The Eight highlights something we believe deeply: the best results happen when the full weight of MacDonald-Miller is behind the project. That includes:

• Construction that builds the right foundation
• Special projects that adapt fast and deliver cleanly
• Controls that connect systems and enable smarter decisions
• Service maintenance that protects performance long after turnover
• Energy solutions that help buildings meet modern compliance demands and operate more efficiently

It’s multiple teams moving in the same direction—toward a building that works better for everyone inside it.

Q: What does a System Optimization Specialist do? How do you explain it to someone outside the field?

Gary: My role as System Optimization Specialist is basically quality assurance (QA/QC), and the commissioning process, and then, also some light project management for start-up and commissioning coordination with the other trades. The stuff I work on generally has a lot of moving parts, and there’s a lot of things to check! 

Q: When you say “quality assurance,” what does that actually look like across an entire project?

Gary: It’s sort of a multi-phased process. We inspect during the rough-in period and try to catch any big issues. As the project progresses and we’re getting power to equipment, we’re starting equipment up in the right sequences.

Then we’re the last person that hands the keys over to the owner to make sure the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed and that we’re giving them the quality product. Not only as contracted, but so our name reflects the quality of work we want to perform.

Q: What does an average day in QA/QC look like for you?

Gary: Early on, it’s mostly coordination and walking around, checking big-picture. Comparing model numbers to submittals and contract documents, making sure all the accessories and things we were obligated to install are there.

As equipment starts up, we coordinate that and make sure it’s performing per design. We assist with functional performance tests with building management systems, working with test and balance, controls, the general contractor, and electrical contractors.

We’re also making sure it’s turned over with the labeling, gauges, P and T ports—small things that often get missed. The goal is to send over a complete project on time.

Energy mandates in the Pacific Northwest, and Oregon specifically, are new. Regulators have done their best to make things clear, but we’ve found that it’s wise for building owners to learn from building and facility experts to weed through legislative text.

After benchmarking 1,000 facilities across the region, we’ve cataloged the friction points where policy meets reality.

From “ghost” utility meters to data centers masquerading as office space, the lessons are clear: compliance is a manageable hurdle, provided you know how to navigate five potential issues.

Q: What do you like most about being an INW service technician?

Nate: The autonomy. You’re out here, it’s on you to solve it. You can ask for help when you need it, but a lot of the time you’re the one making the call and getting it done.

Q: What does a day in the field actually look like?

Nate: A lot of it is diagnostics, chasing issues, and then trying to carve out enough time to do the work the right way. You can get pulled in different directions thinking you’ve got a few hours to make progress, then something else pops up.

In the INW, the distances between sites can be a lot so there’s a good amount of windshield time. It’s not like Seattle where everything is 30 minutes away. Over here you could be in Moses Lake, you could be anywhere, and need to get somewhere that is two to three hours away.

We’re honored to be among the Sustainability Award Winners for Operational Excellence by Puget Sound Business Journal!

Three years ago, MacDonald-Miller signed both The Climate Pledge and MEP 2040, formalizing a long-term commitment to reduce carbon impact across the full life cycle of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems we design, build, and support.

Since then, we’ve focused on turning that commitment into real, measurable action. We’re using our own footprint across 13 buildings in the Pacific Northwest as a proving ground for solutions like smart building services and sub-metering, helping us learn faster and apply what works in the field.

From transitioning our 800-vehicle fleet toward zero-emission options, to exploring reusable air filter alternatives, to mapping the carbon impact of the products we specify across the supply chain, we’re pushing for practical progress that reduces emissions today while building momentum for what’s next.

Q: This was your first groundbreaking ceremony. How did it feel to be a part of it?

Tera: It actually means a lot to me. It’s not very common for an estimator to get the chance to attend a groundbreaking for a project of this scale. It feels like a pivotal point in my career and an experience I will definitely remember as the job continues to evolve. Standing out there with nothing built and realizing this is really the ‘fresh start’ is a very cool feeling. I’m just grateful to be part of the team and looking forward to the opportunities ahead.

Q: Estimating isn’t usually the first career path people think of as kids. How did you find your way into this role and industry?

Tera: You’re right, if you ask almost any estimator, it usually wasn’t on their radar! For me, it just kind of happened. I started at MacDonald-Miller fresh out of college as a PM admin, just to get my foot in the door and experience the industry. Fortunately, after a year, I was able to transition into an estimating position, and I’ve been in that role for seven years now. I’ve spent that time being a sponge. I love learning and understanding as much as I can about the mechanical trades and the complexity of projects and builds all to become a better estimator. It has led to a lot more responsibility, like being a core part of the Prairie Medical project.

MacDonald-Miller is proud to be recognized by Siemens as the Pacific Zone Partner of the Year for 2025.

This award is a reflection of our people and especially our dedicated Building Controls team who show up every day committed to delivering real outcomes for our customers. From sales and engineering to project management, field execution, service, and our Smart Building Services team, this is what it looks like when we deliver as One MacDonald-Miller.

We take pride in taking on complex challenges and executing at a consistently high level. That kind of performance doesn’t happen by accident. It takes strong collaboration, shared accountability, and an unwavering focus on the customer experience.

We’re grateful to Siemens for the recognition and even more grateful to the teams across MacDonald-Miller who earned it.

Q: Can you tell us about your background and how you joined MacDonald-Miller? 

Ryan: I started with MacDonald-Miller in 2019 as a journeyman service technician and have since worked into the Service Operations Manager role for East Portland. Before joining this team, I worked for two other mechanical contractors, including a 16-year tenure at my previous company. That contractor was heading in a direction that didn’t align with where I wanted to go, so I began looking for other opportunities in the industry. On the day a recruiter from MacDonald-Miller reached out, I told myself that if I could find even one excuse not to take the call, I wouldn’t, but I couldn’t find an excuse. Six years later, I am still here and loving every minute of it. 

Q: What does your work involve as a Service Operations Manager? 

Ryan: My role is about knowing the skill set of our team and the specific expertise required to perform a task. This allows me to work very closely with our service coordination team and other teams at MacMiller to understand and meet the needs of our customers. 

A major focus for us is the “culture of recommendation”. We proactively look for ways to keep facilities running optimally and avoid downtime, keeping in mind equipment issues and failures lead to a loss in production and output, which ultimately impacts a customer’s bottom line. We share our expertise and clearly articulate the importance of the repair so they can allocate their budgets and keep their facility running smooth.

Q: What is it about the culture here that you value the most? 

Ryan: My excitement around coming to work has everything to do with the solid group of people I work with and who are eager to help me grow personally. The opportunities I’ve been afforded over the last six years have allowed me to continue challenging myself and achieve my own goals. There is a real sense of camaraderie among the people I work with every day.

Q: How do you define being a “trusted partner” for your customers? 

Ryan: To me, a trusted partner is someone the customer calls first when they have an issue. Sometimes they call me for things they know I can’t personally resolve, like a failed elevator for example, simply because they don’t trust the opinion they are currently getting and want my recommendation on who to call. 

You build that trust by showing up to the site, getting to know the customer, and following through when they ask you to take care of something. That relationship is so vital that I’ve seen customers follow their technicians from company to company. 

Q: You’ve mentioned being in the “yes business.” Can you share an example of what that means to you? 

Ryan: Being in the “yes business” means taking care of a customer’s needs as quickly as we can and finding solutions for them. I personally enjoy being challenged. Early in my career, I was asked to fix a broken sandblaster in an industrial fab shop. Even though I had never seen one before, I realized it was just a mechanical piece of equipment with a sequence of operations. Taking on that challenge showed my commitment to the customer and it’s exciting to know our service technicians operate the same way. 

Q: What is the outlook for the MacDonald-Miller team in the Oregon market? 

Ryan: Portland is an evolving market. Over the last few years, we have seen a significant increase in data center growth, particularly in the Hillsboro region. In the time I’ve been here, our Oregon service team has doubled in size. Moving forward, I want to ensure we are hiring, training, and promoting the right people so we can continue our path as the premier full-service mechanical contractor in the region.