Helder Domingos – An American born in the Azores, is the Business Person of the Year in Clovis, California. – Novidades

For over 40 years, Helder Domingos has been a vital part of the Central Valley and the community of Clovis. Originating from the Azores and fleeing war-torn Angola at 18, he now owns the largest electrical contractor in the Central Valley.

At an early age, Helder had a strong interest in electrical components, which inspired him to earn his Degree in Industrial Technology at Fresno State in 1980. From there, his career journey began at Duncan Ceramics as an electrical engineer, followed by a 15-year tenure at Howe Electric. Then, he co-founded Westech Systems in 1997 with only two electricians in a small office.

In 2018, Helder became the sole owner of Westech Systems, which has grown into a 30,000-square-foot facility with 230 employees and five divisions, including Commercial, Residential, Solar, Underground Utilities, and Service. Residing in Clovis, Helder and his wife actively contribute to the community.

Their philanthropic endeavors extend deeply into Clovis, creating positive change through donations to local charities and scholarships and supporting all local hospitals. His notable initiatives include contributions to the Community Hospital Foundation, CUSD Foundation, Clovis Boys and Girls Club, the California 911 Memorial, and many other Memorials in our community. He is the major contributor to an essential scholarship program that enables student exchange between the Jordan College of Agriculture and Technology at Fresno State and the University of the Azores, Terceira Island campus.

It is an agriculture-focused curriculum, which is very dear to his heart. It provides opportunities for students from the Azores to travel to Fresno State to participate in a one-month program and students from Fresno State to journey to the Azores for a similar internship program, which showcases Helder’s dedication to education and cross cultural enrichment. He and his wife Cindy also generously contribute to the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute, created five years ago at Fresno State to preserve the history of the Portuguese-American community in the valley and create the narrative of this strong diaspora. He also sits on Fresno State’s Presidential Portuguese Leadership Council.

Helder’s story is a true testament to the American Dream, illustrating how hard work leads to individual success and fosters community prosperity. He is a proud American by choice, very proud of his Azorean upbringing, and contributes to our great multicultural American mosaic. Helder and Cindy Domingos are truly icons in the Central Valley. From Pico Island to a few years in Angola (then a Portuguese province) to the Central Valley, Helder Domingos embodies the best of the human spirit.

Helder and Cindy Domingos with students from the exchange program, faculty, and staff from Fresno State. A dinner they hosted at their beautiful home.

From Clovis Chamber of Commerce and NOVIDADES By Bruma Publications, Fresno State.

Look at the excellent oral history interview with Helder Domingos as part of the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute Central California Oral History Project at Fresno State in the Fresno State Library Special Collections.