BUILDING A BRIGHTER TOMORROW FOR MANY GENERATIONS: THE WOMAN WHO MADE FISKE ELECTRIC HAPPEN

Starting a business is never easy, and the beginning of Fiske Electric is no exception. The late Virgil Fiske is most often noted as the one who started the company, but in truth, his wife Ulanda is the one who had the idea and supported the dream.

The Beginning of a Dream

Virgil had been a union electrician while he and Ulanda raised their family in Arvada, Colorado. It got to be long hours and lots of driving around Denver, and eventually the family relocated just over an hour north to Fort Collins. Shortly after the move, Ulanda made the suggestion that would change everything: “Why don’t we start our own business?”

The decision was made. The couple gathered their resources, purchased a van, and Virgil started knocking on doors, building a customer base from the ground up. Ulanda dove in alongside her husband, learning and managing the financial side of the business, handling the bookkeeping, and ensuring everything ran smoothly. Their youngest son, Clifford, soon joined the business, helping to expand its reach and capabilities.

Growing Pains and Perseverance

In the early days, the Fiskes ran the business from their home. They converted a bedroom into an office and used their outbuildings for storage. Those first years were filled with challenges, but the couple remained committed. “Virgil used to say we worked out of a shoebox for years before we really got going,” Ulanda recalls. Her meticulous bookkeeping and organizational skills were instrumental in keeping the business on track, ensuring bills were paid and finances were carefully managed.

As demand grew, they moved operations into a small, rented building, eventually purchasing and renovating an old house to serve as their permanent office. A warehouse followed, allowing them to store more supplies and support larger projects. Ulanda was hands-on in each move.

Facing Hard Times

Like any business, theirs faced difficult seasons. In the 1980’s, the economic downturn was impacting Fiske Electric, too. “We thought at one time we might not even be able to keep going,” Ulanda says. The family made sacrifices, selling their acreage and making strategic financial moves to keep the business afloat. Thanks to Ulanda’s dedication and careful financial oversight, they were able to weather the storm. By the 1990s, things turned around, and the company saw significant growth.

What started out as a venture to support a single family was now able to support even more of the Fiske family. “And that’s how we always meant it to be,” Ulanda says. “Family working together.” Clifford and his cousin Kevin took on leadership roles, eventually taking over operations when Virgil retired in 1996. Their commitment to keeping the business family-run remained strong, with Clifford’s wife and daughter later stepping into key roles within the company.

A Business Built on Family Values

Virgil and Ulanda were warned about the dangers of working with family, but for them, the opposite proved true. “We never did argue,” Ulanda said. “It was always a great experience for us all.” Their ability to work together, respect one another, and prioritize the same values helped the company grow without sacrificing relationships. Those characteristics have been passed down through an additional three generations of family ownership.

With family as such an essential value to the company, it’s clear that Ulanda’s influence extended far beyond bookkeeping. She was the heart of the business, providing encouragement, stability, and the organizational structure that allowed it to thrive. Her role ensured that Virgil could focus on the technical aspects of the work while she kept the business running efficiently behind the scenes.

Looking Back

Reflecting on their journey, Ulanda has no regrets. “I’m glad we did it. I enjoyed working with my husband, and I enjoyed having a family company.”

The company’s success today is a testament to the foundation they built—one of resilience, dedication, and strong family ties. “It worked for us, and we really enjoyed it,” she says. “It’s much better than working for someone else.”

Ulanda held a formal role with Fiske Electric for 20 years and continues to enjoy retirement in 2025. Her daughter-in-law, and eventually her granddaughter filled her position in bookkeeping and accounting. She and Virgil were married for 71 years.