Metropolitan Electrical - Meet Our People

Meet Our People

Jack Minkel
General Manager
415-642-3056
jminkel@metroelectric.com

Our General Manager, retired SFPD (32 years serving San Francisco) officer Jack Minkel has his hands full with our hard working electrical project management team, yet he has the unique ability to address each issue with customers and employees with the personal touch that has made him so effective in two such diverse fields. It’s no coincidence that there is so little turnover at Metropolitan. Overseeing the estimating department as well as the project managers, Nick Dutto’s right hand man is never without either a challenge or a success story to fill each day. Another Metro native San Franciscan, Jack has been voted most handsome employee for seven years in a row (according to Jack). No wonder the father of two girls is a proud 25 year trophy husband!

Tom Carmody
Electrical Project Manager
415-642-3059
tcarmody@metroelectric.com

Second-generation IBEW Local 6 member, native San Franciscan Tom Carmody specialties include service, tenant improvement new construction, fire alarm, building automation and industrial controls. If Tom’s 20 years in the field and office don’t make him well rounded enough, his water-skiing, fishing, golf and dabbling in real estate certainly do. Tom’s three children and wonderful wife fill whatever time Tom has left. Or is it vise-versa?

Jim Derner
Electrical Project Manager
415-642-2798
jderner@metroelectric.com

“Rough & Gruff” San Francisco native Jim Derner is the granddaddy of Metro’s Project Managers. His 39 years in the field and office give Jim the experience that our customers crave. While his specialty is tenant improvement, he manages jobs big and small of every kind. Jim always has a smile on his face, whether he is mentoring a young electrician or project manager, negotiating a change order, out on the golf course or hanging out with his lovely wife and two dogs.

Mike Kraft
Electrical Project Manager
415-642-3024
mkraft@metroelectric.com

Twenty-three years experience in life safety, security & controls give Metropolitan a unique talent in Mike Kraft. He is an example of the forward thinking hires that Metro specializes in, making sure we stay on the cutting edge of technology. A father of five, Mike squeezes in time to barefoot water ski (!), motorcycle and snow mobile. If you really want to engage in a fascinating discussion, next time you see Mike ask him about his groundbreaking work to prevent the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species into Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake.

Jim Stephens
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 30 years in the business (read: old), Jim still makes at least one surfing trip to Baja, Hawaii or Costa Rica every year.

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

Service Department Manager Steve Passanisi’s abilities garnered from his 27 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.

Dan Twomey
Electrical Project Manager
415-642-3003
dtwomey@metroelectric.com

A native to the San Francisco area, father of four Dan Twomey’s attention to detail is just one of the traits that makes him a success both at Metro and with our customers. His 29 years in the field and office, doing everything from Design-Build to Cost Control Budgeting make Dan invaluable. When he’s not spending time with family and friends, you can find Dan either on his motorcycle or his snowboard. He’s thinking of entering the next Winter X-Games in the downhill motorcycle (on snow) competition, combining his two hobbies into one foolish stunt.

Mark Wagner
Electrical Project Manager
415-642-3055
mwagner@metroelectric.com

Mark Wagner brings 29 years of field and office experience to not just his specialty, design-build, but everything he does at Metropolitan. A hunter and fisherman (who makes his own flies), he likes to garden and ride his motorcycle, but his true passion (after making your project a success) is coaching youth Football in Marin County, something he has been successful at for 15 years. Mark fits the Metro mold with his perfect blend of the highest level of project management and giving back to his community.

Bill Weindorf
Electrical Division

Bill Weindorf has over 19 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.

Electrical Estimators

Bert Cruz
415-642-3067
bcruz@metroelectric.com

Arturo Abalos
415-642-3034
aabalos@metroelectric.com

Roy Cordero
415-642-3042
rcordero@metroelectric.com

Chuck Lee
415-642-2435
clee@metroelectric.com

With almost 100 years of estimating experience amongst them, our Electrical Estimating Department is an integral part of the Metropolitan family. Led by Chief Estimator Bert Cruz, our estimators are industry and company warhorses Arturo Abalos and Chuck Lee, and the new kid on the block (with a mere 11 years experience!) Roy Cordero. We’re lucky to have such skilled estimators in everything from budgeting to TI work to Fire Alarm work. Metro is not a company that keeps its estimators and project managers apart, as both teams work together before, during and following the estimate. Our estimators work closely with the project manager long after the company has won the bid, keeping involved to make sure your project turns out exactly the way we have promised. They also participate on a regular basis to help create the most effective change orders possible to get your project to the next level. As with every employee at Metropolitan Electric, our estimators stay on the cutting edge of technology, and utilize the finest computer software available. Lest you think they are absolutely perfect, Roy does candidly admit he can’t drive a stick shift. Fortunately that seems to have little effect on his bidding ability!

Gary Olson
Data Communications Department Manager
415-642-3026
golson@metroelectric.com

Like the staff he oversees, Gary Olson manages the Data Department with professionalism unrivaled in this business. As with all our department heads, Gary is not afraid to be involved in the smallest or the most daunting of situations. This native San Franciscan boasts 14 years experience in Voice/Data Communications and brings every minute of that to any project he touches. Father of two sons, Gary’s non-Metro time is devoted to being the best dad possible. He also attempts to be the best golfer, softball player and wakeboarder when he has the time to get out on the course, field or water.

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

He runs Metro’s Data Service 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 16 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 Superintendent
415-642-3025
bbrucks@metroelectric.com

Data Superintendent 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 14 years, and brings 22 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 15 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 20 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. Sixteen 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 27 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.

Joe Damico
SPD Department Manager
415-642-3043
jdamico@metroelectric.com

Joe Damico’s Grandfather was a 65-year member of IBEW Local 6. Joe’s father is a retired Local 6 member. So of course Joe would have a successful career in Electrical Construction. As the manager of our Special Projects Division, Joe brings his knowledge of wireless construction, modifications and maintenance, and bank TI work into leading this very successful group of project managers and electrical and data field personnel. Joe loves to hunt and fish, but the reason you want to hang out with him is the fact that he is a first class home wine maker. Joe and his lovely wife have three children (including twins), which perhaps gives Joe a good perspective on his management style!

Mike Dutto
SPD Project Manager
415-642-3032
mdutto@metroelectric.com

During his 34 years in the industry, Mike Dutto has done it all – new construction, high rise, commercial, life safety, cellular site construction, bank TI, from running work in the field, to superintendent and project management. Another native San Franciscan, Mike’s consistent success extends beyond the office to his marriage of 32 years and two children. As a lover of cars, hunting and golf, you can see the 34 years since Mike first joined IBEW Local 6 have been quite a ride.

Steve Fonken
SPD Project Manager
415-642-3045
sfonken@metroelectric.com

Steve Fonken’s nearly 20-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!

Russell Wade
SPD Project 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 15 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.

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

Metropolitan Electrical Construction’s Safety Director, 29 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.