Gaults return to Pine Island from Florida Keys
Although the Pine Island division of Gault Electric kept running, Mike and Shelby Gault moved from Pine Island to the Florida Keys, because he said that was his dream.
“I turned 51 last year and I wanted to go live in the Keys, that was my dream. We went down there and bought a place in Big Pine,” Mike Gault said.
Although Gault went right to work in the Keys, he said his wife Shelby hated living there. Friends from Pine Island were calling every day and he said it didn’t take long before she talked him into coming back to the island. Established on Pine Island in 2018, Gault Electric had been built on trust and friendship. Josh Vest kept the Pine Island Division of Gault Electric running while Gault and his wife were in the Keys. Gault met Vest over a decade ago when he was building houses as a project manager.
“He built and remodeled my last five or six houses. When I moved down here I couldn’t find anybody to remodel so I called Josh and he came down for a week and remodeled my house. He went back and got his wife and family and moved here,” Gault said.
Soon after Gault and Vest began working together, they hired a few more helpers. Gault said the island shares his laid-back attitude, making this the perfect location for his family to live and work.
Islanders must agree, as Gault said his phone has not stopped ringing since he came back. Trust is key in any business where you must enter a client’s home, Gault said, and Vest agreed that a handful of their customers feel confident knowing Gault is here again and visible.
Helping people is the number one priority, Gault pointed out, certain that his client’s issues become his issues until resolved.
“I think what sets us apart is that we are a solution-based contractor. If you’re willing to pay our price, we’re going to fix your problem,” Gault said.
Gault went through a union apprenticeship and holds a four-year degree, explaining that in his industry, that means less than doing the research and figuring out the best solution. This can-do attitude shared by Gault and his team has not only brought them referrals on a regular basis, but clients who wouldn’t go anywhere else.
“My downfall is that I tell everybody yes and we can only do so much work,” Gault said.
Overall, Gault said he has no idea what the secret is to his success, although he suspects he arrived on the island at a good time. The van parked in his front yard upon moving here brought about his first customer who immediately referred Gault to someone else, and Gault Electric has been growing ever since.
“We left the island and missed it and came back after I got it out of my system. I want to thank everyone for the warm welcome back and remind everyone to have a little patience, as we are in season,” Gault said.
To reach PAULETTE LeBLANC / pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com, please email