Metropolitan Electrical - Meet Our People

Meet Our People

Jim Stephens
Senior Electrical Project Manager
415-642-3046
jstephens@metroelectric.com

Jim Stephens is a real Metro success story. His journey in the electrical business came via wholesale distribution, then jumping the fence to estimating and project management. His fine work in managing Life Safety, Radio Station and Hospital projects has been the cornerstone of many partnerships for Metropolitan. When he’s not at a job site or behind his desk, Jim is found fishing, surfing and diving. After 33 years in the business (read: old), Jim still makes at least one surfing trip to Baja, Hawaii or Costa Rica every year.

Rob Peter
Senior Electrical Project Manager
415-642-3070
rpeter@metroelectric.com

With 23 years of Electrical Construction experience in the books, Rob Peter is just getting started. His diverse specialization in Commercial, Life Safety and Service makes Rob a valuable member of the Metropolitan Project Management Team. When Rob is not making your project a winner, he is coaching his son’s baseball teams to victory. He also manages to squeeze in some skiing and motorcycle riding, though not at the same time.

Dan McAtee
Electrical Project Manager
415-642-3050
dmcatee@metroelectric.com

Metropolitan Electric's roots run deep, as evidenced by another one of our many second generation San Francisco Electricians, Project Manager Dan McAtee. Dan and his father Bill have spent almost 70 years in Local 6! When he is not coaching baseball or restoring old cars, this father of two can be found all over the world, as he and his high school sweethart wife Laura have traveled to over 20 countries! Ok, that's when he's not on the golf course (or maybe it is), or managing your successful job, of course...

Joel Koppel
Project Manager
415-642-3059
jkoppel@metroelectric.com

Former World Champion racquetball player Joel Koppel brings a unique skill set to his Project Management position at Metropolitan. Joel’s practical business foundation (USF Business School) combined with his experience as an Electrician give him the perfect blend of abilities to effectively run construction work and handle the “business” side of a project. And if that wasn’t enough of a well rounded background, Joel took a break from his field electrical work to act as the business development representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 6 for two years. As a part of his everyday work at Metro, Joel is involved with the United States Green Building Council, BOMA SF and the California Advanced Lighting Control Training Program. His experience in hospital, fire alarm and downtown San Francisco commercial tenant improvement work create a well rounded project manager that fits comfortably into any environment. Did we mention his reign as a World Champion racquetball player? And if Joel looks familiar to you, perhaps you’ve seen him fronting his own rock band. His instrument? “Electric” Guitar of course!

Steve Passanisi
Electrical Service Department Manager
415-642-3031
spassanisi@metroelectric.com

Service Department Manager Steve Passanisi’s abilities garnered from his 30 years experience in the field and office is only rivaled by his passion for the electrical construction industry. This combination of experience, skill and passion has helped create the finest service department in Bay Area. When Steve isn’t worrying about your needs, he’s riding across the country on his motorcycle (he’s been everywhere!) or watching sports from high school to the professionals.

Bill Weindorf
Electrical Division

Bill Weindorf has over 21 years of industrial automation experience. Presently he is in charge of a group that specializes in automation and maintenance. The group also performs power studies, thermal imaging and power quality troubleshooting. Clients include the San Francisco Chronicle and SIMS Metals. As an instructor for the San Francisco Electrical Apprenticeship, he has taught electrical theory, fire alarm, motor control, AC drives and PLCs. Bill is also the co-author of four text books on industrial electricity.

Steve Borghello
Data Communications Department Manager
415-642-3053
sborghello@metroelectric.com

He runs Metro’s Data Communications Department, estimates and project manages. It seems that there is nothing that Steve Borghello can’t do. Well, ok, he can’t fly a plane (that we know of). If you work with Metropolitan’s data group, chances are at one time or another you will work with Steve. His 19 years in the industry are almost exactly divided in half with his field and office experience. Steve’s work teaching at the apprenticeship assures the next generation of telecommunications professionals will be as good or better than this one. This sports fan loves spending time with his lovely wife and two children, and like many of our employees, you’ll find him on the field coaching them.

Bob Brucks
Data Communications Service Manager
415-642-3025
bbrucks@metroelectric.com

Data Department Service Manager Bob Brucks spent 15 years in the field before joining the Metro office to run our data manpower. He is of course well qualified in data, voice and fiber, and has a tremendous working knowledge of our field crew. His job, working with the project manager, is to provide your project with the very best technicians available, and Bob never disappoints. Like so many of our staff members, this father of a beautiful daughter is an outdoorsman, hunting, fishing, playing sports and riding motorcycles.

	Jeff Holland Data Communications Project Manager 415-642-3048 jholland@metroelectric.com
Jeff Holland has been with Metro for 16 years, and brings 25 years experience in the field and office to give our customers the very best in data project management. Jeff’s extensive knowledge and ability to keep current with this ever-evolving industry is a shining example of the type of employee Metropolitan is proud having manage your projects.

	Allan Lopez Data Communications Project Manager 415-642-3041 alopez@metroelectric.com
Metropolitan prides itself on hiring employees that can do it all for our customers. Allan Lopez draws upon his 18 years experience in the field and office to both estimate and project manage. This athletic (basketball, tennis) father of three is also an avid poker player, which certainly works in your favor when he working in the high stakes world of data communications. Or is he bluffing?

Bob Rigling
Data Communications Project Manager
415-642-3054
brigling@metroelectric.com

Just to prove that not all Metropolitan employees are born in San Franicisco, Bob Rigling’s journey began in Philadelphia, but he found the surfing was better on the West Coast. Bob’s 23 years experience in both the field and office has created an expertise in Cat 6, 5e, Fiber Optics, OSP Cable Plant and Security, to just scratch the surface. In addition to his surfing, Bob enjoys his time fishing, and coaching his son’s little league baseball team. He also practices Karate, so he’s a good guy to have working on your team.

Mike Simonini
Data Communications Project Manager
415-642-3051
msimonini@metroelectric.com

While our Data Department has employees born from as diverse locations as Kiev, Ukraine and Alexandria, VA, we do have our fair share of native South San Franciscans as well. Eighteen year industry veteran Mike Simonini’s ability to run everything from large projects to service work and general construction make him an invaluable part of our team. His fiber optic work knowledge is impressive. Mike offsets his high tech daily work with a love of hunting and camping.

Gene Amchislavsky
Data Communications Estimator
415-642-3030
gamchislavsky@metroelectric.com

When Gene Amchislavsky was a young lad in Kiev, little did he know the success he would achieve and bring to San Francisco’s leading Electrical Construction/Data Communications firm. Gene brings 30 years of experience and an expertise in the design of cabling infrastructures for voice, data, wireless, public address and AV networks. This data estimating father of two is also handy with electricity, tile and carpentry work. Then just to relax after all of that, he’s an avid skier. As with our electrical estimators, Metro’s data estimators utilize the finest computer software programs available to give you the best bid possible. There is no truth to the rumor that when you look up unit pricing in the dictionary you see a picture of Gene!

Scottie Leonard
Data Communications Estimator
415-642-3071
sleonard@metroelectric.com

Metropolitan’s resident tree hugger Scottie Leonard began his career as an electrician for eight years before transferring to datacom. Scottie’s seemingly done it all in this business, and his field and project management work combined with his expertise in phone and voice mail systems, campus environments, data centers and TI work make him a unique and invaluable member of our data estimating department. Just like his partner in crime, Gene Amchislavsky, Scottie dedicates whatever time is necessary to making sure all your ducks are in a row during the bidding process. When he comes up for air, he’s performing and recording music, camping, gardening, hiking, snow boarding and surfing.

Russell Wade
SPD Department Manager
415-642-3027
rwade@metroelectric.com

Russell Wade once climbed 250 feet up a communications tower to change a light bulb. He brings that same “get the job done” commitment into the office when running your jobs. After 18 years in this ever-changing industry, Russell can certainly be called an expert in wireless construction. Climbing towers isn’t his only outdoor activity as Russell loves to fish, camp, wakeboard, snowboard and has won many motocross challenges.

Steve Fonken, LEED® AP
SPD Project Manager
415-642-3045
sfonken@metroelectric.com

Steve Fonken’s nearly 23-year career has seen him work his way up from single-family homes to multimillion-dollar industrial projects. His specialties with Metro include cellular communications, bank, and TI work. When he’s not spending time with his beautiful family, this former shop boy is busy working on his fitness or obtaining his degree from UC Berkeley. Steve was hoping to try out for the Bear’s football team, but his commitments to your projects prevent that.

Mike McAuliffe
SPD Project Manager
415-642-3044
mmcauliffe@metroelectric.com

Mike McAuliffe brings a great expertise in cell site construction to his project management position at Metropolitan. Certified in LAN, fiber optics, CATV, card read/security systems and wireless communications, Mike is a valuable contributor to any special project. Continuing a family legacy that began with his father’s 39 year career with Ma Bell, so don’t be surprised if one day the next generation of phone technology is being managed by one of his two beautiful children!

Manuel Cruz
SPD Project Manager
415-642-3055
mcruz@metroelectric.com

The construction industry has evolved greatly over the last many years, and Metropolitan has evolved with it. To that end, we realize that our team has to have more than electrical / data communications knowledge to best serve our customers. Manuel Cruz comes to Metro from a general contractor background, providing a “big picture” knowledge that is invaluable to both us and our clients. Working out of our Special Projects Division, Manuel is able to combine his Construction Management Degree with his general contractor experience to complete the puzzle of a well rounded department that can do anything from wireless work to large rollouts. Manuel’s interests include golfing and fishing. There is no truth to the rumor that he combines his two loves by fishing for his golf balls!

Bob Compin
Safety Director
415-642-3036
bcompin@metroelectric.com

Metropolitan Electrical Construction’s Safety Director, 32 year industry veteran Bob Compin is also a Sound & Communications BICSI Technician, so he is no stranger to job sites and what is required to keep them safe. Bob is a Certified Safety Specialist, and is also a member of NFPA, OSHA 500, RSI. Bob of course oversees our safety committee (please see our section on our safety program). He is also radio frequency trained, ComTrain rescue certified, NICET level 1 & 2, and cooks too! This father of five certainly has a full plate on and off the job.