somewhere hot or somewhere cold?
A. Somewhere hot, although that’s a tough choice because I love snowboarding.

Q. What’s the funniest thing a customer has asked you?
A. “Can you do it for free?”

Q. What’s your earliest memory?
A. My parents brought me to a hotel that had a ton of trains and cars inside. I don’t know where it was, but I remember it being pretty cool.

Q: If you could time-travel, would you go to the past or the future?
A: The past. It would be interesting to visit the early 1800s and see the United States when it was just getting started.