A Legacy That Began in the 1930s
Matzinger-Keegan’s story stretches back to the 1930s, rooted in the early days of the electrical equipment supply industry. Iconic names like Westinghouse, McGraw Edison, the Empire State Building, and even the U.S. Navy played a part in shaping the lives of our founders and the origins of MKI.
During this era, Walter Matzinger managed the Westinghouse Electric Supply office in Los Angeles. His son, John Matzinger, would later chart his own course first graduating from USC’s School of Business, then gaining experience at RCA and Toastmaster. While with Toastmaster, he even spent time learning the business from an office in the Empire State Building.
The Beginning of Matzinger & Associates
Drawn back to California, John opened Matzinger & Associates in 1955 on 3rd Street in downtown Los Angeles. He launched the company with two partners Jim Johnson, formerly a purchasing agent for John’s father at Westinghouse, and Carolyn Matzinger, John’s wife, who somehow managed raising a family by day and running the inner workings of the company by night.
By 1962, the team had outgrown their space and moved to a larger location near Union Station on Willow Street, complete with 11,000 square feet of warehouse space and one of the ricketiest freight elevators ever approved by a building inspector.
Growth, Partnership, and New Horizons
In 1971 the company again expanded, moving to Long Beach right next to the Pacific Ocean, which always had a pull-on John. A few years later, in 1975, Doug Wells left Siemens to join the company, prompting a name change to Matzinger-Wells, Inc. Although the partnership was strong, Doug eventually followed his love for the mountains and moved to the Sierras. Before leaving, he helped bring on a new high-energy leader: Jack Keegan.
Jack joined in 1979 after serving as regional manager for McGraw-Edison, one of John’s principals. Before his time at McGraw-Edison, Jack was a U.S. Navy A-6 pilot and completed two tours aboard the USS Midway in Vietnam.
Together, John and Jack guided the company through significant growth. They also shared a key belief: the company should have a life independent of any single owner. To ensure that future, they decided to bring in a younger partner.
The Next Generation
In 1986, John’s son Rich Matzinger joined the company. Ten years later, MKI moved its offices to Irvine, CA—closer to the center of its sales territory.
After 42 years of leadership, John retired in 1997. He left behind a company with a sterling reputation built on values he lived daily: work hard, use unquestionable ethics, have fun and treat people with respect.
With Jack Keegan and Rich Matzinger at the helm, those values not only remained—they grew stronger. As MKI expanded, those same core principles guided the selection of every new team member, ensuring the company stayed true to its foundations.
Under Jack and Rich’s leadership, MKI helped its principals significantly grow their sales—resulting in MKI’s own growth of more than 100%, even through the challenges of industry deregulation, two recessions, and California’s 2001 energy crisis.
A New Era of Leadership and Expansion
In 2006, Rich Matzinger stepped into the role of President, leading the company for the next sixteen years. His tenure marked a period of steady expansion in sales, staffing, and regional presence. Among his many contributions, Rich spearheaded the company’s extension into Northern California in 2008 and reinforced the core principles established by MKI’s founders- work hard, use unquestionable ethics, have fun and treat people with respect.
After dedicating thirty-six years to the organization, Rich retired, entrusting MKI’s stewardship to Armando Elvira and Steve Peters, confident they would uphold the company’s legacy.
MKI Today
In 2022, Armando Elvira, now serving as President, began a new chapter of diversification for MKI. His vision broadened the company’s product offerings to better support the commercial industrial, data center, and electrical distribution sectors. Under Armando’s leadership, MKI continues to invest in top talent to strengthen its service to both customers and manufacturers.
Today, the company has grown into a team of eighteen highly skilled professionals, including nine Electrical Engineers and six inside salespeople all dedicated to delivering exceptional support.
Even as MKI continues its upward trajectory, Armando remains committed to preserving the company’s culture and the foundational values that have guided it for nearly a century