Leading Executives in Underground Utility Contractors
Earl C. “Duke” Austin, Jr.
President & Chief Executive Officer, Quanta Services
President and CEO of the largest specialized contractor in North America for electric power, pipeline, industrial and communications; led Quanta to record growth and guidance in 2025 on grid modernization and energy transition demand.
Christian (“Chris”) Brown
President & Chief Executive Officer, Centuri Holdings (NPL, InfraSource, Riggs Distler, etc.)
Brought in as President & CEO on December 3, 2024 to scale Centuri’s pure‑play utility infrastructure platform post‑IPO; steering growth across gas and electric underground services.
David Burkhart
Chief Executive Officer, Garney Construction
Leads the nation’s top water/wastewater contractor after a 2023 leadership transition, continuing Garney’s employee‑owned model in pipeline and plant delivery.
George Coleman
President, Potelco (a Quanta Services company)
Runs one of the West’s largest underground and distribution power contractors as Potelco’s President, leveraging Quanta’s scale for complex utility programs.
Joe Cutillo
President & Chief Executive Officer, Sterling Infrastructure
Turnaround CEO who shifted Sterling into e‑infrastructure and heavy civil solutions (including underground utilities for data centers), driving outsized growth since 2017.
Michael “Mick” Fegan
Chief Executive Officer, Inland Pipe Rehabilitation (IPR)
IPR’s CEO since 2022; led scale‑building acquisitions (Inliner, Murphy Pipeline) to create a national leader in trenchless pipe rehabilitation for water/wastewater.
Marcie Hemmelstein
Chief Executive Officer, Carylon Corporation
CEO of one of the largest environmental infrastructure maintenance platforms in the U.S., spanning sewer cleaning, CCTV inspection, and trenchless rehab across 25+ locations.
Scott Keeler
Chief Executive Officer, Team Fishel
Took the helm as CEO in January 2024 and oversees a coast‑to‑coast underground utility contractor serving telecom, gas and electric owners.
David L. King
Interim President & Chief Executive Officer, Primoris Services
Became Interim President & CEO on March 14, 2025, guiding one of the largest U.S. utility/energy infrastructure contractors through a leadership transition.
SEC filing (8‑K) | Press release
Rick Lanoha
President & Chief Executive Officer, Kiewit Corporation
CEO since 2020 of the employee‑owned heavy civil giant delivering major water, wastewater and underground works across North America.
Background/board PR | Reference
Kyle T. Larkin
President & Chief Executive Officer, Granite Construction
Leads Granite, a top U.S. civil contractor active in water and underground rehabilitation markets, with a strategy focused on growth and operational excellence.
José R. Mas
Chief Executive Officer, MasTec
CEO who transformed MasTec into a diversified infrastructure leader; completed the acquisition of Henkels & McCoy to expand utility T&D and underground capabilities.
Leadership page | Acquisition news
Pat Michels
President & Chief Executive Officer, Michels Corporation
Second‑generation leader of one of North America’s most prolific underground and energy infrastructure contractors spanning HDD, pipeline and power markets.
Colt Moedl
Chief Executive Officer, United Utility (Bernhard Capital platform)
Named CEO in February 2025 to scale a fast‑growing platform of T&D and underground cable contractors (e.g., W.A. Chester), expanding grid hardening and resiliency programs.
Press release | Company news hub
EJ Solimine
Chief Executive Officer, Spiniello Companies
CEO of a century‑old pipeline rehabilitation specialist known for CIPP and trenchless delivery for municipal water/wastewater owners nationwide.
Management page | Leadership announcement
Rob Tullman
Chief Executive Officer, Azuria Water Solutions (formerly Aegion)
CEO who rebranded Aegion to Azuria Water Solutions in 2024, sharpening focus on technology‑enabled pipeline rehab and water utility services via active M&A.
Rebrand press release | Portfolio sponsor bio
Joel Wiegert
Chief Executive Officer, Artera Services (Miller Pipeline, Minnesota Limited, Southeast Connections, etc.)
Became CEO in 2023; leads one of the largest North American gas distribution and underground utility services providers.
CEO transition PR | Leaders page
Walt Woodbury
President, PAR Electrical Contractors (a Quanta Services company)
President of the flagship Quanta operating company delivering underground transmission/distribution and substation projects across the U.S.
James Wyche
Chief Executive Officer, Pike Corporation
Promoted from COO to CEO in 2023; leads one of the largest U.S. power infrastructure contractors serving underground and overhead distribution owners.
Stephen M. Zemaitatis Jr.
President, Riggs Distler (a Centuri company)
President (and former CEO) guiding Centuri’s union electric platform in the Northeast/Mid‑Atlantic, including underground transmission and substation builds.
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