2019’s Under 30 EC&M Electrical All Stars: Victor Livingston

Victor Livingston finishes up the switchgear for a company job. 

“Being in the electrical industry is in my blood,” he says.

During his childhood in Queens, New York, he worked in the warehouse to organize and send out material while still in elementary school. He also remembers seeing his father come home every night with rolls of blueprints.

“He would lay them out on the dining room table with his pencils, architect scale, and erasers and work for hours doing everything by hand — unlike today where a majority of the work is done using software,” Livingston says.

At first, Livingston leaned away from following in his family’s footsteps, but over the years, he developed an appreciation for the work performed by his father’s company and became intrigued with the electrical trade.

After studying business at CW Post, he earned a 3.9 GPA at an electrical trade school, which he considers one of the best decisions of his life.

“I learned so much, and with that knowledge came confidence in what I was doing, which truly jump-started my path in the direction I am currently going,” he says.

Today he is preparing for the practical for his New York City Master’s Electrician’s License.

Becoming a New York City M.E. is no easy task,” he says. “It takes a lot of time, experience, and knowledge.”

For the last decade, Livingston has worked for every facet of his family’s business from warehouse, material procurement, estimating, CAD drafting, bidding, and designing to hands-on field work. He says he is very fortunate to have the opportunity to be groomed in all aspects of the electrical business and learn both sides of the business — the field and the office.

Livingston handles business on both sides of the trade. 

His work days typically start at 5 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. or later, depending on whether he has continuing education classes. He does hands-on work in the field, helps to design prints, orders material, organizes the warehouse, and assists with estimating and bidding.

Livingston Electrical Associates specializes in high-rise new construction residential and hotel projects. Over the years, the contractor has performed work on such projects as a 1.3-million-square-foot mixed-use project, the award-winning “Jenga Building,” a high-end luxury condo project, the Marriott in Times Square, and more than 100 other projects.

“Each project is ground up and includes all the work covering temporary power, a permanent power distribution system, an emergency power distribution system, fire alarm system, deck work, branch circuitry, lighting, mechanical systems, low voltage, data, security, etc.,” he says.

In five to 10 years, Livingston sees himself taking over the family business and running one of the most successful electrical contracting companies in New York City. As he is being groomed in all aspects of the electrical business, long-time employees of his company have been with him every step of the way.

“I love and appreciate the people who have always supported and guided me,” he says. They taught me to never stop reaching for your goals and that if you put the work in results will follow.”

Times have changed, and technology is now increasing at an amazing speed, he says.

“From communication between owners, developers and contractors to designing jobs in 3D so you can truly grasp the scope of work ahead, tech is here to stay,” Livingston says. “Over the years, it will continue to integrate with all trades to make the jobs more efficient and profitable. Nothing will ever replace a true hard worker, but by utilizing these advancements in tech, we can make our jobs much easier and safer.”