Contrary to what some may believe, you don’t have to be a trained journeyman to join the team at New River Electrical. Damien Phillips recently joined the team after seeking to make an industry and lifestyle change.
Change of Industry, Change of Pace
Prior to signing on as a Project Manager for Substations, he gained experience in industrial construction during his time in management for a heavy highway and bridge construction company. After hearing about the benefits and culture of working for New River Electrical from current employees, he knew it would be a good fit.
“I was in overall management of bridge construction projects,” says Damien. “Bridges and substations are definitely different but the concept of running a safe and efficient construction project remains the same.”
Each of Damien’s days vary, but he spends most of his time visiting substation job sites and working with superintendents and foreman to make sure that the crew has everything they need to get the job done safely. On the customer-facing side, he works directly with current and potential customers by listening to their needs and bidding on projects to fit those needs.
In a fast-moving industry, Damien depended on his peers to get him up to speed:
“The support has been absolutely amazing.” he says. “It’s just a great group of people who are all in it with the same goals of not only being professional but focusing on safety. I’ve loved every second of it.”
For Damien, every project he has touched has been special for him because he has truly enjoyed everything he has worked on so far. The trust the leadership that NRE has given him to really dig in and get hands on quickly after joining the team made a huge impact.
Off Duty Dad
Damien adds that his transition to New River Electrical has also been one that has benefitted his family. When asked about his “hobbies” outside of work he simply said “just trying to keep up with my four daughters” with a smile.
With four daughters who are now starting to join sports and extra curricular activities at school, Damien is thankful for the extra time he now has to spend with his family.
“To sum it all up, this is a great company with a lot of great company. I’m just happy to be here and excited for what the future holds,” says Damien. It’s safe to say he plans to stick around for a long while.