Some of the best and brightest design and construction professionals in New York and New Jersey have been chosen to represent the 2023 class of ENR New York’s Top Young Professionals, including our very own Dave Emmi, Vice President of the Power Group.
The awards program honors individuals who have built extraordinary industry portfolios in just a few short years. In addition, many donate significant amounts of time and expertise to serve their communities.
After almost 100 entries were received for this year’s competition, the judges narrowed the submissions down to 20 winners. Each recipient will be profiled in more detail in the January issue of ENR New York.
Dave’s career began at an early age in his teenage years working in several industry-related positions while completing his undergraduate degree at Syracuse University and SUNY ESF. His career at O’Connell started in 2012. In the past decade, Dave has helped grow the Power Group from $24.5 million in average revenue to $175 million, and from 50 field employees to now more than 320. Over the years, Dave’s leadership roles have evolved from Project Manager; Manager of Transmission and Distribution; and now Vice President of the Power Group.
Pictured Speaking: Dave often addresses his field crews during large, annual onboarding sessions and foreman summits.
Dave has been instrumental in developing additional divisions within the Power Group including Vegetation Management and Telecommunications. He also spearheaded expanding the company’s geographic reach by establishing an office in Pennsylvania. Dave also helped formally establish our Fleet Department in 2019.
An important part of the judging criteria is evaluating individual’s involvement with community organizations. Dave has been heavily involved with many industry associations and local non-profit organizations over the years. Two of his most notable contributions to his community are through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of WNY and the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester. He even ran the NYC marathon on behalf of the national chapter of Cystic Fibrosis. Dave have also been a volunteer for the Habitat for Humanity since 2016 and Home Repair Ministry for the St. John of Rochester Roman Catholic Church since 2019. He is a member of the Emerging Leaders Society for the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes.
Dave traveled to Florida multiple times to check in on O’Connell’s restoration efforts and talk with our field workforce after hundreds of employees and assets were mobilized for several weeks.
In 2017, Dave received an award for Project Excellence by the National Electrical Contractors Association for his leadership on a 40+ million-dollar transmission project in Update NY. In 2019, O’Connell Electric was awarded Supplier of the Year by Avangrid due to Dave’s leadership with many projects supporting on of the Northeast’s largest utility service providers.
Among other achievements:
2009 – Received the ACI Excellence in Construction Award
2014 – Cystic Fibrosis Rochester’s Finest Award Recipient
2019 – Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Hero of Hope Award
2019 – Forty Under 40 Award Recipient for Rochester Business Journal’s Top 40
Retired CEO Vic Salerno (CL); Retired Line Superintendent, Randy Fletcher (CR); Chairman of our Board, Walt Parkes (R); and Dave stopped for a photography while visiting the Auburn Transmission project site in 2018. Dave oversaw all aspects of this 40+ million dollar project that won an award for Project Excellence from NECA.