For some, the word “no” feels final—a slammed door, a dead end. For Scott Grafer, it has always been something else entirely. To him, “no” is simply a detour, a signal that the timing isn’t right just yet. His life and career are living proof that setbacks are often the first step to something greater.
Scott has always loved the problem-solving side of work and became known for asking sometimes uncomfortable questions that often led to solutions. That curiosity carried him through his life and career–a career that began in loss prevention where he worked with several corporations, and then moved on to engineering in a plastics molding company, designing products and managing teams.
In the early 2000s, that company shuttered their doors, but Scott wasn’t one to sit idle. He chose to pivot. He had always loved working with his hands and specifically, working on houses, so he launched a full-service remodeling business. At first it was an evenings and weekends gig, but soon it became a full-time venture.
The business thrived for years until another economic downturn. When he and his partner began to realize they were losing money, down to one employee, and his partner subsequently underwent a major medical emergency, Scott reimagined his path yet again. While building their remodeling company, he had gone to trade school to earn his electrician’s license to be able to add that specialty to the services they provided. So, he leaned into that experience and began seeking clients as an electrician. What began as neighbors calling him for small fixes—replacing switches, repairing lights—gradually grew into a new business.
He didn’t stay a one-man shop for long. Scott’s (now) son-in-law joined him, trading his job at a video game retailer for a career in the trades. Scott trained him up, helped him earn his license, and eventually trusted him to run daily field operations. After years of developing the company, Red Wire Electric was officially born in 2016 and today is a family-driven business that thrives on both expertise and trust.
The family aspect extends beyond blood ties. Over the years, Scott has opened doors for countless young people who wanted to test the trades. He’s invited students and aspiring electricians to shadow, learn, and get their hands dirty. Several discovered a passion that could shape their careers while others walked away knowing it wasn’t for them. But each grew from the experience.
Scott has a compassionate heart and is drawn to be of service to others. That instinct led him to Habitat for Humanity after reading a simple church bulletin announcement seeking a project manager. He assumed someone else would step up, but no one did, so he raised his hand. For three years, he led volunteer crews to build homes, often bringing his own remodeling team along.
As Red Wire grew, he committed to donating one full electrical project to Habitat each year. No invoices, no stress, no strings attached—just service. Habitat supplies the materials; Scott and his crew donate their time. The model is sustainable, rewarding, and purposeful.
But Scott’s journey doesn’t stop at building and wiring homes. A natural problem solver, frustrated with the antiquated system for storing and transporting spools of electrical wire, he dreamed up a tool–a wire management system for electricians. While many of us have ideas and concepts, not everyone has the talent, experience, and drive to bring that idea to life. Enter Scott Grafer. He designed, wrote a business plan, obtained a patent, and created a prototype. For years, he pitched manufacturers, invested personal and company monies, and sought additional funding, but hit dead ends and wondered if it was the end of the road.
Through every pivot and challenge, Scott has leaned on the steady support of his wife, Diane. Married 38 years, she has been his sounding board, cheerleader, and partner through every leap of faith. Their marriage has been his foundation, and it was her quiet confidence that ultimately gave him the nudge to launch what is now Stak Max.
After being turned down or over priced by nearly every plastic molding manufacturer, on a flight, Scott opened an airline magazine and spotted an ad for a plastics company in Wisconsin. He took a chance and gave them a call. To his surprise, their quote was affordable, their facility impressive, and within months Stak Max went from idea to reality.
This new partnership led retailers who once ignored him to began calling. Today, Stak Max is sold in nearly 100 electrical supply stores nationwide–proof that persistence matters as much as invention.
For Scott, life has been a series of pivots and pauses, each one leading to something greater than he first imagined. His story isn’t just about business or innovation—it’s about resilience, faith, and family. He has built his life on the belief that ‘no’ simply means ‘not right now’—a mantra that echoes through his journey. “Everything happens when it’s supposed to,” he says. “You can’t force it. You just have to be open.”
That openness has given Scott not only a successful business, Red Wire Electric, and an innovative product, Stak Max, but also a legacy of community service and mentorship. He’s grateful for the detours, the lessons, and even the hard stops. He continues to prove that persistence, patience, and purpose can turn setbacks into stepping stones and ideas into legacies.