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, LRCC’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. LRCC is in an amazing spot, with something to do in every season, and that made the experience even better.
After graduating from LRCC 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 LRCC.
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, LRCC 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.