Meet the Capital
Electric team:

“I want everyone on the team to feel like they’re never left to fail. That someone always has their back.”

Meet the Capital Electric Team: Mary Harpster, Operations Manager and CFO

At Capital Electric, there’s one person who ensures everything runs smoothly – operations, HR, finance, purchasing and even stepping into sales when needed. That person is Mary.

If you’ve ever wondered who keeps the wheels turning behind the scenes, look no further.

"My day starts with, “Do you have a minute? I have a question.” I like being the answer person, but more importantly, I want everyone to feel like they’re never left to fail. That someone always has their back."

Mary’s been with Capital for over 25 years, and in that time, she’s worn just about every imaginable hat we have!

“I’ve performed many of the positions here, so I can step in wherever help is needed,” she says.

But her primary role? Operations Manager and CFO, overseeing everything from internal processes to accounting, payroll and purchasing.

The dot connector who supports the team – always

Without a doubt, one of Mary’s biggest strengths is helping each and every team member see how their work connects to the bigger picture.

She calls herself the ‘dot connector.’

“If someone in sales writes up an order without clear instructions, it impacts the warehouse, the
billing process and ultimately the customer experience. My goal is to get people to think beyond
their own role – to understand how their decisions affect the entire operation.”

This extends beyond the internal team to how Capital serves customers too.

“We don’t tell customers, ‘Our process takes 24-48 hours.’ Instead, we say, ‘We'll get the
order out the door when you need it.’ We adapt to make things work for them.”

Building a culture of problem-solving and growth

At Capital, there’s a shared mindset: problems aren’t roadblocks, they’re challenges to
overcome.

“My biggest challenge was overcoming supply chain issues during COVID while training
someone new to take on purchasing,” she recalls. “Lead times went from weeks to a year or
more. Forecasting became impossible. But I love a challenge, so we just dug in and figured it
out.”

Mary embodies that problem-solving spirit better than anyone and as someone intricately
involved with HR, she makes sure to bring on people that align with the Capital mindset.

That attitude is ingrained in the company culture. Mary describes Capital as a place where
change is encouraged and it happens on the fly. No red tape. No endless meetings. Just
solutions.

“Let's figure out a better way to do this. I'm not married to any of my ideas or my
processes. I'm married to the idea of, let's work together better.”

Living Capital Electric’s values

For Mary, Capital Electric isn’t just a workplace for herself and her husband, Mike.

“Capital is an extension of Mike and I so there's really no way for us to behave differently or to
create different values because the values we bring to Capital – integrity, honesty, adaptability, a
commitment to our people and a problem-solving mentality – are inherent in who we are.”

And she sees that reflected in the team every day and the company’s success on a daily basis.

Beyond work: A passion for good food and good people

Outside of work, Mary is a self-proclaimed foodie. “I love to cook, and I put vitamin L, for vitamin
love, into everything I make.”

She’s also passionate about nutrition and supporting local farmers, which is why Mary’s a long-time member of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program.

“Knowing where your food comes from, eating well and supporting your local community; it all ties together. It’s about taking care of yourself and those around you.”

The heart of Capital Electric

Mary may be behind the scenes but her impact is felt in every corner of Capital Electric.

She’s the problem-solver, the guide and the person making sure everyone, from employees to customers, feel seen and heard.

“I want every member of our team to understand that their efforts and accomplishments are of more value to me than any singular accomplishment of mine. We truly are a team”.