IEC Supply Founder Mike Zielinski Retires; Son Matt Zielinski Named President and Owner

After more than 40 years of leadership, entrepreneurship, and service to Arizona’s industrial automation community, Mike Zielinski, founder of IEC Supply, Tempe, AZ, has announced his retirement. The company, which he and his wife Terri founded in 1985, will now be led by their son, Matt Zielinski, who assumes the role of president and owner.

From its humble beginnings as a two-person operation, Mike in sales and Terri managing the finances, IEC Supply has grown into a respected leader in automation, electrical, and control solutions across the Southwest. The company’s success is rooted in a strong commitment to customer service, technical expertise, and lasting partnerships with both customers and suppliers.

Mike Zielinski shared some reflections on his career with IEC:

“Terri and I started IEC Supply with a simple idea: to build a company that cared about its customers and partners as much as we cared about each other. We didn’t have a big team or a big budget, just determination, hard work, and a belief that doing the right thing would pay off. Looking back now, I’m deeply grateful for everyone who believed in us, our customers, suppliers, and incredible employees who helped make this dream real.”

Mike’s entrepreneurial story began long before IEC Supply. At age nine, he ran his first business — a paper route — and by fourteen, he was already working “on the side” for an electrician, setting the foundation for a lifetime in the electrical industry. After earning admission to the University of Illinois through sheer determination, Mike began his career with Allen-Bradley, later joining Cutler-Hammer, and eventually moving to Arizona as a sales engineer. In 1985, driven by a lifelong dream of independence and innovation, he founded IEC Supply.

As Mike steps into retirement, leadership of IEC Supply passes to the next generation.
His son Matt Zielinski has been part of the company for nearly a decade and has played a pivotal role in its growth and modernization.

Matt graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Chemical Engineering and began his career as a Business Manager at PolyOne, where he spent six years building expertise in materials and manufacturing industries. He joined IEC Supply as a sales engineer, later serving as VP of Sales for six years before being named president in 2024.

Under Matt’s leadership, IEC Supply continues to expand its solutions and strengthen its partnerships, staying true to the company’s founding principles while embracing new technologies and opportunities.

“I’ve been fortunate to learn from my dad, not just about business, but about integrity, relationships, and perseverance,” said Matt Zielinski. “IEC Supply was built on trust, hard work, and a commitment to doing what’s right for our customers and suppliers. I’m honored to carry that legacy forward and excited about the future we’re building together.”

“Watching Matt lead this company makes me proud,” added Mike. “He’s brought fresh ideas and energy while honoring the values we started with. IEC Supply is in great hands.”

For four decades, IEC Supply has partnered with leading manufacturers and supported industries across Arizona with technical expertise, responsive service, and personal touch. As the company celebrates this milestone, its leadership remains focused on the future, committed to helping customers solve challenges, adopt new technologies, and thrive in a changing world.