NAED Mourns The Passing of Sandra Rosecrans

tED magazine and the National Association of Electrical Distributors have learned of the death of former CEO and Owner of City Electric Company, Inc., Sandra Rosecrans.

Rosecrans was a part of electrical distribution for more than 37 years. She started her career in 1979 when she joined City Electric as vice president of administration. In 1992, she purchased 51% of the company and completed the purchase of the company, which was founded in 1919, in 1996. In April of 2018, Sonepar acquired the 12 City Electric branches.

Rosecrans is remembered as an active leader within the industry. Her involvement with NAED includes CAP Council, Government Affairs Committee, Eastern Region Council vice president, NAED Education & Research Foundation Chair, and NAED Chair in 2014. Rosecrans earned the prestigious NAED Trailblazer Award in 2016, and served on multiple panels to provide best practices to the industry at multiple conferences, including the Women In Industry Forum and LEAD.

Rosecrans and City Electric also earned the AD United States Member of the Year award in 2016.

Services will be held on Friday, February 28 at the Thomas J. Pirro, Jr. Funeral Home in Syracuse, New York.

Past NAED Trailblazer Award winners provided tED magazine with their memories of Sandra Rosecrans:

“My heart is broken. Sandy was an iconic leader, whose passion for our industry and its people was unmatched. Her gentle spirit, grace, and kindness were legendary. She was always there to help others, never expecting anything in return. Like so many others, I can say that knowing her inspired me to be a better leader and, more importantly, a better person.”  – Kathy Mazzarella, CEO and President, Graybar and 2015 NAED Trailblazer Award recipient

“I got to know Sandy through Women in Industry. She was an amazing person, having built City Electric into a strong regional distributor due to her strong work ethic and belief in the business. I’m not sure if you know this, but she spoke about maxing out her personal credit cards at one point to invest in the business. Despite her tremendous success, she was always a warm and approachable person, who had the ability to laugh at herself and at life. She won the Trailblazer Award in 2016, and was a role model for decency, humility and leadership.” – Desiree Grace, General Manager, Flex Wind and 2017 NAED Trailblazer Award recipient

“Sandy was an inspiration to me and so many other women in our industry.  She had a kind heart and a smart business head.  We will certainly miss her.” – Kathy Jo Van, Retired Senior Executive and 2018 NAED Trailblazer Award recipient

All of us at Turtle are deeply saddened by the passing of Sandy Rosencrans, the visionary entrepreneur and driving force behind City Electric. Her passion, leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence not only built a remarkable company but also inspired everyone who had the privilege of working alongside her. Sandy was more than just a leader; she was a mentor, an NAED trailblazer, and a friend whose impact will be felt for generations. Her legacy of courage, innovation, and kindness will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. – Jayne Millard, Chairman and CEO, Turtle and 2020 NAED Trailblazer Award recipient.

“Sandy embodied a servant leader, making time for everyone. Sandy was part of my AD networking group when I first started attending AD meetings. She was always willing to share her perspective and wisdom with me. When I got involved in NAED, Sandy was there to again mentor me and help me learn. I know Sandy provided this mentorship to many others. Sandy’s servant leader DNA will forever live in our industry.” – Wes Smith, NAED President and CEO