When Tom Gretz retired as President of Arlington Industries in April 30, 2026, the electrical industry said goodbye to far more than a company executive. It marked the retirement of one of the industry's most accomplished inventors, innovators, and leaders—a man whose ideas have made electrical installations faster, safer, and easier for contractors for nearly four decades at Arlington and more than 50 years in the industry.

For thousands of electricians, Tom Gretz's name may not be printed on the products they install every day, but his fingerprints are everywhere.

From Arlington's Snap2It® connectors and IN BOX® covers to Box Extenders, the 8412 series fittings, and hundreds of other innovations, Gretz helped redefine how electrical products are designed and installed. During his career, he earned more than 430 patents, with additional patents still pending at the time of his retirement.

A Career Built on Innovation

Tom Gretz joined Arlington Industries in 1987 as Vice President and General Manager, working alongside the late Tom Stark. Together they built Arlington into one of the industry's leading manufacturers of innovative electrical products, known for solving real-world installation problems.

Before Arlington, Gretz spent many years at Halex Company, ultimately becoming Vice President of Engineering and Services. Armed with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Cleveland State University and an MBA from Baldwin Wallace College, he combined engineering expertise with business insight—a rare combination that would define his career.

When Tom Stark unexpectedly passed away in early 2023, Gretz was appointed President of Arlington Industries. The transition was a natural one. For nearly four decades, he had been instrumental in the company's product development, manufacturing operations, and strategic direction.

An Inventor Who Never Lost Sight of the Installer

What separated Gretz from many inventors was his ability to understand the people using his products.

Every new Arlington product started with a practical question: How can we make this job easier?

That customer-first philosophy became one of Arlington's defining characteristics.

As longtime sales executive Ray Kennedy wrote in a retirement letter:

"Electrical contractors tell me all the time, 'We love Arlington.' They say that because you have invented so many items that make their job easier and better."

Those products didn't simply sell well—they became industry standards.

Leadership Through Listening

Despite his impressive technical accomplishments, those who worked with Gretz most often remember something else: his willingness to listen.

Representative Steve Peperis recalls meeting Gretz in the early 1990s, when both Arlington and his own agency were growing rapidly.

"What impressed me back then," he wrote, "was your sincerity when you spoke about anything in the industry, your vision for new products and your common sense approach. You backed up everything you said. And you always asked us for our opinion—and it mattered to you."

That openness extended beyond product development. Employees, manufacturers' representatives, distributors, and contractors all felt they had a voice.

Engineering Meets Business

Few people successfully balance engineering brilliance with operational leadership. Gretz did both.

While overseeing Arlington's manufacturing operations in Scranton, he continued inventing products at an extraordinary pace.

Kennedy marveled at that ability, writing:

"It has been amazing to me, how you were able to perform that function and still develop all these products."

His leadership style was calm but demanding. Peperis joked about one memorable product meeting:

"I told him, 'I felt like I just went 12 rounds with Ali!'"

Yet even those moments reflected Gretz's relentless drive to improve products and better serve customers.

Respect Earned Throughout the Industry

Gretz's influence extended well beyond Arlington.

In 2007, he was invited to join the prestigious Cosmos Club, an honor reserved for distinguished leaders in science, technology, engineering, law, government, and other professions whose work has made lasting contributions to society.

Throughout the electrical industry, colleagues came to recognize Gretz as someone equally comfortable discussing engineering details, manufacturing processes, marketing strategy, or customer needs.

Peperis perhaps summarized him best:

"I was always impressed with how well-rounded you were. Your manufacturing expertise, your salesmanship, your ability to talk to people, and have them completely understand you."

More Than Patents

For all the products he created, those closest to Gretz point first to his character.

Kennedy's retirement letter speaks not only about business achievements, but about the man behind them:

"I will always be grateful that I have had the opportunity to work for you all these years. But more important, you are a great friend and colleague."

Peperis echoed that sentiment:

"You always made us feel like we were part of the team. I wish some of the other manufacturers had that same approach."

A Lasting Legacy

The products Tom Gretz developed will continue to be installed in homes, schools, hospitals, office buildings, factories, and data centers for decades to come. His inventions have saved contractors countless hours, reduced installation costs, and solved problems that many once accepted as unavoidable.

Yet perhaps his greatest legacy is the culture of innovation he helped build at Arlington Industries—a company that continues to develop practical, contractor-focused solutions because of the foundation he helped establish.

As one chapter closes, the electrical industry celebrates a remarkable career defined not only by hundreds of patents, but by integrity, curiosity, humility, and an unwavering commitment to making the trade better.

For nearly four decades at Arlington Industries—and more than half a century in the electrical industry—Tom Gretz proved that the best innovations begin by listening to the people doing the work.

That is a legacy that will continue to inspire the industry for years to come.