Our Management Team - O’Connell Electric

WALTER T. PARKES

Chairman of the Board

Walter Parkes has nearly 60 years experience in the electrical construction business. Through his extensive industry knowledge, strong leadership, and entrepreneurial vision for future opportunities and growth, Mr. Parkes has helped build O’Connell Electric into the successful organization it is today—one of the largest, highest ranked electrical contractors in the country. He has held the position of Chairman since 2006.

Walter started as a teenager, working the stockroom at T.H. Green, an electrical construction company founded by his grandfather, Thomas Green. Walt worked his way through the ranks to become chief estimator of the company, and in 1968 attempted to buy the business. Outbid by a competitor, Walt turned his sites to O’Connell Electric, which he purchased that same year from John O’Connell. Some years later, O’Connell Electric purchased the assets of T.H. Green.

Today, Mr. Parkes remains highly active in the construction industry as well as in the community. His services include being board member of the Pluta Cancer Center, board member of the Electrical Licensing Board for the City of Rochester, past president of the Rochester Builders Exchange, past president and governor of the Finger Lakes New York Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), past governor of the Northeastern Line Constructors Chapter, former vice president of NECA District 10 where he represented all line contractors within the national association, former chairman of the Electrical Contracting Foundation from 1996 to 1998, and being co-chair for the Council of Industrial Relations.

In recognition of his business achievements and contributions to the community, Mr. Parkes has been honored to receive induction into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame in 2006, the National Electrical Contractors Association’s (NECA) prestigious James H. McGraw award in 1995, the Comstock award in 2005, the Electrical Contracting Foundation Wendt award for exemplary leadership and service, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Rochester Builders Exchange in 2003.

THOMAS W. PARKES

Chief Executive Officer

As Chief Executive Officer, Tom Parkes is responsible to oversee and lead the company in executing strategic initiatives, general corporate decision-making, growth of divisions, management of financial decisions and responsibility for the well-being of the company’s workforce. Among his list of critical short- and long-term priorities is to build on our success in recruiting and training top talent by establishing more strategic and creative recruiting programs to attract employees to the firm.

Mr. Parkes draws on 48-plus years of experience in the electrical construction industry to manage operations at O’Connell. A fourth generation construction professional, Tom worked his way up through the ranks of the company, beginning as an electrician’s apprentice, advancing to journeyman electrician, master electrician, and eventually project manager.

Mr. Parkes’ hands-on design, planning, construction, and management experience spans electrical construction projects of all types and sizes across every industry. Tom demonstrated his proficiency as a project manager across a range of jobs in diverse markets through the 1980s and 90s—industrial plants and manufacturing facilities, military bases, prisons, colleges and universities, hospitals, airports, water treatment plants—from electrical construction work to fire and security systems, to transmission and distribution work. In 1999, Tom managed the $30 million Franklin Correctional Facility project, that required the orchestration of over 150 electricians.

Tom is a trustee of the Apprentice Committee of IBEW Local 1249 and board member of the YMCA.

Michael PARKES

President and Chief Operating Officer

A fifth-generation electrical construction professional, Michael serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of O’Connell Electric Company. Michael is responsible for focusing on long-term strategy, external relationships, and high-level decision making as well as maintaining oversight of day-to-day operations and execution of projects.

Before assuming the role as president and COO at O’Connell Electric, Michael spent more than ten years serving as General Manager of the Power Group where he led the company through exponential growth while expanding O’Connell’s services and capabilities. Before coming to O’Connell Electric, Michael spent time in supervisory roles as an electrical engineer for O’Brien & Gere, and TRC Power Delivery.

Michael received his degree in electrical engineering from Clarkson University and is a licensed professional engineer in the state of New York. He serves as a Kitchen Cabinet Member as well as a High Priority Topics Committee Member for ELECTRI International.

Notable projects O’Connell’s Power Group has completed under Michael’s leadership include Gardenville Substation and the Auburn Transmission Project, both of which won NECA Project Excellence Awards, and the Nik Wallenda highwire acts at Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon and downtown Chicago.

SUSAN PARKES MCNALLY

Executive Vice President

Ms. McNally fulfills several key management capacities in her varied roles as Executive Vice President of O’Connell Electric. Susan has more than 35 years of construction accounting experience. She manages all of O’Connell’s HR service provisions, policies, and programs as well as the administration and reception departments. In addition to supporting O’Connell’s corporate strategic initiatives, Susan organizes all corporate events and heads-up the company’s philanthropic initiatives. Her contributions in the accounting department, establishing satellite offices, and audit coordination have been instrumental to the O’Connell Company’s success.

Ms. McNally is a chief proponent of an underlying principle that embodies O’Connell—commitment—commitment to the company’s core corporate values being realized by our employees, customers, vendors, and the community at large. Through Sue’s leadership and support of the Company’s employee wellness initiative, O’Connell was awarded the Rochester Wealth of Health Award for 2010.

Susan is a founding family member and board member of The Mary M. Parkes Center for Asthma, Allergy, and Pulmonary Care as well as the Walter and Carmina Parkes Family Foundation. Sue was recently named to the board of directors for the University of Rochester Medical Center and is serving on their Quality Care Committee. She is also a member of the Harley School Board of Trustees, co-chairs their Committee on Trustees, and serves on the school’s Marketing and Endowment Committee. Sue’s volunteer activities are also extensive. Most notably are her 14 years of service co-chairing the Junior Builders’ Exchange annual golf tournament (which benefits the The Mary Parkes Center) and her contributions as a member of the Construction Financial Management Association.

Ms. McNally earned her degree in Accounting/Business Administration from Monroe Community College.

JEFFREY T. GOULD

Chief Financial Officer

Jeffrey T. Gould, is Chief Financial Officer of O’Connell Electric Company. He joined O’Connell in 2006 bringing over 20 years of financial experience to the Company. Today, Mr. Gould is responsible for the Company’s accounting, financial reporting, treasury, and general finance activities. He also plays a significant role in the development and implementation of O’Connell’s corporate strategic initiatives.

Mr. Gould began his career with a predecessor firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP. Throughout his nine year tenure, Jeffrey specialized in working for the construction industry, where he served electrical, mechanical, and general contractors. Jeffrey went on to serve in various financial capacities at both public and private companies where he gained increased managerial responsibilities and experience.

Mr. Gould is a board member of Junior Achievement of Rochester, and the Construction Financial Management Association (Rochester Chapter). He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, and Financial Executives International. In May 2009, Jeffrey was nominated and became a finalist for Rochester Business Journal Financial Executive of the Year. Jeff remains active in a variety of civic and professional organizations.

Mr. Gould received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional.

Tim boldt

General Counsel

Timothy Boldt is O’Connell Electric’s General Counsel and serves on its Executive Leadership Team as a Corporate Officer. He assists that team with development and implementation of corporate goals and strategy, as well as collaborative oversight of the company’s various business segments, interests, and day-to-day operations. One of Tim’s primary responsibilities as General Counsel is to help O’Connell proactively address complex commercial challenges. Tim also oversees upstream contract reviews/negotiations to help ensure that commercial and financial expectations are aligned for success.

Prior to joining O’Connell Electric, Tim was a Partner at the Law Firm of Ernstrom & Dreste, LLC, a construction and surety law firm, which he joined directly out of law school in 2005. While at Ernstrom & Dreste, Tim regularly published educational articles and spoke at industry events. He is proud of his Martindale “AV Preeminent” peer rating, a distinction given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards. Tim was also recognized by Super Lawyers, first as a Rising Star and then as a Top Rated Construction Litigation Attorney.

Tim graduated from Nazareth College of Rochester with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law. Tim is admitted to practice law in New York and Ohio.

Tim has consistently prioritized community involvement/volunteerism, including as a prior Trustee of the Mendon Public Library and as a youth baseball coach. Currently, Tim is on the Board of Directors for CFMA-Rochester; on the Board of Directors for Greater Rochester Athletic Federation; on the Advisory Board of Directors for Salvation Army-Rochester; and actively collaborates as part of Associated General Contractors of America’s In-House Counsel Group.