Chris Jarrett

Job Title: Business Unit Manager of Engineering and Testing

Company: Elm Electrical, Inc.

Location: Westfield, Mass.

Age: 29

Years on the Job: 8

Interests: Spending time with his wife and daughter, running a small farm, and doing asphalt oval track racing

Chris Jarrett’s family knew he would be an engineer from very early on. As the son of a mechanical engineer, everything mechanical came very naturally to him.

“Electrical always seemed to be the one missing piece of the puzzle, and that is why I decided to pursue an education in electrical engineering,” said Jarrett, who was born and raised in South Hadley, Mass.

To fulfill his dream of working as an electrical engineer with hands-on understanding, he began working as an electrical apprentice on commercial and industrial jobs for Elm Electrical during his summer breaks. Eventually, he had the opportunity to work with a professional engineer to learn how to conduct power system studies and design/build projects.

After graduating with his bachelor’s degree, he began working full-time and pursued his master’s degree in power systems management at WPI through its online program, graduating in 2022.

As the business unit manager for the Power Engineering and Electrical Testing division, he spends his days on project quoting, design, management, execution, and closeout/invoicing. This also includes managing the day-to-day operations of the business unit and supporting the team's continued development.

“My favorite part of my current role is seeing our team succeed, especially when a new concept clicks for a technician,” he said. “It is extremely rewarding to teach the theory behind a piece of equipment, test its functionality, and get that 'ah-ha' moment when something clicks.”

His company is currently working on projects specializing in renewable energy, infrared scanning, and power system studies.

“It is very rewarding to see a project through to completion and then get to commission a site to its final operating stage,” he said.

In the future, he’d like to see the department continue to grow with new engineers and technicians.

“I aim to do this by continuing to bridge the gap between hands-on and theoretical skills, teaching young technicians the theory of electrical engineering, and teaching the hands-on and ingenuity of journeymen to our engineers,” he said.

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