2022’s 30 Under 30 EC&M Electrical All Stars

Each year, EC&M crowns a select group of up-and-coming leaders in the electrical industry with its annual 30 Under 30 honor. This year, the group includes a diverse blend of young electrical professionals who are all working toward a brighter future for the electrical industry.

The 2022 Electrical All Stars work in the field as electricians or project managers or in the office as engineers or business owners. While some stumbled upon opportunities in the industry, others were literally born into the electrical trade. Levi McBride, an electrician for McBride-Owens, Inc. in North Carolina, is a prime example.

“The industry needs all the young people it can get, and it’s a great career to be in,” he says. “We need to learn as much as possible from the industry veterans while we still can.”

Tom Berch, superintendent for CRB Group in Maryland, agrees, saying that when they first enter the industry, young electrical professionals need to leave their ego at the door.

“Remember that just because you went to college doesn’t mean you know even remotely more than the tradesmen who have been doing the work since before you were born,” Berch says.

Even after they graduate from college/technical school or earn their project management certification/journeyman card, the 30 Under 30 are still trying to learn everything they can about the industry.

“You need to recognize that it takes a crew to construct a building, and you’re not going to have the answers right away,” says Kevin Compton, Trimble operator for Eldeco, Inc. “Being determined to find solutions is vital to success in the electrical industry.”

To gain a competitive edge, the up-and-coming leaders are staying in tune with new technologies and trends. For example, Cody Swayze, project manager at Smith Seckman Reid, says his company has invested in virtual reality on large projects to improve coordination on mechanical/electrical/plumbing systems both during design and construction.

“Much of today’s technologies are allowing engineers, architects, and contractors to work more closely than ever before in coordinating designs across all trades,” he says.

The following 30 electrical professionals are making their mark by transforming city skylines with new high-rise buildings, infusing their companies with knowledge about new technologies, and focusing on not only productivity, but also safety.

Sidebar: Advice for Aspiring Electrical Leaders

Each year, a new wave of new employees breaks into the electrical industry. Here are five tips from a few of the 2022 30 Under 30 Electrical All Stars.

1. Be vulnerable, and put yourself in a position of possible failure. Tyler Mize, group leader and senior electrical engineer at Mason & Hanger, Lexington, Ken., says having a strong safety net has allowed him to push himself to grow on a technical and personal level. “I’ve had mentors who have allowed me to stretch myself past my comfort zone into areas that are almost more than I can chew, without fear of screwing something up beyond repair.”

2. Never lose your curiosity. Brian Reyes, project manager/electrical designer at Reyes & Sons Electric, Inc. in Sylmar, Calif., says it takes a true interest in the trade to be successful as well as an open mind and an eagerness to learn. “There is so much you need to absorb because standards and codes are constantly changing, and you need to stay relevant. You need to know where the market is heading and quickly adapt to the changes.”

3. Further your knowledge of the unknown. If you come across a situation where you lack knowledge, ask questions, and do your own research so you can accomplish the task correctly and efficiently, says Jon Brantley, project manager at 5 Points Electrical in Norcross, Ga. “Take time out of your day to learn new ways to do things,” he says.

4. Go out in the field. For a young employee to succeed in the electrical industry, he or she needs to understand the project delivery process and then go out in the field to see what equipment looks like and how it is assembled and constructed, says Lilly Vang, an electrical engineer with CDM Smith in Maitland, Fla. “I gained a wealth of knowledge going out in the field, seeing equipment, collecting data, and meeting the electricians and maintenance staff and hearing their stories.”

5. Be in tune with the latest technology. Rebecca Richardson, commissioning EIT with Smith Seckman Reid in Crestview, Fla., says to stay up to date on trends, she listens to her company’s podcast on advances in technology, reads electrical magazines, and engages with on-site testing.