2020’s 30 Under 30 EC&M Electrical All Stars

As electrical and construction firms power America, young up-and-coming professionals are hard at work, showing up to job sites at the crack of dawn and working tirelessly until the sun goes down. EC&M salutes these rising stars through its annual Under 30 All Stars recognition program.

After featuring 10 All Stars in 2018 and another 10 in 2019, the EC&M team decided to expand the number of honorees featured in this year’s compilation of profiles to 30 — thanks to the overwhelming amount of nominations received this year. This increased participation by electrical industry firms nominating their top employees under the age of 30 is a testament to the strong work ethic, growth, and talent of the younger generation.

The 2020 honorees range from journeymen electricians to engineers to project managers and even company partners and presidents. They hail from more than 20 states, and each of them has a different story to tell regarding how they entered the industry. Some of the individuals profiled were born to serve in the electrical industry as legacies of the trade while others discovered job opportunities via college career fairs, internships, and social connections. Despite their diverse backgrounds, they all have one trait in common: a passion for the electrical industry. Following are the stories of how this year’s “30 Under 30” became interested in their profession and what drives them to succeed.

2020’s Under 30 EC&M Electrical All Stars:

Susan Alfaro

Henry Anderson

Nick Barnhill

Austin Burrow

Samuel Bushay

Shawn Calter

Luis Chavez

Andrea Delgado Tripodi

Eddie Esperanza

Mark Freeh

Nathan Gilbo

Marcus Gomez

Oscar Gomez

Ed “James” Haberkorn

Ryan Hildebrandt

Todd Keith

Monique Meuret

Chris Moreno

Robert Mullen

Brenton Owens

Peter Pacholczuk

Thomas J. (TJ) Poole

Randy Qario

Bailey Quier

Andrew Schmitz

Blake Scipio

Jonathan Sefcik

Austin Stroup

Cody Vincent

Sean Woodhead

Fischbach is a freelance writer based in Overland Park, Kan. She can be reached at [email protected]. 

Sidebar: Secrets to Success from EC&M’s 30 Under 30

EC&M’s 2020 winners share their strategies for progressing in their careers and inspiring those around them.

Stay humble and don’t forget where you started. Andrea Delgado Tripodi says in today’s industry, it’s important to always look toward the future, be ambitious, and keep your mind open to new ideas, but don’t lose your voice.

Be willing to fail. T.J. Poole has found himself managing a large project with more than 80 employees through trial and error, and he had a strong willingness to learn from others around him.

Absorb and retain as much information as possible. Marcus Gomez of Sprig Electric says it takes a strong work ethic, the desire to be a perennial student of the industry, and the ability to effectively communicate a thought, concept, or desire.

Don’t let your guard down or get too comfortable. To learn, you must constantly push yourself, ask as many questions as you can, and use as many unique opportunities as possible, says Jonathan Sefcik.

Be detail-oriented. To keep both field and management personnel safe and successful, young professionals must be willing to learn and focus on the details, says Blake Scipio.

Show passion. Having a passion for what you are working on ensures you will do whatever it takes to see the success of your project.

Be willing to learn from others and see their point of view. No matter how much Eddie Esperanza knows or thinks he knows, he is open to other’s ideas. He asks questions if he is in doubt, and he respects others and their decisions.

Keep an open mind and be flexible. Things can look perfectly sound and organized on paper, but the real world always has wrenches to throw in the gears, James Haberkorn says. Given a setback or unforeseen roadblock, being able to adapt the plan, and think of creative and timely solutions will get you far, he says.

Gain a diverse educational background. Nathan Gilbo says what makes him stand out from others in the trade is his education in economics, which allows him to bring a different perspective to the table.

Become a problem solver. Always be willing to learn new ways of doing things because the industry is always changing, says Monique Meuret.

Push the limits. In a time of change, those electrical professionals who are pushing the changes and finding ways to reduce wastes in processes will forever have a home in the electrical industry, Ryan Hildebrandt says.

Be creative and inquisitive. As generational differences and technological developments pose challenges, up-and-coming professionals should be open-minded and quality driven, says Bailey Quier.

Tap into others’ skill sets. As a rookie in a team setting, it’s important to know when to lean on the team and when to check your ego at the door, says Henry Anderson.

Gain computer literacy. Young employees should receive both formal and informal training, and they should find a firm that shares these values, Anderson adds.

Research trends in construction. Then evaluate how these trends ultimately affect the electrical industry as a whole, says Samuel Bushay. For example, he has read countless books for electrical contracting and has used other resources, such as EC&M magazine, to stay current with the latest information regarding the industry.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Costly mistakes can be prevented if the younger employees pay attention and listen to others, says Nick Barnhill.

Take pride in your work. For Sean Woodhead, everything he touches or works on is a directly reflection of himself, so he takes pride in what he does and enjoys seeing the finished product.

Have the right mind-set. Each morning, Randy Qario sees every day as a new day, and he doesn’t let things get him down, and he is able to let things go. He is also a hard worker and he lets his goals be known.

Build relationships. Qario also builds relationships with others with trust, and by creating relationships, he has also been able to network with electricians nationwide.

Show optimism and have fun. In the electrical industry, a job will get stressful, but you must always look on the bright side of things and have a positive attitude, says Susan Alfaro.