Will DeSantis, 30
Product Manager, Building Automation
United Electric Supply
Will joined United Electric Supply after graduating from Immaculata University in 2015. “My last couple months of college I was applying for entry-level IT jobs in all different types of industries,” he recalled. “I ultimately ended up taking the role at United, not necessarily because of the industry, but because inside United’s IT group each member gets cross-trained and has responsibilities across all of IT’s functions. I thought this would be a great starting role in IT to get experience across the entire field.”
Will spent his first two years as a software support specialist in the IT department before moving into the newly created building automation department, where he was promoted to a building automation field technician. “After the new rollout of United’s Building Automation Service offering, I had the opportunity to join the team to help perform the services and grow the business, which appealed to me because onsite engineering services was new to the electrical distribution industry and I wanted to be on the ground floor of it at United. I was in that role for two years until I was promoted to the manager of the Building Automation department,” he said.
Asked about a challenge the industry is facing, Will noted that more of the traditional products that distribution sells (lighting, switchgear, etc.) are being built with more and more technologies and integrated with a software offering. “This now requires more technical insight into these systems to be able to design, provide technical assistance and sales support, along with a need for onsite commissioning after the contractor’s installation,” he explained. “This is a challenge for the traditional distribution model, where there isn’t much internal support for these newer technology-based products/systems and there’s a heavy reliance on the manufacturer for this support. In my role, I’m able to meet that challenge by building a team that can support every facet of these products and systems and provide these services to our customers directly.”
Looking ahead, Will would like to continue to build out his team’s current service offering in building automation, digital power, heat trace, and lighting design and controls, while looking to add additional offerings to the portfolio. “I’m preparing for this by continuing to develop and expanding our team with adding additional talent as our services grow. As well as keeping up with the newest industry trends and technologies to continue to expand our offerings,” he said.
To someone just entering the industry, Will would say: “Electrical distribution is an essential industry that offers a lot of opportunity across a wide variety of fulfilling career paths.”
When he’s not at work, Will enjoys coaching basketball, watching NFL/NBA, golfing, and reading.
Each year tED magazine recognizes 30 of the industry’s best and brightest under the age of 35. Please visit tedmag.com/30Under35 for nomination information and updates about the 2023 program. Questions can be sent to tED Editor Misty Byers at mbyers@naed.org.
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