His cowboy hat a signature mark, John Simonsen shows up as steadfast as the twang of a country music melody. Raised in Texas and calling Tennessee home since 1999, John has entrenched himself in the community one hat-tip welcome at a time.

Always showing up.

Quietly.

Consistently.

Professionally.

And kindly.

A child once met John in the hallway at church. He tipped his hat and said, "Hi."

She replied, "Wait here, Mr. John," and dashed off.

Five minutes later, she ran back to find John patiently waiting right where she had asked. A straw Hawaiian-style hat perched on her head, she tipped it and said, "Hi."

John laughed.

That's the kind of man he is—kind enough to greet a child and patient enough to wait.

It's perhaps his formula for fortitude—patience, kindness, and a whole lot of hard work. It takes all three to build a business from scratch...and then keep building it year after year.

John started electrical work right out of high school, slicing through the Texas heat, eager to perfect the trade. He moved up quickly, handling corporate jobs like Kroger and Walgreens, area libraries. The dream of beginning his own company simmered while his skill set sharpened.

After moving to Nashville, John continued climbing the electrical "grid." He continued working on large projects, adding area libraries such as Hermitage and Madison to his resume. John even did the electrical work for White House Middle School when it was built.

In those early Tennessee days, John met a copper-haired woman from Maine named Denise. Country music had brought her to the bustle of downtown Nashville. The two met, fell in love, and started dreaming together.

Moving to a friend's ranch in 2007, their craving for nature, serenity, and horses became a daily reality. It was this backdrop that gave John the freedom and focus to start his own company.

Denise reflects, "It really was God's timing. Now John could invest his time in finishing his licensure."

John passed on his first attempt.

"We started Copper Creek Electric, just the two of us and one helper."

"We've really just grown organically," Denise shares.

Now, with a team of 24—including a Project Manager & Estimator and a full-time Office Manager—Copper Creek is popping the seams off its current location in Millersville.

Expansion plans are underway, with the city approving a teardown and new build on the current property.

True to John's kindness quotient and savvy sense, he has invited the fire department to conduct training at the current facility. There is usefulness even in the teardown.

Hmmm...

I think that sounds like a life lesson too.

A member of the White House Area Chamber, involvement is something John reluctantly accepted simply because he doesn't want stage time. He's content to flip the lights at church, behind the scenes, tweaking the light board as needed.

That cream hat pops into most Chamber ribbon-cutting photos, Power Hour snapshots, community luncheons, and the occasional glitzy celebration.

(Don't worry. I'm pretty sure the cowboy boots are always there too.)

John's steadfastness speaks too loudly to ignore.

(Denise's too.)

Next time you see him, tip your hat—an imaginary one is just fine.

And tell him thank you.

John's keeping the Light on.

Check out their site to learn more.

Editor's Note: Denise and I could sit and talk about life for hours. She is a dear friend. So many of the Simeonsons' stories could dot our site—stories where they chose hope and love in the midst of grief and wrestling. I know those stories have only made them stronger. And it's that strength they infuse into their company every day.