Bryan Adams
1990 Graduate
Vice President at DP Electric
I started my journey at the Dover Regional Career Technical Center, where I enrolled in their electrical program. From the beginning, my goal was clear — I wanted to become an electrician. When it came time to choose the next step, ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï’s Electrical program stood out. It allowed me to earn my degree on a schedule that worked for me while I was completing a four‑year electrical apprenticeship during the day. I also had family in the Laconia area, so the location was familiar. ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï is in an amazing spot, with something to do in every season, and that made the experience even better.
After graduating from ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï and completing my apprenticeship, I earned my journeyman’s license. I spent a few years working in the field, and while I loved the trade, I eventually realized that working outside through New England winters wasn’t quite what I envisioned doing for the rest of my life.
Around that time, a junior estimator position opened at Consolidated Electric, where I was working. Even though I hadn’t been in the field for very long, I decided to apply and I got the job. Later, I learned that I was the only applicant with a college degree, and that gave me an edge over candidates with more field experience. That moment changed the direction of my career.
From there, I moved into project management and estimating. In 2001, I relocated to Arizona and continued to grow — first as an estimator, then as chief estimator, then preconstruction manager, and now as VP of Preconstruction at DP Electric. Along the way, I had many great mentors, but the foundation of my career started with the staff and faculty at ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï.
College isn’t a requirement in the construction industry, but the industry is changing fast. Technology evolves constantly, and the job today demands skills that a college education provides. Being exposed to new tools, new systems, and ongoing training can help you move up faster than those who don’t have those skills yet. And as I learned firsthand, having a degree might even be the deciding factor that gets you the job.
Looking back, ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï didn’t just help me start my career; it helped shape the opportunities that followed. And for anyone considering this path, I can say from experience: the combination of hands‑on training and a strong educational foundation can take you to places you haven’t even thought about yet.
