Begin Your Next Mission Here! Vets to Volts assists military veterans in transitioning to high-demand electrical trade careers. Powered by NECA’s Atlantic Coast Chapter, we help you move from uniform to journeyman. We connect qualified individuals with our local IBEW & RJATC programs to support the future of our industry.
Joel began his RJATC\IBEW apprenticeship in June 2015 and earned his license in 2020. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Joel has effectively communicated on diverse job sites. After his apprenticeship, Joel worked with Chewning at Capital One, then transitioned to service work. At Alkat, he handled maintenance projects at Philip Morris.
On the C+W General Assembly Building project, Joel did Trimble layout, and was promoted to foreman, leading in-wall rough-ins. He later joined C+W Service department, assisting with fire alarm installations and completed the Ronald McDonald Charity House project. As a superintendent for Gilbane at Phlow, Joel managed multiple contractors, including electrical, instrument air, pipe fitters, and civil crews.
Brett spent 6 years in the construction industry as a project manager prior to joining C&W as Assistant Controller in 2023. He is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College with a degree in Economics and Business.
Jerry has worked for C+W as an apprentice, journeyman, foreman and general foreman on projects for industrial clients, manufacturing facilities and data centers. Jerry’s experience includes but is not limited to controls, fire alarm systems, process equipment install, fiber optics, medium voltage, and telecom duct banks. Jerry currently is the manager of our prefab shop working directly with the virtual construction team and project managers.
Luther has been with Chewning and Wilmer since 2014 where he started as a service technician. In 2017 he began working in our commercial construction division as a foreman for projects at Capital One West Creek and VDOT/Virginia State Police in Colonial Heights. Luther gradually transitioned to an electrical project manager in 2019 and has assisted with projects at Keswick Hall, VCU Stem and Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums.
Jordan began as an apprentice at C&W, where he gradually climbed the ranks to become a service technician. His career then took a turn towards project management and estimation, with a focus on custom panel fabrications, tobacco manufacturing, and water treatment. His extensive experience spans across various facets of the electrical industry, including new commercial construction and specialized industrial installations. In addition to his hands-on experience, he spent two years imparting knowledge as an instructor at the local RJATC. Currently, he holds a position on the committee.
James “Jimmy” Atkinson is our electrical project manager. A graduate from Virginia Tech with a degree in Building Construction, Jimmy has assisted with projects at WestRock, VCU Health’s Adult Outpatient Facility, VCU Engineering Research Building.
James Zahn joined Chewning + Wilmer in 1996 and has been our reliable Safety Coordinator for many years. He inspects all job sites on a regular basis to ensure safe working practices and conditions. In addition, James provides safety training to all Chewning + Wilmer employees for compliance of state and federal OSHA requirements.
Sonny has been with Chewning + Wilmer since 2013 as an Electrical Project Manager. He’s efficient in directing the full scope of construction projects including; developing and coordinating manpower schedules, ordering materials, tracking job costs and progress, working effectively with fellow project managers, foremen, engineers, and client representatives.
Chris has been with Chewning + Wilmer since 2012. He’s currently our Engineering Manager and has worked in a variety of industries including chemical, polymer, power house, paper mill, plastic extrusion, natural gas, and lumber mills. In addition, Chris has his professional engineering license in multiple states, including Texas, Ohio, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Arizona.
Michael has been with Chewning+Wilmer since 1997, handling billings for all of our divisions. He is currently the Vice President and Subcontract Administrator for us and has served on the RJATC Board of Directors since 2011. Michael is a graduate of Emory & Henry College.
Mike has been working at Chewning+Wilmer since 2007. He started out as a Journeyman Wireman and quickly grew into a Foreman role, now working as COO. His work has been on Commercial projects ranging from as small as $100,000 to over $8,000,000. Mike continues to excel on very tight schedules and being able to work with team members to keep projects under specified budget.
Robert has been with Chewning + Wilmer since 2014 as an Electrical Project Manager and Estimator. He specializes in DCS upgrades, control systems, fiber optics, underground systems and instrumentation. His most recent projects have been with the Paper Mill in Texarkana, TX.
Evan has been with Chewning+Wilmer since 2009, and serves as a President. A few of Evan’s recent projects include VCU Gladding Residence Center, VCU Cabell Library, Central National Bank, S&P Global, and Swift Creek Middle School.
Edward “Eddie” Robinson joined Chewning + WIlmer in 1998 as a warehouse worker. In 2009 Eddie became C+W Tool Manager and he oversees the purchase and maintenance of all tools.
Becky Roberts joined Chewning + Wilmer in 2006 as our Receptionist and was promoted to Accounts Payable Clerk in 2011. Becky manages our material invoices and processes each for payment. She’s also in charge of our company’s wireless accounts for all divisions.
Bobby is our Senior Electrical Designer who has been with our company since 2013. He has fiber optic certification and also specializes in PLC upgrades, electrical engineering upgrades, and control systems.
Ray has worked with Chewning+Wilmer as a Senior Electrical Engineer since 2015. He’s helped complete the electrical design of the General Cable expansion and is experienced with medium voltage gear, transformers, 480V distribution, arc flash analysis, lighting, ventilation, and process equipment. Ray is a licensed engineer in the following states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Florida, and Louisiana, and is also Black Belt 6-Sigma Certified who has completed multiple Allen-Bradley Rockwell courses.
Tim has been in the electrical field since 1985. He’s currently one of our Vice Presidents at Chewning + Wilmer and specializes in all facets of Industrial projects. These projects consist of industrial plants, such as Tobacco, Chemical, Food Processing, and Power Generation. He can help you with plant outages and front design assist with projects if needed. Tim also has knowledge of Water & Waste Water Treatment Plants and Pumping Stations. Tim is the contact to provide a quote to fabricate your custom control panels.
Lisa Morris joined Chewing + Wilmer in 1996. In her role as Assistant Service Manager, Lisa handles the division’s AP, AR, and dispatching of technicians. Lisa also works closely with the administrative team and assists in all departments as needed.
Derek McCall joined Chewning + Wilmer in 2013 as a Construction Wireman and went through the Local Union’s Apprenticeship to become a Journeyman Electrician. After attending the Supervisor Training class at Chewning + Wilmer, Derek started operating the Trimble RTS in 2018 to perform layout on job sites. In 2019 he moved into the office and learned the role of BIM Coordinator. He currently travels from job to job to perform layout and is a modeler in our Virtual Construction division.
Jeff is an Electrical and Instrumentation Project Manager who has been with the Chewning+Wilmer since 2015, and is experienced in all phases of electrical construction projects in a variety of heavy industrial sectors. Being a Master Electrician and NECA certified in Total Quality Assurance and Management, Jeff works effectively with engineers and client representatives, and oversees all levels of construction on the jobsite. He also specializes in DCS upgrades, control systems, fiber optics, and instrumentation.
A graduate from Virginia Tech’s Construction Engineering and Management program, Sam has been a part of Chewning+Wilmer since 2014. Currently, he is our HR Manager, coordinating our manpower needs in the Richmond area. He is also a Safety Director who has successfully completed projects with VCU Health System, the Country Club of Virginia, Rolls Royce, and others.
Jay Hackett joined Chewning and Wilmer in 2015 as the Safety Coordinator for the Southern Division. Jay manages all the daily safety needs of the Southern division such as training, customer policy reviews and new hire orientation. He also works hands on in the field inspecting work sites, insuring our company and employees are in compliance with state and Federal OSAH, MSHA requirements, also ensuring our employees are in compliance with our customers safety policies.
Chris is our Vice President of Service, who has been with Chewning+Wilmer since 2014. He focuses on business development, estimates electrical projects, manages projects and schedules closeouts. His team is responsible for routine repairs, electrical renovations, new project electrical installations and are always on-call for emergencies. Over the years, he’s successfully engineered service projects for Ball Metal Corporation, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, DuPont, Little Sisters of the Poor, Altria, Poplar Springs Hospital and Dominion Power.
Chuck has been with Chewning+Wilmer since 2013, and is our Commercial Division Manager. Over the years, he has successfully secured and managed major commercial projects for Facebook, Microsoft Data Center, Central National Bank, and a wide scope of work for VCU including the Ambulatory Outpatient Facility, Cabell Library, Gladding Residence Hall, and the Children’s Pavilion for Health Services.
Pamela Evans has been the Payroll Administrator at Chewning + Wilmer since 2018. She is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of weekly payroll for all union employees. She ensures our employees are in compliance of company and union policies and abides by Federal, State, and Local payroll laws.
Adam Conley joined Chewning + Wilmer in 2014 as the Purchasing Agent for all material and rental procurement. Adam focuses on IT, pricing, and availability to get material to job sites in an efficient manner that keeps keeps us ahead of schedule. He also manages all fleet maintenance and vehicle purchasing as the acting Fleet Administrator, striving to have the safest fleet possible.
Thomas has been with our company since September of 2011. While starting with us as an Apprentice in 2011, Thomas has since worked his way up to Foreman in 2014, and is currently one of our Electrical Project Manager and Estimators. Thomas specializes in industrial electrical construction with hands on install experience with control systems, instrumentation, medium voltage, fiber optics, and underground systems.
Shannon is one of our Electrical Project Managers. He has been with Chewning+Wilmer since 2013, and has been highly successful in overseeing all phases of electrical construction projects for clients in a variety of heavy industrial sectors.
Jeff is one of our Mechanical Project Managers at Chewning+Wilmer. He’s a Licensed Class A Contractor and Master HVAC Tradesman in Virginia and Maryland. Jeff also is a Master Gasfitter and Master Plumber. His most prominent projects are for Micron, DuPont, Fort Belvoir, White Burch, Wallops Island and West Rock.
Curtis has been working at Chewning+Wilmer since 2009. He started out as a 4th year apprentice and graduated as a Journeyman Wireman in 2010. He worked in our Service Department for two years and ran work for one of our industrial customers. Now working as our lead Virtual Construction Manager, he produces 3D models to coordinate with general contractors, produces shop drawings and models for pre-fabrication, and works with our supervisors and project managers to plan out and complete our work ahead of schedule.
Jeff is Chewning + Wilmer’s Chief Financial Officer and a Certified Public Accountant who has been with us since 2005 and manages financial reporting, risk management, corporate finance and human resource/employee benefits. He also serves as Chairman of the Board for the local union health plan and is an active member of the Central Virginia Chapter of the Construction Financial Management Association. Jeff is a graduate of James Madison University with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and also holds a Certificate of Accountancy from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Jay Atkinson is our Vice President and Electrical Project Manager, and has more than 30 years of experience in the industry. Jay joined Chewning + Wilmer in 1986 as a field electrician and worked his way up from foreman to estimator and project manager, before stepping into his current leadership role. His most prominent projects have been the RVA 1,2 & 3, Philip Morris EHQ Renovation, Unit 5 SCR Project at Dominion Generation’s Chesterfield Power Station, and the MillerCoors Shenandoah Brewery Project.
Don is our Vice President, who has been serving Chewning + Wilmer since 2012. He holds Masters licenses in 27 states. Some of his projects include: Brazos Electric Power COOP DCS and Instrumentation upgrade, El Paso Electric DCS and Instrumentation upgrade, Valero Refining DCS and Instrumentation upgrade, Delek Refining DCS and Instrumentation upgrade, Kraton Polymers DCS and Instrumentation upgrade.
Robert Zahn has led Chewning + Wimer forward for 30+ years. Serving as our President/CEO since 2007, Robert is a committee member of both the NECA Business Development and National Electrical Contractors Management Institute. In addition, Robert is the President of the Richmond Chapter and Atlantic Coast National Electrical Contractors Association.
Like several of our company leaders, Carson began his career with the company as an apprentice in 1985 and is a 2nd generation member of the electrical contracting industry. He worked his way up through the company, spending a significant amount of time working on and supervising industrial, power & process control construction projects. In 2004, Carson was promoted to Vice President and his responsibilities expanded to include Division Manager of our Mechanical Piping & Instrumentation Departments. Carson was elected President in 2018 and CEO\President in 2019. Carson serves the Virginia Association of Contractors as Vice President currently and served as President from 2015-2018.
