Our Management Team

WALTER T. PARKES

Chairman of the Board

Walter Parkes has nearly 60 years experience in the electrical construction business. Through his extensive industry knowledge, strong leadership, and entrepreneurial vision for future opportunities and growth, Mr. Parkes has helped build O’Connell Electric into the successful organization it is today—one of the largest, highest ranked electrical contractors in the country. He has held the position of Chairman since 2006.

Walter started as a teenager, working the stockroom at T.H. Green, an electrical construction company founded by his grandfather, Thomas Green. Walt worked his way through the ranks to become chief estimator of the company, and in 1968 attempted to buy the business. Outbid by a competitor, Walt turned his sites to O’Connell Electric, which he purchased that same year from John O’Connell.  Some years later, O’Connell Electric purchased the assets of T.H. Green.

Today, Mr. Parkes remains highly active in the construction industry as well as in the community. His services include being board member of the Pluta Cancer Center, board member of the Electrical Licensing Board for the City of Rochester, past president of the Rochester Builders Exchange, past president and governor of the Finger Lakes New York Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), past governor of the Northeastern Line Constructors Chapter, former vice president of NECA District 10 where he represented all line contractors within the national association, former chairman of the Electrical Contracting Foundation from 1996 to 1998, and being co-chair for the Council of Industrial Relations.

In recognition of his business achievements and contributions to the community, Mr. Parkes has been honored to receive induction into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame in 2006, the National Electrical Contractors Association’s (NECA) prestigious James H. McGraw award in 1995, the Comstock award in 2005, the Electrical Contracting Foundation Wendt award for exemplary leadership and service, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Rochester Builders Exchange in 2003.

THOMAS W. PARKES

Chief Executive Officer

As Chief Executive Officer, Tom Parkes is responsible to oversee and lead the company in executing strategic initiatives, general corporate decision-making, growth of divisions, management of financial decisions and responsibility for the well-being of the company’s workforce. Among his list of critical short- and long-term priorities is to build on our success in recruiting and training top talent by establishing more strategic and creative recruiting programs to attract employees to the firm. 

Mr. Parkes draws on 48-plus years of experience in the electrical construction industry to manage operations at O’Connell.  A fourth generation construction professional, Tom worked his way up through the ranks of the company, beginning as an electrician’s apprentice, advancing to journeyman electrician, master electrician, and eventually project manager.

Mr. Parkes’ hands-on design, planning, construction, and management experience spans electrical construction projects of all types and sizes across every industry. Tom demonstrated his proficiency as a project manager across a range of jobs in diverse markets through the 1980s and 90s—industrial plants and manufacturing facilities, military bases, prisons, colleges and universities, hospitals, airports, water treatment plants—from electrical construction work to fire and security systems, to transmission and distribution work. In 1999, Tom managed the $30 million Franklin Correctional Facility project, that required the orchestration of over 150 electricians.

Tom is a trustee of the Apprentice Committee of IBEW Local 1249 and board member of the YMCA.

SUSAN PARKES MCNALLY

Executive Vice President

Ms. McNally fulfills several key management capacities in her varied roles as Executive Vice President of O’Connell Electric. Susan has more than 35 years of construction accounting experience. She manages all of O’Connell’s HR service provisions, policies, and programs as well as the administration and reception departments. In addition to supporting O’Connell’s corporate strategic initiatives, Susan organizes all corporate events and heads-up the company’s philanthropic initiatives. Her contributions in the accounting department, establishing satellite offices, and audit coordination have been instrumental to the O’Connell Company’s success.

Ms. McNally is a chief proponent of an underlying principle that embodies O’Connell—commitment—commitment to the company’s core corporate values being realized by our employees, customers, vendors, and the community at large. Through Sue’s leadership and support of the Company’s employee wellness initiative, O’Connell was awarded the Rochester Wealth of Health Award for 2010.

Susan is a founding family member and board member of The Mary M. Parkes Center for Asthma, Allergy, and Pulmonary Care as well as the Walter and Carmina Parkes Family Foundation. Sue was recently named to the board of directors for the University of Rochester Medical Center and is serving on their Quality Care Committee. She is also a member of the Harley School Board of Trustees, co-chairs their Committee on Trustees, and serves on the school’s Marketing and Endowment Committee. Sue’s volunteer activities are also extensive. Most notably are her 14 years of service co-chairing the Junior Builders’ Exchange annual golf tournament (which benefits the The Mary Parkes Center) and her contributions as a member of the Construction Financial Management Association.

Ms. McNally earned her degree in Accounting/Business Administration from Monroe Community College.

JOSEPH R. PELLERITE

Executive Vice President of Operations

As Executive Vice President of Operations for O’Connell Electric, Mr. Pellerite supports senior management in corporate and operational responsibilities. He assists the Chief Operating Officer and project managers in the preparation of project estimates and bids and facilitates project completion across all service segments.  Joe manages key projects for the company and provides valuable insights on design-build and turnkey projects.

Mr. Pellerite began his career at O’Connell as a project manager in 1973. His proficiency lead to projects of increasing complexity and size and to greater responsibility within the company. Today, Joe’s primary areas of focus revolve around electrical construction, substation, power line, and transportation segments of the business.

Joe has managed some of the company’s most extensive and complex projects.  In the mid 80s, Joe managed the US Army’s Fort Drum Expansion Project—one of the Army’s largest construction projects since World War II.  At Fort Drum, he lead O’Connell in constructing 78 miles of underground and overhead primary power line across a 500 square mile area. More recently, he headed up O’Connell’s side of a three-way joint venture partnership for Energy East’s Rochester Transmission Project. The three year, $120 million project required O’Connell to build a new substation and switchyard, upgrade nine other substations, and construct 159 linear miles of underground transmission line with an additional 120 miles of overhead.

Mr. Pellerite was a board member and president of the Western New York Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA: Buffalo, New York), and remains active in a variety of business, civic, and professional organizations.

Joe graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Rochester Institute of Technology and holds a Master Electrician License for the City of Rochester, New York.

JEFFREY T. GOULD

Chief Financial Officer

Jeffrey T. Gould, is Chief Financial Officer of O’Connell Electric Company. He joined O’Connell in 2006 bringing over 20 years of financial experience to the Company. Today, Mr. Gould is responsible for the Company’s accounting, financial reporting, treasury, and general finance activities.  He also plays a significant role in the development and implementation of O’Connell’s corporate strategic initiatives.

Mr. Gould began his career with a predecessor firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP. Throughout his nine year tenure, Jeffrey specialized in working for the construction industry, where he served electrical, mechanical, and general contractors.  Jeffrey went on to serve in various financial capacities at both public and private companies where he gained increased managerial responsibilities and experience.

Mr. Gould is a board member of Junior Achievement of Rochester, and the Construction Financial Management Association (Rochester Chapter).  He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, and Financial Executives International.  In May 2009, Jeffrey was nominated and became a finalist for Rochester Business Journal Financial Executive of the Year.  Jeff remains active in a variety of civic and professional organizations.

Mr. Gould received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology.  He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional.