By: Jessica Brockington
Marketing and Communications Officer at Baltimore Community Lending
Sekwan Merritt, founder and owner of Lightning Electric, didn’t just start a business—he sparked a movement. His company, an electrical contracting firm based in Baltimore, does more than wire buildings; it powers possibilities for people often left behind.
Lightning Electric handles everything from lighting retrofits and panel installations to full tenant fit-outs and commercial builds. But what truly sets it apart is its purpose: creating career opportunities for returning citizens and at-risk youth in Baltimore. “We hire the best people, period,” says Merritt. “A past doesn’t define your potential. We train our team to be sharp, skilled, and certified—and expect top-tier work.
Powering Forward from Setback
After a 2012 drug conviction, Merritt made a decision that would change everything. From behind prison walls, he poured himself into books on business, electrical codes, and entrepreneurship. A licensed electrician since 2005, he refined his skills working as a prison electrician and took 40 college credits through the Goucher College Prison Education Partnership. “That experience lit a fire in me,” he recalls. “We were expanding our minds every day.”
Upon release in 2017, Merritt wasted no time. He launched Lightning Electric, balancing residential work with his job as a paralegal while advocating for criminal justice reform. Early challenges didn’t deter him—instead, they became his fuel. When state licensing laws blocked him from testing for his Master Electrician license due to his record, he helped pass a bill to change that.
Soon, Lightning Electric began winning contracts, from retail shops like Downtown Locker Room to historic churches and government offices. Each project became a stepping stone toward something greater.
Breaking Through Barriers—One Bid at a Time
By 2020, the business faced another challenge: COVID-19. Denied Paycheck Protection Program support due to his criminal record, Merritt joined a legal battle to open SBA funding for entrepreneurs like himself. He won, and federal guidelines changed because of it.
Not only were these legal victories but it was proof that resilience pays off.
Today, Lightning Electric is leading significant commercial projects across the region. From upgrading lighting at over 70 FedEx facilities to wiring infrastructure for the City of Annapolis, the company has shown it can compete—and win—against long-established firms.
Building More Than a Building
The story of Lightning Electric found its most defining moment in a project that was both deeply personal and mission-aligned: the construction of the new Baltimore Community Lending (BCL) Headquarters. What began as a support relationship — with Sekwan Merritt as a small business client receiving technical assistance and financing to help scale his business — evolved into something far greater. Lightning Electric was awarded the $1 million electrical contract for the BCL Headquarters, marking the largest contract in the company’s history. This was a business win, but more importantly, it was a full-circle moment that embodied BCL’s mission — to empower underestimated entrepreneurs and build lasting community wealth. Through this project, Merritt didn’t just wire a building — he lit the way for what’s possible when capital, capacity, and community come together. What began as a simple question to U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen—“Who’s doing the electric work?”—evolved into a competitive 15-month pursuit of a dream contract.
That dream became reality.
At a time when Lightning Electric was facing growing pains and financial pressure, BCL’s vote of confidence changed everything. Merritt didn’t just see the job as a paycheck—he saw it as a purpose. He invested in training a community member instead of outsourcing leadership, turning the jobsite into a classroom and a pathway.
“This wasn’t just about conduit and lights,” Merritt says. “This building represents access, equity, and belief in what’s possible.”
From blueprint to breaker box, Merritt and his team powered through challenges—scope changes, material delays, labor hurdles—never losing sight of the larger vision. The final product is more than BCL’s new headquarters; it’s a testament to what happens when community capital meets community commitment.
A Vision That Mirrors a Mission
Lightning Electric’s evolution is a living example of what Baltimore Community Lending stands for—revitalizing neighborhoods through investment in people, not just property. Sekwan’s journey embodies the reason CDFIs exist: to fuel underestimated talent and create sustainable change from the inside out.
Now with larger contracts, an expanding team, and a reputation for excellence, Merritt sees even greater potential. He’s helping lead a Black Electricians Community to share knowledge and contracts. He’s preparing to teach apprentices. And he’s laying the foundation for hundreds of future jobs through his work on developments like Towns at Eager Park in East Baltimore.
“Give people a shot, and watch them build something powerful,” he says.
Lightning Electric is no longer just Merritt’s story—it’s Baltimore’s Story. It’s the story of transformation, of equity in action, and of what’s possible when we choose to believe in potential over pasts.