Turtle & Hughes, Linden, NJ, one of the nation’s largest privately-held industrial and power distributors, is celebrating its 100th anniversary on Jan. 29. According to the press release, Turtle & Hughes is using is its anniversary to raise the bar for driving sustainable solutions that will improve how people work, play and live in a time of profound energy transition.
As a fourth-generation, family-owned company – led by women through three eras including the present – Turtle intends to power its next 100 years by enabling its private and public sector customers across industry to achieve significant milestones. Turtle will build on its track record to date, transforming infrastructure in major airports, railways, bridges and ports across the country; building micro-grids; creating energy efficiencies in health care, commercial and artistic spaces; and contributing to a NASA Space Launch project.
“With innovation at our core, we are a young company at heart. We expect to achieve great heights for our customers by delivering extraordinary technical expertise with passion and a deep understanding of their businesses,” said Jayne Millard, Turtle’s executive chairman of the board and great-granddaughter of one of its founders, M.B. Turtle, in the press release. “In turn, we pledge to provide our employees with the tools and opportunities they need to advance their professionalism and care for their families. And together, we will complete the circle by making philanthropic contributions to advance the health and well-being of the communities we touch.”
In keeping with Turtle’s ethos of giving, Millard has announced the company’s goal to grant “100 Wishes for 100 Years,” a fundraising campaign benefitting Make-A-Wish. Millard serves as Vice Chair of the Board for Make-A-Wish International, whose mission is to create life-changing wishes for children living with critical illnesses, providing hope and joy during an otherwise difficult time.
Millard proudly hails from a line of women who were ahead of their time. Ethel Macnamara Turtle, after navigating through the Depression with her husband M.B Turtle, took the reins in the 1940s. Millard’s mother, Suzanne Turtle Millard, propelled growth by cementing strong customer relationships and an employee culture of trust. Jayne Millard, who has been at Turtle for 32 years and rose to CEO in 2010, has built the company’s omni-channel delivery platform and drives its vision for transformative sustainability projects around the world.
“Turtle is in a unique position to help customers address their most challenging business issues. We represent some of the most respected manufacturers in North America, and bring our expertise to bear in working with them, our supply chain partners and our customers to design solutions with real impact,” said Kathleen Shanahan, CEO of Turtle, in the release. Here are some examples of the projects it has worked on recently.
AIRPORTS
At Boston Logan International Airport, Turtle is advancing energy-efficient LED lighting for Terminal E, where President Joe Biden celebrated the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act airport funding project. At LAX, Turtle contributed to the "People Mover" Airport Metro Connector Transit Station, so riders can transfer quickly and easily between the airport and metro systems. And at JFK International Airport, Turtle is part of a major expansion including the new Terminal 1 and Terminal 6, partnering with EatonCorp. to provide key electrical components.
SOLAR & WIND BALANCE OF SYSTEMS
In Maryland, Turtle is providing all the balance of systems equipment for three solar installations that are expected to generate 34.5 million Kwh/year. Over the 25-year contract term, the anticipated greenhouse gas emissions reduction will be equal to removing 113,931 cars from the roads for a year.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS
Turtle is partnering with Hewitt Young Electric for the Chemung Waste Water Treatment Plant, the largest to be installed in Upstate NY in the last 10 years.
BOSTON'S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
As part of an $8 billion, 5-year capital investment plan by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Turtle provides product and energy-efficient lighting packages to renovate public transportation, linking neighborhoods that historically did not have access to fast and reliable service. By increasing ridership by more than 50,000 trips per day, this project will significantly reduce vehicle emissions.
NASA ARTEMIS PROGRAM
To advance NASA’s goal to put people back on the moon by 2024 Turtle partnered with Bechtel to supply LED lighting products in Stage 1 of the Mobile Launcher II construction. The majority of products came from Eaton's Crouse-Hinds.
“Much has changed since my great grandparents first opened our doors in 1923, but one thing remains constant: our ability to adapt and transform to the requirements of our customers, and our commitment to help each employee be the very best they can be — for themselves, their families, our customers and our company,” said Jayne Millard.
Turtle & Hughes is ranked # 18 on Electrical Wholesaling’s 2022 Top 150 ranking, with $572 million in sales, 600 employees and 14 locations.
