Our Industry Person of the Week is Mercedes Gamor, Director of Culture & Recruiting for Prime Electric.
Q: How did you get started working in your field?
Mercedes: I fell into the construction industry by proximity in 2012. My dad is a residential GC, so I grew up in the industry, but expected to go to law school with hopes of working with the Innocence Project and those underrepresented/served communities. After moving to Albuquerque, NM and needing a job, I happened upon the Homebuilders Association of Central New Mexico. I worked at the HBA for 3 years as Membership Specialist before transitioning to a position as Sales and Marketing Coordinator and Warranty Coordinator at RayLee Homes, a local homebuilder. It was there that I realized that this industry played to all of my strengths and enjoyed every minute of my job. I’ve been back in Washington since 2018, and really found my niche at Prime Electric. I started as a Project Engineer, heavily involved with our Wellness Committee and our Women in Construction Council. I also joined my local NAWIC chapter and got involved on the national level as the DEI Committee’s Social Media Chair. It was a natural progression of my volunteer work internally and externally at PRIME to transition to what is my passion, DE&I work. I am now the Director of Culture and Recruiting at Prime for both our WA and CA offices.
Q: What do you love the most about your job? What are you most proud of?
Mercedes: It’s hard to pinpoint what I love most about my job because for me it’s so much more than a job! I believe wholeheartedly that equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging are possible for this industry and advocate for representation for all people regardless of their gender, orientation, or color of their skin. One of the many things I love about my job is getting to connect and engage with others, whether they be one of my field team members, a woman in NAWIC, a homeowner with Habitat for Humanity, a client, or a partner. I’m proud of the progression my organization has made in the 3 1/2 years I’ve been here and that they saw my passion, and took a leap by creating an entirely new position for me and being the youngest Director at my organization. It’s been a wild journey and I am so excited to see where we go next!
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering this line of work or new to the field?
Mercedes: Ask questions! Be curious! The industry may seem intimidating at first, but there are so many people who want to help you and see you succeed. So ask the “dumb” question, set out of your comfort zone and learn about other jobs, positions, companies, programs, tools, etc. I have held so many positions over my 11 years in the industry and I wouldn’t be where I am today without being curious.
Q: Can you talk about a project you recently worked on?
Mercedes: I’m working on continuing to develop and expand our Diverse Partner Assist program at Prime Electric. Prime Electric seeks to foster growth in underrepresented local subcontractors, professional service firms, and suppliers, partnering with them to enhance their skill set, experience, and resume to grow and develop their business. We are not looking to solely check boxes and know our partners personally. We consistently strive to ensure their goals are met, and that their leadership and field are gaining actual experience for their future business objectives. I have recently been working on areas on mentorship that provide real value to our partners, as it’s not a one size fits all approach.
Connect with Mercedes on LinkedIn.
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