ELLIOT HOLT
Title: Assistant Project Manager
Company: Sullivan and McLaughlin Companies
Location: Boston
Age: 25
Years on the job: 1 year, 8 months
From the time he was a child living on the south shore of Massachusetts, Elliot Holt had a strong aptitude for science, technology, and math. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Holt spent time with his uncle installing photovoltaic panels and working for a general contractor during his summers.
“The work was hands-on and provided me with the opportunity to oversee aspects of a renovation project,” Holt says.
After high school, Holt took courses in civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering and business and management from the University of Vermont. He earned his bachelor’s of science degree in electrical engineering, and upon joining Sullivan and McLaughlin Companies, he was able to help deliver the complex electrical backbone of modern facilities.
At his company, he has learned that while different jobs share similarities, they also have unique challenges, which creates many opportunities to learn.
“Whether it’s keeping up with Boston Fire Department code changes, coordinating the control of high-rise stair pressurization, or working with a new lighting manufacturer to ensure fixtures arrive on time, you can always expect to run into something you haven’t seen before in this advancing industry,” he says.
Holt started out in the estimating department, where he learned how to create accurate estimates under short time lines. During this time, he learned the company’s system, took time to explore an estimating and project management software, and learn its features and functions. He quickly became an expert in the software, and he became proficient at using it to its full extent with counting, overlaying drawings and other functions, which helped the team members become more efficient at estimating.
His ability to understand electrical drawings and systems allowed him to develop into one of the more detail-oriented electrical estimators at the company, says Shaun Mellett, electrical construction division manager. For example, he was assigned to estimate very complex fire alarm systems on the largest projects Sullivan & McLaughlin has been awarded in the last 16 months.
“His ability to master software functions rapidly has helped him to become expert in our companies’ estimating software, Excel tracking software, and our project management software,” Mellett says. “Other team members will go to Elliot for help in setting up all programs in the most efficient manner. Elliot continues to impress everyone around him, with his ability to use technology in the most effective and innovative ways.”
Holt says the ability to integrate technology and leverage it will continue to provide a competitive advantage to firms successfully employing it and to the clients they serve. For example, electrical professionals can share and change common documents in the cloud, automate and integrate estimating, project management and performance reporting information, or perform 3D project modeling, project simulation, tracking, and issues reporting/resolution.
“All these and other changes will help us work more efficiently, eliminating duplication of effort, manual work, reducing errors, and leading to improvements in the quality, cost and value of the work we are able to deliver to our clients,” he says. “These efficiencies will allow for the expansion of projects bid on and the management of projects won.”
In the future, Holt would like to grow into a position as a senior leader where he is responsible for a significant portion of a firm’s operations and its development.
“My goal is to create a great work environment,” Holt says. “I would also like to continually seek out changes that improve the service and value we deliver to our customers. Finally, I want to support a competitive market advantage in the recruitment and retention of top talent, market share growth, and bottom line company performance.”
