Innovator Spotlight - Jose Nates

At DAVIS, we’re constantly looking for ways to stay ahead of the curve. This industry is always evolving, and the only way to succeed is to innovate. This year, we’re featuring people at DAVIS who help us continue to break new ground—in more ways than one.

As Mechanical Estimator, Jose helps DAVIS win some of the coolest and most impactful projects in our region. Read below to learn more about Jose!

How long have you worked at DAVIS?
I moved to the United States from Spain last summer, and I found DAVIS not long after. This month will officially mark a year since I started!

What kind of work were you doing in Spain?
After I got my degree from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, I started working with boilers, and started at a small company working HVAC and plumbing for local residential projects. From there, I and got experience working on bigger and bigger mechanical projects, from hotels and theaters to hospitals.

What was your favorite project?
My favorite project was the most difficult one I did – Puy De Fou in Toledo, Spain. This was a theater, with a lot of equipment—and we were under a tight schedule.  My other favorite project was a thermosolar plant—located in the south of Spain, because more sun gets there—that was really complicated, with a lot of specific procedures and sensitive equipment. 

Wow, what drew you to DAVIS?
I had all this great experience in mechanical work, and I saw DAVIS as a place where I could apply the knowledge I had and learn new things as well—for instance, I’ve been learning about sprinkler systems recently, and that’s been valuable. And I got the sense that people at DAVIS are focused on success—even if mistakes are made, everyone learns from them and moves forward. There are also so many people of diverse backgrounds that I work with, and that’s rewarding. 

What is the key to your success as a Mechanical Estimator?

To create the best scope of work, I communicate with our trade partners to ensure everyone understands the project. Communication is key to ensure proposals are set, the technical aspects are reviewed, and nothing is missed. 

What’s a piece of advice you would give to someone in the industry?
I think the most important thing is to see others’ perspectives—understand and respect them. I’ve always found a friendly approach works best whenever I need anything from someone.

What’s your favorite place you’ve traveled to?

I traveled through Europe, and saw all the architecture, but I think New York may be my favorite place I’ve ever traveled. We went to One World Trade, and that was an incredible and emotional time. I also really liked traveling to West Virginia, and the rivers and mountains were incredible. We got to see the Country Roads (laughing).

What do you do when you’re not at work?

When I’m not with my kids, I try to get active. I’m training for a half marathon next March—and I might train for an Olympic triathlon in June—swimming, biking, running. It’s like a goal, and I like to train. Work life is like a marathon—when you treat it like a sprint, you start looking for shortcuts.