Meet Devin Sherman, Project Manager

Devin recently joined the Energenecs team as an Electrical Project Manager. In this role, Devin oversees the planning, design, and installation of control systems for water and wastewater treatment plants. His responsibilities include ensuring projects stay on schedule, remain within budget, and comply with all necessary regulations. Working closely with engineering teams, Devin helps keep projects running smoothly from start to finish. We asked Devin about his role at Energenecs.

How did you become interested in the water industry?

I wouldn’t say I was specifically attracted to the wastewater industry, but I’ve been working with electrical controls for a very long time, which is a big part of what we do here. I’m one of the electrical project managers, so I handle a lot of lift stations and Huber/headsdworks controls as well as full SCADA systems. This role feels like a natural extension of my past experiences.

What types of equipment did you work on before?

Before this, I worked with industrial water heaters and refrigeration units. We designed water and oil circulators that were sent to various processes to either heat or cool them. These were used in applications like plastic injection molding, laser processes, and batch mixing.

How did that experience transition to lift stations?

A lot of the skills I used earlier transferred directly—like working with PLCs, HMIs, relay logic, motor starters, and transformers. The components are the same; they’re just applied differently in lift stations and water systems.

What got you interested in electrical work?

I’ve always had an interest in electrical and mechanical systems. I started panel wiring as a job when I was in high school, which I enjoyed. I later went to school for architectural engineering, specializing in electrical and structural components for buildings. Unfortunately, I graduated during the housing recession and couldn’t find work in that field. Luckily, I had a strong foundation in electrical line diagrams and troubleshooting, and got a job doing the CAD work, then moved to an entry level engineering position. This led me to this career.

What got you interested in electrical work?

I’ve always had an interest in electrical and mechanical systems. I started panel wiring as a job when I was in high school, which I enjoyed.

I later went to school for architectural engineering, specializing in electrical and structural components for buildings. Unfortunately, I graduated during the housing recession and couldn’t find work in that field. Luckily, I had a strong foundation in electrical line diagrams and troubleshooting, and got a job doing the CAD work, then moved to an entry level engineering position. This led me to this career.

Where did you go to school?

I attended MSOE (Milwaukee School of Engineering).

What’s a typical day like for you at Energenecs?

A lot of my day involves managing projects. I check on all my projects to determine their status and decide what needs attention first. Some might be in production, CAD, or design, and some may not have been started yet. Each day involves prioritizing based on deadlines, workload, and how long a task will take.

How many large projects are you currently handling?

Right now, I have three major site-wide projects. For example, one involves upgrading 14 lift stations in Sturgeon Bay, and another is a wastewater plant system upgrade that includes 9–10 sites. Along with these, I manage smaller panel projects.

Do you work independently or as part of a team?

Each project manager is assigned their own projects, so we work mostly independently. However, we consult and support each other when needed. Currently, we have four electrical project managers and the operations manager involved as well. We also help support the service team as they are out in the field..

How often are you on-site versus in the office?

I’m in the office most days, though I work remotely about once a week. I visit customer sites to make sure everything’s documented properly, but I don’t spend much time on-site beyond that. If we have testing or production work happening, I make sure to be in the office for that.

Are you from the area originally?

No, I’m from Skokie, just north of Chicago. I moved to Milwaukee for school and have stayed here since.

What do you enjoy about living in the area?

I love it in Grafton—it’s so much nicer than being surrounded by crowds. It’s a more peaceful lifestyle. You still have all the perks of being close to all the conveniences, but you are also just a few minutes away from farms and lakes.

Do you have hobbies or free time outside of work?

Free time is pretty rare! My wife owns a photography business, and we have four kids—ages 9, 7, 5, and 3—who keep us busy with sports and activities like softball, basketball, horseback riding, and swimming. Between family and work, my hands are full.