Employee News

Team News

New Employees and Position Changes

Michael Augustine Warehouse Assistant, Henrietta Office David Butts Design & Fabrication BIM Coordinator, Construction Services

Brian Chamberlain Safety Coordinator, Buffalo Office Jim Chase Estimator, Victor Office Scott Collins Truck Driver, Syracuse Office Robyn Cull Accounts Payable Specialist, Victor Office

Troy D'Agostino Warehouse Assistant/Truck Driver, Henrietta Office John Danvir TEGG Engineer, Technical Services Peter Dawes TEGG Engineer, Technical Services Trista Dennis Project Coordinator, Syracuse Office Wayne Dunton TEGG Engineer, Technical Services Jacqueline Finlayson TEGG Engineer, Technical Services Paul Hefti Project Manager, Syracuse Office Cody LaPack Cost Accountant, Victor Office Jack McCarthy IT Specialist, Victor Office Jennie Morrow Office Admin/Project Coordinator, Albany Office Kelley Nudd Executive Administrative Assistant, Victor Office

Sam Obermayer Project Manager, Syracuse Office

Robert Pelletier Safety Coordinator, Power Group Diane Pepe Buyer, Victor Office Alexander Robinson Safety Coordinator, Power Group Kevin Sullivan TEGG Engineer, Technical Services Brooke Tegas Project Coordinator, Technical Services Brian Tripoli Payroll Specialist, Victor Office Zach Zielke Project Coordinator, Power Group Kim Senn Billing Specialist, Victor Office

Help Spread The Word!

Email employee news to john.miller@oconnellelectric.com

Joe Turri to Serve as OCE General Counsel

Joe has served as O’Connell’s outside legal counsel for forty years while as a partner at Harris Beach PLLC and upon his retirement in 2018, he began his role as the company’s General Council based in our Victor Headquarters Office. Joe has also been a member of the company’s board of directors for ten years. Joe’s career focused on construction law including contract drafting, administration and dispute resolution through arbitration or litigation. He also represented clients in commercial litigation, including employment, partnership and corporate disputes, and in commercial real estate counseling. Joe is experienced in municipal and zoning law, commercial workouts and intra-company litigation. He has represented a broad range of public and private sector employers, owners and contractors, as well as architects, engineers and surety/insurance companies. Joe has been recognized by the industry leading guide, The Best Lawyers in America, 2007 to 2018 (as Lawyer of The Year in Construction litigation, 2016, Lawyer of The Year in Construction Law, 2015, and Construction Law for Litigation, 2007). He has also been recognized by the prominent rating service “Super Lawyers” for Construction Litigation. New York Magazine named Joe among New York State’s “Top Construction Lawyers” for three consecutive years. On the American Registry, he has been cited as America’s Most Honored Professionals from 2011 – 2017. Joe received the Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award for Construction in 2017. Joe received his Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and his Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School.

SAL BALBI TEGG Technician of the Year

Every day is different in the field, and that's what fuels Sal, a Technician for OCE's Technical Services Division. His continuing dedication to develop as a professional helped him become TEGG's 2017 Technician of The Year.

Sal grew up in Hamlin, NY, where he still lives today with his wife and four children. He has been working for OCE for eighteen years, and as a Testing Technician for eight years.

Many times I walk into situations where there is an unresolved issue or problem on site. Being able to step up to the plate and resolve any loose ends is critical. Leaving a project knowing that you met or exceeded the customers’ expectations or needs is very rewarding.

Sue and Jon McNally

Susan Parkes McNally Honored at Inaugural Women of Excellence Gala

Sue received the first-ever Rochester Business Journal Women of Excellence Award, joining the ranks of Rochester's most inspiring women! The 2018 inaugural class featured 34 women from a variety of industries. They all have achieved professional excellence, display a commitment to community service, and embrace having a positive impact on others by serving as a mentor.

Sue was nominated in recognition of her leadership working in key management capacities in varied roles as Executive Vice President of O’Connell Electric. She has more than 45 years of experience in the construction industry and manages all of O’Connell’s human resource functions, policies, and programs as well as the administration and reception departments. In addition to supporting O’Connell’s corporate strategic initiatives, Sue organizes all corporate events and the company’s philanthropic initiatives. She is a founding family member and board member of The Mary Parkes Center for Asthma, Allergy, and Pulmonary Care as well as the Walter and Carmina Parkes Family Foundation. She has also served at different committee and board capacities for the University of Rochester, The American Lung Association, the Pluta Cancer Center, Fairport Central School District, the Harley School, Horizons at Harley, and more.

Victor Salerno Receives Rochester Rotary Award

This summer, Vic was honored as the 81st recipient of the Rochester Rotary Award, the oldest, most prestigious civic award in Rochester. Rochester Rotary honored Vic for his service as a philanthropist and community volunteer, most notably to St. John Fisher College, the Rochester Museum & Science Center and the local IBEW. The Rochester Rotary Award recognizes community members who personify Rotary’s “Service Above Self” motto and who demonstrate exceptional community spirit, touch the lives of many citizens, serve as a positive role model, and share wisdom and knowledge to empower others.

Eileen and Vic Salerno

Vic is arguably one of the most generous and committed volunteer members of the Rochester community in addition to being a highly qualified and successful business leader at O'Connell Electric. He is also one of the most decent, hardworking, and ethical human beings I have ever known. ~ Donald Bain, President Emeritus - St. John Fisher College

Dave D'Ettorre Project Manager, Communications Dave was elected as Chair Person for the ASIS WNY Chapter. He also received a Meritorious Service Award at the annual ASIS Conference this year in recognition of his work to foster the spirit of goodwill and professionalism with ASIS International. John Miller Marketing Manager John was elected as a Board Member for the Victor Chamber of Commerce and as a Board Member for the Rochester Junior Builders Exchange.

Brad Keatley General Manager, Buffalo Brad was elected as President of the Western, NY NECA Chapter. This is Brad's third term as President.

Joe Pellerite Executive VP

Joe was re-elected to serve in a Board Position for the Western, NY NECA Chapter, and has also been re-elected to a three-year term for the Finger Lakes Workforce Development Board. Dave Emmi Project Manager - Power Group Dave was elected as Vice Chair of the Board for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Rochester Chapter. He was also elected as a Board Member for the Rochester Junior Builders Exchange and serves on the Building Committee for the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester.

David Adams IT Manager Dave was elected to serve on the Board for Literacy Volunteers of Rochester

Michael Parkes, P.E. General Manager - Power Group Mike was elected as Chair of the ELECTRI Program Review Committee effective Jan. 2019. He has been a longstanding ELECTRI Council Member and also serves on the Development & Enhancement Committee. Robyn Cull Accounts Payable Specialist Robyn was re-elected for a second term as Board Secretary for Middlesex Friendship House Board, a food pantry/thrift store for community members of Yates county.

The awards were developed to showcase the exceptional work performed by member-contractors throughout the country. NECA created the Project Excellence Awards to recognize companies for their outstanding commitment, professionalism and ingenuity in delivering an electrical project across 11 different market sectors.

Auburn Transmission Project Wins NECA Project Excellence Award

PROJECT

EXCELLENCE

AWARDS Category - Overhead Transmission | Project Manager - Dave Emmi

Tom Parkes, Susan Parkes-McNally, Linda Clement, Walter Parkes, Maureen Prince

Mary Parkes Golf Tournament Sets New Record

The Rochester Junior Builders Exchange experienced a record year raising funds at its 23rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Victor Hills Golf Club in Victor, NY. The event, which drew over 300 golfers, raised $230,500 to

benefit the Mary Parkes Center for Asthma, Allergy and

Pulmonary Care, an affiliation of the University of Rochester Medical Center. Managing a golf tournament of such magnitude takes a lot of coordinated effort. Each year, a committee of more than twenty people plan the event, and another twenty volunteer to help facilitate the day’s activities. Soon after Mary’s passing, her parents, Walter and Carmina Parkes, siblings, family, friends, and physicians who cared for her, started a support group for individuals and their families struggling with asthma. This led to the building of the first Asthma Center in the area in Mary’s memory as well as providing a Center of Excellence to those who need specialized asthma care. The Junior Builders Exchange chose to support the center after learning about Mary’s story and the commitment of those who helped create the center. Working closely with the Parkes family, the JBX has seen the tournament grow from raising $4,000 in its first year to now more than $230,000 in 2018. Funds raised allow the Asthma Center to further its ongoing initiatives, technological advancements and research efforts while continuing to build upon and expand its excellence in patient and family care.

Recent Additions to our O’Connell Family

Micaiah DePorter. Grandson of Susan and Dave Ames, Victor Office.

Finley D'Agostino. Daughter of Troy and Victoria D'Agostino - Power Group.

Mary Noel Thomas. Daughter of Chris and Melissa Thomas, Victor Office.

Jensen White. Grandson of Therese and John White, Victor Office.

This fall, dozens of men and women from our Syracuse Office volunteered time and materials to support Brady Farm, a local community garden that provides organic produce and education to under served communities in the Syracuse area. Brady Farm was started only a few years ago with the goal of providing affordable, fresh, locally grown produce to the community. The farm strives to maintain affordable prices in order to serve all people using a combination of weekly box shares, market shares, market stands, and donations to reach as many people as possible. The total value of donated work was $75,000. Our vendor partners donated the majority of materials. This day of volunteering was well attended by our OCE team and the farm was elated with the end results. The picture of the team only represents about half of the people that attended. Great job to all our employees who volunteered. Your actions speak volumes to OCE’s core values as you’re not just representing Syracuse, but the entire company. Thank you.

We can’t express enough thanks to O’Connell Electric. Their staff donated their time, services, and materials, and the Brady Farm now has lights, heat, an ability to run cold storage and greenhouses. Not to mention a coffee maker. We can do so much for our community with power. Thank you, O’Connell! ~ From a message shared by Brady Farm

Kicking For a Cause!

OCE represented well at the Junior Builders Exchange Annual Kickball Tournament. Thirteen teams across the industry came out to play. The tournament raised $4,000 this year, which was donated to Rochester Habitat for Humanity.

Since 1911

830 Phillips Road | Victor, NY 14564

Happy Holidays