Clay Gallagher

Job Title: Project Manager

Company: Core States Group

Location: Ontario, Calif.

Age: 29

Years on the Job: 2

Interests: Playing golf, going to the beach, hiking, and camping

Clay Gallagher first got interested in the electrical industry through his prior work in telecom. As the industry began to change, EV charging emerged as the next big thing.

“It felt like a natural extension of the work I was already doing, but with a new level of impact,” said Gallagher, who grew up in Petaluma, Calif. “Instead of just supporting communications infrastructure, I had the opportunity to help build the electrical infrastructure needed for transportation, sustainability, and future energy demand. That shift is what really drew me further into the electrical industry.”

As a graduate of San Diego State University, he gained much of his experience by jumping into the workforce right after college. His education and prior employment gave him a strong foundation in project management, technical coordination, and problem solving, which helped him to prepare for his current role.

During his workday, he coordinates with engineers for design deliverables, tracks permits and utility designs, reviews project financials, and manages project schedules.

“One of my favorite parts of my current role is seeing a project move from the very beginning stages to being fully constructed and operational,” he said. “It’s rewarding to be involved in the design and coordination process and see all of that work come together in the field.”

Currently, his company is working on several EV charging infrastructure projects, including fleet charging sites and public charging facilities with major EV charging companies. He supports these projects by managing design, permitting, and utility coordination.

To succeed on more complex, fast-moving projects, technology plays a key role, he said. For example, his company is focused on implementing AI to improve efficiency and reduce costs. As a project manager, he’s looking at ways AI can help with document review, coordination, and repetitive administrative tasks.

Over the next five years, he sees himself in a project manager role where he can oversee larger groups of projects, support project teams, and help to improve how work is planned and delivered. In the next decade, he hopes to grow into a director-level role, where he can help to lead strategy and have a larger impact on the company.

“I plan to reach those goals by continuing to learn from the people around me, building my technical and construction knowledge, and taking on new challenges,” he said.

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