The Leaders in Utility
Maintenance and Construction
Our Passion and Purpose is to keep the lights on and to empower people to reach farther and higher in their professional pursuits.
Established in 2009, State Line Construction and Maintenance is a Detroit-based utility construction and maintenance company comprised of seasoned utility lineman with an average experience of 20 years or more performing overhead and underground work. Stateline is committed to delivering value and identifying savings when possible for our customers. We share the same belief in placing significant value and take great pride in improving, modernizing and maintaining the infrastructure of our customer’s property. Our team of dedicated, qualified and professional team members has worked in various electrical systems.
Meet the executive team
ERNEST L. COGER JR
Partner & Chief Executive Officer
Ernest L. Coger Jr has over 25 years of experience in the construction and maintenance of overhead and underground utility work. He draws his extensive utility experience from working in multiple utility settings such as Consumers Energy, Bay City Light and Power as well as the City of Detroit’s Public Lighting Department. Ernest became a sought after instructor by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). He taught Electrical Theory for 19 years at IBEW in Detroit, MI as well as in Bay City, MI. Many of those students have gone on to become excellent linemen for companies in the Metro Detroit area or elsewhere. His understanding of how students learn in multiple ways gave him the edge to assist them in becoming knowledgeable both in theory and practice.
Ernest was Bay City’s Safety Coordinator and in this role, he oversaw the proper and safe procedures for its team of utility workers. Ernest has led Stateline to its unprecedented growth that is founded on strong principles of work ethic and core values that continue to define the company today. He believes in providing the environment and culture that fosters employees to be empowered, to be innovative, to be entrepreneurial, to be a change agent but most of all to be a person that leads by example.
MELANIE STEELE
Partner & Chief Operating Officer
Melanie Steele is a Partner and Chief Operating Officer for Stateline. Melanie oversees all facets of the company’s operations from Marketing, Sales, Operations, IT and Finance. She was recently named Crain’s 40 under 40 for the extraordinary contributions she has made both to her former employment and her community. She has led an award winning team and works to bring to bear similar successes to Stateline. Her expertise in strategic planning, productivity and efficiency will add depth and breadth to Stateline’s key strengths. Melanie provides project oversight and brings Stateline’s seasoned team to assist, train and start the project implementation phase for its clients. She combines entrepreneurial drive with aggressive business strategies to enhance the overall quality, productivity and bottom line performance. Melanie has cultivated and managed accounts valued at over $50M.
Melanie attended University of Detroit Mercy with a degree in Political Science, completed classes at Walsh College for Project Management and successfully completed training as an energy manager at The Association of Energy Engineers. She regularly takes Executive Education classes at University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business focusing on leadership, strategy and high performance. She has also created energy efficient curriculum and taught at Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP), Pontiac School District and Detroit Edison Public School Academy (DEPSA).
