Since joining McCarthy in 2013, Patel has helped grow the firm workforce to include 1,500 craft workers, delivering nearly 20 GW of solar capacity and more than 12 GWh of energy storage across 18 states. Serving on McCarthy’s National Leadership Team, he actively mentors emerging leaders and supports apprenticeship and craft training programs. Within the industry, Patel also is on the national advisory council of the Energy Storage Association and remains active in the Solar Energy Industry Association and other industry organizations. His project resume includes the 800-MW Double Black Diamond Solar project in Illinois, the 250-MW Gateway Energy Storage project in California and the $2-billion Sun Streams Energy Complex in Arizona, among others.

How did you break into the industry?

Very early in my career while working at Arizona Public Service, and before solar was common, I unintentionally volunteered to lead the utility’s efforts to prepare the grid to incorporate renewable energy into its operations. Purely by luck and coincidence, I became engaged in the process of bringing renewable energy to the state by engineering and managing the evaluation and supporting establishment of utility grid tie-in requirements, developing technical PPA terms and conditions, and over time, helping build systems to support the utility’s resource management program. That work expanded into permitting, financial analysis and development and construction of multiple solar projects, ultimately helping execute the utility’s renewable energy strategy. This experience put me on my renewable energy and construction career trajectory.

What is your favorite part of your work?

The work I’ve been involved with over the past several years at McCarthy has been the most gratifying of my career. My role as a coach, advisor, mediator and mentor allows me to help others develop their leadership skills, communication skills and problem-solving skills. By investing here not only are all our projects better and achieving better results for our clients, but I am also involved in developing trusted leaders who value each other’s perspectives and push one another to innovate, improve and do better, which benefits individual projects as well as our industry. It has been incredible to be part of this people-centric development initiative, and to see where our industry is headed.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years, and what goals have you set for yourself to get there?

In ten years, I hope to be involved in shaping McCarthy’s broader business strategies and enterprise initiatives while also contributing to how our industry continues to evolve. This would include furthering the work I am doing today, that involves developing future leaders along with shaping McCarthy’s national efforts beyond the Renewable Energy group. We’re creating a model that we think can be successfully replicated in other market sectors.

Through my experience leading McCarthy’s national Renewable Energy group, I am consciously developing and building upon my skills and knowledge about enterprise growth, and plan to incrementally bring the practices we’re implementing with our team to other teams within McCarthy while staying engaged externally with partners, clients and industry peers to help advance best practices.

How do you maintain a work-life balance?

I have a daily meditation and exercise practice [and that] allows me to decompress, have clearer thinking and to be intentional and present. I also set healthy boundaries that protect my time at work, time with family and friends and taking care of myself so I can show up for everyone as my best self.

What is a piece of advice you’d like to share with other young professionals in this industry, or those coming up behind you?

I frequently hear young professionals talking about their goals of achieving titles. My advice is that they shouldn’t chase titles. Instead, chase skills and knowledge and let the titles chase you.