60 Years of God’s Grace & Goodness

To process transformer oil, Stan Myers formed a partnership with another electrical engineer. Together, they designed, assembled, and operated a Re-Refiner (or a Reclaimer) to refine the oil to “like-new” properties. Noticing the various conditions of the oil in transformers, Stan believed that the oil condition was a significant factor in the transformer’s reliability. He continued to study and research this subject to improve oil processing. Through his curiosity, research, and intuition, Stan was about to embark upon an entrepreneurial risk.

With an entrepreneurial vision to revolutionize transformer maintenance, Stan Myers launched his own business, called SDMyers, to maximize oil processing technology. The founding of SDMyers in 1965 marks the beginning of our legacy in helping customers understand the health of their transformers and maximize safety and reliability.

From the beginning, Stan Myers put the needs of his customers first. This customer-centric approach established the culture and DNA of the company that still exists to this day. The mantra of “helping customers spend the least in the short term to see the longest-term value” has impacted thousands of organizations with over half a million transformers.

Since its founding in 1965, SDMyers has featured Acts 4:12 in its marketing materials, flyers, and on the side of its trucks—a reflection of founder Stan Myers’ vision to build a company rooted in biblical values. The verse, which proclaims salvation through Jesus Christ alone, symbolizes Myers’ desire to never be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For Stan, the company was more than a transformer maintenance service—it was a platform to live out his faith, promote truth, and make the world a better place—a good place.

This foundational commitment continues to shape SDMyers’ culture, mission, and service. In the 1980s, Acts 4:12 became a permant part of the brand by being included in the SDMyers logo.

Stan Myers designed the “Re-Refiner” rig, one of the first pieces of equipment to remove moisture, gas, acids, and sludge from oil while transformers remained energized. With Stan leading his own company, he was able to design a more effective and versatile Reclaimer. The effectiveness of the new unit enabled it to re-dissolve sludges that were deposited in the transformer. By re-dissolving sludges, this unit not only cleaned the oil but also cleaned the interior of the transformer, thereby extending its lifespan.

Transformer Charley, used in SDMyers marketing and communications until the 1990s, helped spread awareness about transformer maintenance. Throughout the years, Charley has been featured in thousands of advertisements, brochures, truck graphics, training materials, and more. The early design drawings and concept for Charley were introduced by a marketing agency as an engaging, relatable side of the company. As we went to market under the name Transformer Consultants, a Division of SDMyers, Transformer Charley became the face of the organization.

SDMyers continues to make advancements and innovations in transformer oil reclaiming rigs and oil dehydration units for service throughout the country. The company also expanded into “Live” bushing cleaning to deal with issues created by natural deposits and pollution within substations. Contamination from these often resulted in noisy substations, damage to insulating surfaces, partial discharge, tracking flashover, and loss of power. 

God’s faithfulness continues as the company expands its services to reach the entire US. The fleet of industry-leading oil testing and servicing operations expanded to include five oil “Re-Refiners,” now referred to as Reclaimers, and eight Mobile Test Laboratories (MTLs) serving industries and utilities nationwide. The company also began offering Electrical Testing services for transformers and breakers. The knowledge developed from the last ten years of study and research on transformer oil was now being used to inform the company’s approach to transformer reliability, testing, and maintenance. This approach continued Stan’s vision to support the customer with everything they needed for transformer maintenance. 

SDMyers established The Transformer Maintenance Institute (TMI) to educate transformer owners and technicians on best practices for maintenance. The information that was being collected expanded beyond SDMyers’ ability to share through traditional sales literature and office visits with customers. To facilitate the communication of this knowledge to a broader audience, Stanley founded TMI for training, education, and development of industry professionals. In that same year, TMI began producing the seminar “An Introduction to the Half Century Transformer”, which has been presented to customers in various industries worldwide.

Stan continues to lead the organization with curiosity, research, and entrepreneurial risk as SDMyers establishes the first in-house laboratory for dissolved gas analysis and moisture-in-oil tests. This significant improvement provided a controlled environment for sensitive equipment not suitable for mobile operations. Transformer oil (also known as dielectric insulating liquid) plays a critical role in maintaining the reliability and safety of power transformers.

SDMyers’ in-house testing laboratory has grown with over five decades of experience and expertise. The lab, which began here in 1977, is staffed by transformer experts, PhD-level chemists, and trained technicians, offering a unique combination of analytical precision and transformer-specific insight. From the beginning, SDMyers focused on providing customers clear, actionable recommendations to extend equipment life and ensure system reliability.

The Transformer Maintenance Institute (TMI) emerges as the industry’s top provider of transformer maintenance training. As the go-to source for transformer maintenance education, TMI offered hands-on courses, seminars, and workshops to thousands of participants across the nation. Since 1979, training programs developed by SDMyers have equipped over an estimated 35,000 professionals, including electrical and reliability engineers, facility managers, maintenance supervisors, technicians, utility asset managers, and more.

These individuals have gained the skills and confidence needed to prevent failures, extend asset lifespan, and ensure operational uptime. This growth exemplifies our aim of valuing people and creating opportunities for them to reach their full potential. Currently, training is provided through our sister company, PowerPro 360.

SDMyers publishes the first edition of A Guide to Transformer Maintenance. The guide is an end-to-end reference that covers the full asset lifecycle, from purchase and commissioning to preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and responsible end-of-life planning. The book quickly became the trusted resource for maintenance leaders who need practical checklists, test interpretations, and decision frameworks—not just theory—to maximize reliability and ROI. In 2004, the third edition of the guide combined 39 years of field experience, detailing failure modes, fluid management, diagnostics, test thresholds, and maintenance intervals, all written for owner-operators who work to keep power on and reduce risk.

Today, work is underway on the fourth edition, expanding the guide with 60 years of SDMyers research, data, and hands-on experience—including millions of lab results and decades of field service insights.

In the mid-20th century, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were widely used in electrical equipment because of their thermal stability and dielectric properties. However, this had significant downsides due to the persistence of PCBs and their harmful effects on health and the environment. By the late 1970s, regulations had become stricter, forcing owners to make tough choices—either retire otherwise healthy transformers or find a reliable way to eliminate PCB risks and remain compliant. SDMyers stepped in to fill that gap by developing a chemical treatment and processing workflow—referred to as “PCB-gone”—that removes PCBs from transformer insulating liquids, allowing units to be reclassified as “Non-PCB.”

SDMyers pioneered a practical, well-documented process that turned a complex environmental challenge into a trusted solution for owners. That dedication continues today, with PCB testing, data-backed verification, and proven field procedures that help keep transformer fleets compliant, reliable, and safe.

As SDMyers continued to grow, the company relocated to a larger 169,000 sq. ft. facility in Tallmadge, OH. The SDMyers legacy has never been measured solely by financial gain, technological progress, or the size of our building. It’s found in what we pass down—our faith, our stories, our values, and our witness. Moving into our larger space in 1986 allowed the company to continue blessing its employees, customers, and community in ways that honor God and serve others. 

Dana Myers was chosen to succeed his father as the second CEO, carrying the legacy forward. Having grown up around the shop, the lab, and customer sites, Dana brought a deep, hands-on understanding of the work, the people who do it, and why it matters. Under Dana’s leadership, SDMyers doubled down on what makes the company unique—practical training, trustworthy diagnostics, responsive service—while modernizing how it is delivered: expanding data-informed decision-making, strengthening safety and quality systems, and broadening offerings across testing, field service, and reliability planning.

Where Stan had pioneered the path for nearly 25 years, Dana now took over as a second-generation steward of the organization, scaling the business with the same mission, heart, and passion.

SDMyers continues expanding its mobile fleet and nationwide service capabilities. By heavily investing in a larger, better-equipped mobile fleet during the 1990s, SDMyers transformed on-site service into a true extension of its lab and engineering teams. Purpose-built rigs and trailers were standardized for safety and consistency, allowing crews to process oil, collect diagnostic samples, perform field repairs, and carry out electrical tests and inspections without removing units from service longer than necessary.

The coast-to-coast coverage by Field Service Crews and Mobile Diagnostic Technicians (MDTs), now known as Field Inspection Technicians (FITs), helped customers improve reliability and reduce downtime. The 1990s established the foundation for today’s trusted, reliable, and scalable field service and technician model at SDMyers. 

When SDMyers launched Lab Online in the mid-2000s, customers finally had digital access to their transformer oil test history in one place—no more chasing PDFs or spreadsheets. Every sample result is organized by site, unit, and component in the portal, allowing teams to view trends over time (including DGA, moisture, acidity, IFT, dielectric strength, furans, PCB screens, and more). But access was only the start—the real win is context. Lab Online pairs customer test results with SDMyers’ expert assessment and diagnostics, helping transformer owners understand what each data point and result means, why it matters, and what to do next.

Scott Myers takes over as President of SDMyers, succeeding his brother Dana, and becoming the third within the Myers family to lead the company. Initially, throughout high school and college, Scott had no interest in working at his father’s company. However, after starting in a field service role, Scott saw how the company was making a difference. What kept him at the company was the people he worked alongside and the culture that was being built at SDMyers to serve customers with excellence and a deeper purpose. After more than 40 years with the organization, Scott has held numerous roles and positions. He currently serves as a Board Member at Good Place Holdings (the holding company of SDMyers) and is the author of Good Place Philosophy and Principles.

The release of the first Spanish-language edition of the Transformer Maintenance Guide in 2002 marked a significant step toward making SDMyers training truly global. By providing the same practical checklists, diagnostic thresholds, and step-by-step maintenance procedures in Spanish, SDMyers’ training department was now able to empower utilities, industrial plants, campuses, and service partners by breaking down language barriers with a common playbook across North America and internationally. Instructors integrated the guide into Spanish-led courses and seminars, supported by visuals, glossaries, and scenario-based exercises that linked classroom learning to real-world troubleshooting and maintenance activities. 

SDMyers reestablished a dedicated field service team, bringing expertise directly to customers. The company focused on hiring, training, and developing a disciplined field service crew composed of veteran technicians and contractors. Growing the fleet and crew allowed for a more seamless approach to maintenance, repairs, and quickly turning diagnoses into action. This investment created a reliable, scalable operation that now completes over 400 jobs per year nationwide—from fluid processing and vacuum fills to electrical testing, inspections, and emergency response—delivering consistent, data-backed results wherever customers need support to keep their operations running.

SDMyers introduced SampleSafe®, an external oil-sampling device that mounts on the outside of cabinet transformers so technicians can pull samples without opening the door—dramatically reducing exposure to energized parts and arc-flash hazards. SampleSafe is the safest way to obtain oil samples from cabinet transformers, supporting compliance with NFPA 70E guidelines. This innovative engineered product eliminates the need for bulky PPE or de-energization, helping to avoid shutdowns. The result is faster, safer, and more consistent sampling with added convenience and less risk.