In 1992, our founder, Steve Kath, launched what was then Lighting Retrofit, Inc. from a tiny one room office in Owatonna, MN. Two desks, two chairs, a typewriter (you read that right) and a strong commitment to lighting efficiency, he laid the foundation for the company we are today.

By 1994, Minnesota introduced a mandate requiring fluorescent lamps to be recycled. That sparked the creation of Retrofit Recycling, expanding our mission beyond lighting.

Through hard work and dedication, the company grew, evolved, and became The Retrofit Companies, Inc. As our recycling services expanded—from lamps and ballasts to batteries, electronics, and full-service lab packing for hazardous and non-hazardous waste—the word “recycling” no longer fully reflected what we did. We rebranded that division as Retrofit Environmental, which now serves nine states with our standard route trucks.

In 1998, Steve’s daughter, Wendy Fry, joined the environmental division. Over time, she took on several key roles, including serving as sales and marketing director for both our environmental and electrical services. When Steve retired in late 2016, Wendy became the second-generation owner and President in January 2017.

In 2022, our lighting business needed a new path. Rather than expanding nationally and increasing travel, Wendy chose to refocus on serving our regional markets and core customers—bringing us back into construction and renovation. Today, Retrofit Electric not only delivers energy-efficient lighting and controls solutions, but also provides full-service electrical work, construction, and renovation support. Our commitment to quality results and teamwork remain at the center of everything we do.