Every major building represents the work of electrical engineers. Their work keeps buildings powered, lit, comfortable, online, and code compliant. Electrical engineering is key to fire safety, telecommunications, sustainability, and emergency resilience. Yet most of us remain in the dark about what these specialized engineering professionals do and how they do it. So, we asked WBRC’s electrical engineering team of Phil Badger, Kyle Mahar, Bob Curran, and Steph Laplant to enlighten us.
What is your background? What drew you to designing electrical systems for buildings?
BOB CURRAN: I have 20 years of experience working with HVAC controls, and that’s helped me a lot in this field because I understand how electrical and mechanical systems work together. I got into building systems because that work is plentiful, and expertise is needed.
KYLE MAHAR: I liked art and thought blueprints were neat, so my high school advisor introduced me to drafting classes. When I started at WBRC I drafted for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, so I learned how building systems work together. After a few years drafting at WBRC, the electrical team “claimed” me, and I developed into an Electrical Engineering Designer.
PHIL BADGER: I started as an electrician, and I always knew I wanted to get licensed, but I was unsure if I wanted to be an architect or an engineer. As I continued to work in the trades, I realized I really like the electrical side of it.
STEPH LAPLANT: I always liked architecture. My parents built two houses, so there were plans lying around that I would look at, and I would think about how the different systems worked together. When I decided to go to college there weren’t any accredited architecture programs in Maine, so I thought, “Let’s try engineering!” I went to the labs at the University of Maine and saw the oscilloscopes and circuit boards, which I thought were the coolest things ever, so I decided to try electrical. My whole journey through college, I would ask my advisor, “What do electrical engineers do?” The only answer I ever got was “Lots of things.”
(Follow-up for Steph Laplant)
If a student asked you “what do electrical engineers do?” what would you tell them?
LAPLANT: I would start with, “They do a lot of things,” then I would tell them about building systems, robotics, semiconductors, power companies, paper mills, there are a lot of choices out there. You’ve got to have a passion for the industry you choose.
What is your day-to-day like? What are your primary tasks and responsibilities?
LAPLANT: I’m meeting with the person I’m going to be working with on the production side, trying to figure out how much information they need from me. I’m also coordinating with the other disciplines for anything that might affect electrical.
CURRAN: I typically review submittals, write specifications, complete quality control reviews, and complete code reviews.
BADGER: I do it all; it’s a mix of design, 3D modeling, and calculations, but also managing the department, marketing and business development.
Do you contribute design ideas to the project team?
LAPLANT: Absolutely yes, and I think that’s the great thing about WBRC, almost no one says “No, we’re not going to go with anybody else’s idea.” I’m not an architect, but I’ve been in the business for a while, so I have a few good ideas, I think.
CURRAN: With lighting, there’s a ton of aesthetic things like shade color, the color of the lamp, even the color of the light itself. I just want to bring power to it, but there are a lot of other aspects to think about.
MAHAR: We are a design-oriented community here and we all want to design great spaces, so being able to be a part of that is great. Lighting is wicked cool; if you have the wrong lighting in a space, it makes the space wrong.
What is your favorite part of the job? What do you find the most rewarding?
CURRAN: I actually retired in 2020, but I loved [the industry] so much that I came back to work.
MAHAR: I like doing the 3D modeling, that’s really my favorite part. I really look forward to figuring out the challenges, coordinating with the architects, and making sure everything is modeled well.
BADGER: Growing the business [as Department Manager.] I also enjoy the financial side of things.
LAPLANT: I liked to go to ribbon cuttings or open houses when we first opened a project, and I wouldn’t wear any WBRC apparel. I didn’t want anybody to know who I was, I just listened to what people had to say about the building. I like knowing that other people are happy with the buildings that we produce.
What do you value most when working as part of a team?
LAPLANT: People who understand that the projects are real, they’re not just something on paper or the computer. Somebody is going to live or work in these buildings, so we really need to do our best to design them well.
MAHAR: I like teams that coordinate a lot, that never leave you high and dry. Internal coordination is huge for a successful project.
BADGER: It’s really great having all the disciplines in-house. For instance, if I find a ceiling that needs some tweaking, I know exactly who I can talk to, it’s convenient. Collaboration is what I value most; understanding that you are part of a team.
LAPLANT: Team building is super important. Just getting to know people, and how they work best. We’re all working in different offices or working remotely, which can be a little bit isolating, so just getting to know people so that you can talk with them and have a good comfort level with them always helps create a successful team.
What project types do you like most, or find most rewarding?
LAPLANT: I love healthcare. I learn something new every time I do a project, because each project has many unique needs.
MAHAR: I think the education projects are really interesting. You have a set of guidelines to work with, but you can also get creative.
BADGER: I like athletic projects because a lot of entertainment thinking goes into them. You’re designing an experience, a show that you’re working on.
CURRAN: My favorite are smaller projects with repeat clients. They’re satisfied with us and keep giving us work because we’re doing a good job. We’re good project managers, and that means a lot to people.
How would you describe the team dynamics and work environment at WBRC?
LAPLANT: Everybody has a chance to voice their opinion. Half of the people in the company have worked here at least 10 years and I think that says a lot about us.
CURRAN: We have very cooperative coworkers with lots of experience.
MAHAR: We have a great group of people from all different backgrounds.
BADGER: We’re a collaborative group and we all get along. We get together often to enrich that team environment.
What type of person would you like to see join the team?
CURRAN: There are two biggies I think; someone who has good communication skills and is comfortable with field conditions.
MAHAR: Someone who is self-motivated and who is willing to learn, especially about 3D modeling.
LAPLANT: Somebody that really has a passion for building design and wants to work on a variety of projects. Somebody who doesn’t take themselves too seriously. We all enjoy working with someone who has a sense of humor and likes what they do.
BADGER: The thing is, what we do can be taught and learned. You just need that desire to learn and to figure things out, and to continuously get better.
What would you say to someone hoping to join WBRC?
CURRAN: This is a very good company with sound leadership, that’s a big deal.
MAHAR: You get to work on such a variety of projects that you know you’re never going to get bored here. Every day is going to be challenging, but it’s very rewarding.
BADGER: Find what you’re passionate about. Try to find something that is relevant today and will also be relevant and useful in 10 years, or even 20 years down the road.
LAPLANT: Talk to some of the people that work here, ask them what they love about it. My 26-year work anniversary is coming up in June, so it’s clear that I think WBRC is a great place to work.
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WBRC’s electrical team has a passion for what they do, but the job doesn’t come without the occasional challenge. When asked what his job’s biggest frustration is, Department Manager Phil Badger said, “Our biggest challenge right now in electrical is staffing, finding the right person to join our team.”
That right person could be you! If you’ve been inspired by our electrical team and you want to talk more about what it would be like to join us, please reach out at careers@wbrcinc.com.