AJ Butera
Job Title: Project Manager
Company: Power Design, Inc.
Location: St. Petersburg, Fla.
Age: 27
Years on the Job: 6
Interests: Going to the beach, attending sporting events, hanging out with friends, and traveling
With a grandfather who worked as a residential electrical contractor, AJ Butera was always fascinated by how things worked and enjoyed working with his hands. His friend recommended he check out Power Design, where he currently is a project manager.
“I found the hands-on experience to be very interesting and rewarding,” he says. “Now I am working on the same materials and tools my grandfather used when he was working in the electrical trade.”
As the project manager, Butera is in charge of safety, construction, and manpower for two high-rise luxury-living buildings with challenging builds.
Butera, who earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Rhode Island, spends several weeks in the field to learn about the installation of electrical equipment. As a new project manager, he reviews drawings, attends weekly meetings, and manages the budget.
“I enjoy the fast-paced movement of the projects and building something that is tangible,” he says. “At the end of the project, there is a new high rise that is now a part of the Austin or Dallas skyline.”
While he is based in St. Pete, he flies to the job sites in Texas once a month to walk the site, meet with customers, work with the field team, and update upper management. He enjoys traveling and performing hands-on work when on site.
He says technology is vitally important for electrical subcontractors.
“I think the electrical field is going through a revolution at the moment,” he says. “Today everyone is connected by technology, even at home.”
In the future, he sees himself continuing to grow at Power Design and climbing the management ladder to become a project executive. He said he is honored to be part of the EC&M 30 Under 30.
“This recognition is something I am proud of, and it motivates me to work harder,” he says.
