Tom Guess
Mount Pleasant
Summary
Dynamic leader with proven track record of successfully managing projects and initiatives and achieving desired business objectives. Skilled in developing and executing strategies, managing budgets and resources, and leading cross-functional teams. Consistently produces tangible outcomes that exceed expectations.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Program Director
Valley Link Transmission - A FirstEnergy Corporation Joint Venture
07.2025 - Current
- Direct and lead operations for both the Valley Link Transmission and Grid Growth Joint Ventures. Ensure seamless collaboration by fostering operational alignment amongst FirstEnergy and its strategic partners while leading daily project execution and milestone management activities.
Manager – Scoping/Estimating, Standards, & PJM Interconnection
FirstEnergy Corporation
01.2020 - 06.2025
- Oversaw six supervisor-led teams supporting the creation and maintenance of detailed technical project scopes and estimates for transmission line and substation projects, development and maintenance of transmission line and substation design construction standards and specifications, PJM project compliance reporting, and the interconnection facility studies of merchant transmission and generation projects.
Supervisor – External Transmission Line Design
FirstEnergy Corporation
05.2018 - 12.2019
- Directed a team of five internal transmission engineers that oversaw six consulting firms. On average, the external design team oversaw approximately 9,000-12,000 transmission design hours per month equating to approximately 75 transmission line projects per year.
Engineer – External Transmission Line Design
FirstEnergy Corporation
07.2017 - 05.2018
- Mentor and oversee FirstEnergy engineering consultants in the design and development of green field and existing transmission facilities ranging from 46kV to 500kV.
Engineer, Internal Transmission Line Design
FirstEnergy Corporation
04.2016 - 07.2017
- Designed and developed green field and existing transmission facilities ranging from 12kV to 500kV. Implemented new specifications and design practices to improve engineering efficiency.
Distribution Project Manager
WestPenn Power, FirstEnergy Corporation
07.2014 - 04.2016
- Budgeted, forecasted, scheduled, and coordinated project activities for distribution, sub-transmission, and transmission projects/programs.
Substation Project Engineer
FirstEnergy Corporation
12.2011 - 06.2014
- Delivered civil/structural expertise in the design of greenfield and existing substation facilities ranging from 12kV to 500kV. Assisted in the development of engineering design aides and a drafting/task assignment program.
Project Engineer
MonPower, FirstEnergy Corporation
02.2011 - 12.2011
- Provided civil/structural engineering knowledge to effectively monitor distribution reliability and assets. Composed infrastructure studies to assist in the economic development of the MonPower region.
Transmission Project Engineer
EHV Projects, Allegheny Energy
05.2009 - 02.2011
- Participated as a project engineer for the engineering and construction of EHV transmission projects. Assisted in right-of-way permitting, structural design, and construction of transmission lines and substations.
Education
Master of Business Administration -
Seton Hill University
Greensburg, PA05-2015
Bachelor of Science - Civil Engineering
Pennsylvania State University
State College, PA05-2009
Skills
- Demonstrated leader with strong communication skills and proven team building acumen
- Transformational improvement through means of process, technology, and organizational enhancement
- Software/Systems - Microsoft Office Suite, SAP, UI Planner, EOS/Sage, Ecosys, Unifier, GIS, Cascade, AutoCAD, PLS-CADD
- Experienced in Visual Basic, NET, Java coding
Certification
- State of Maryland – Professional Engineer – 51463
- State of Ohio – Professional Engineer – 82680
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – Professional Engineer - 86393
- Commonwealth of Virginia – Professional Engineer – 402058390
- State of West Virginia – Professional Engineer – 22610
Timeline
Program Director
Valley Link Transmission - A FirstEnergy Corporation Joint Venture
07.2025 - Current
Manager – Scoping/Estimating, Standards, & PJM Interconnection
FirstEnergy Corporation
01.2020 - 06.2025
Supervisor – External Transmission Line Design
FirstEnergy Corporation
05.2018 - 12.2019
Engineer – External Transmission Line Design
FirstEnergy Corporation
07.2017 - 05.2018
Engineer, Internal Transmission Line Design
FirstEnergy Corporation
04.2016 - 07.2017
Distribution Project Manager
WestPenn Power, FirstEnergy Corporation
07.2014 - 04.2016
Substation Project Engineer
FirstEnergy Corporation
12.2011 - 06.2014
Project Engineer
MonPower, FirstEnergy Corporation
02.2011 - 12.2011
Transmission Project Engineer
EHV Projects, Allegheny Energy
05.2009 - 02.2011
Bachelor of Science - Civil Engineering
Pennsylvania State University
Master of Business Administration -
Seton Hill University