What Does an MEP Manager Do? Exploring MEP Careers at RO

The generator had not arrived, but Kwasi Nyante had already spotted a problem. Reviewing the manufacturer’s requirements, he realized the planned layout would leave too little room to access the equipment. He worked with the owner and project team to adjust it before installation.

Catching conflicts like this is part of Kwasi’s work as a Senior MEP Manager at Rogers-O’Brien Construction. It requires understanding not just how equipment fits in a building, but how it will be installed, operated, and maintained.

Working alongside him is Rhett Paulson, an MEP Coordinator with a background that includes service as a U.S. Navy electronics technician and work in electrical equipment service. Together, they bring different technical perspectives to helping complex building systems work as intended.

What Do MEP Managers and Coordinators Do?

MEP stands for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing. Mechanical includes HVAC systems that heat, cool, and ventilate a building. Electrical systems distribute power, while plumbing systems handle water supply and drainage.

Kwasi’s explanation of his role is straightforward: “I manage the systems that power [a building] or give you heating and cooling.”

Both Kwasi and Rhett work closely with field teams. Kwasi serves as a technical resource for superintendents and project managers, helping plan installation sequences and participating in inspections as work progresses.

Rhett leads daily coordination meetings during equipment startup and commissioning. His electrical background comes into play when reviewing test reports or troubleshooting equipment with vendors. When a field issue needs input from an engineer or owner, he helps explain the problem and work toward a resolution.

Their responsibilities extend beyond tracking whether equipment has been installed. They help teams understand what it will take to make that equipment operate as intended.

Career Paths Into MEP Construction

For Kwasi, learning how systems work began in New York, alongside his father in the family’s mechanical contracting business.

His background includes vocational high school training in plumbing and hands-on experience working primarily in HVAC. Working for a family business also meant taking on responsibilities beyond installation, from drafting to accounting. He later graduated from the City College of New York, where he studied mechanical engineering and psychology.

Joining RO gave Kwasi an opportunity to bring that experience into mission-critical construction while deepening his electrical knowledge.

Rhett grew up in Southern California before joining the Navy. His later work in electrical service and testing brought him to Texas and onto RO projects as an equipment vendor.

That is where he got ot know Herb Burnett, RO’s Director of MEP. When Rhett contacted Herb about an opportunity at RO, Herb helped arrange an interview.

“From the beginning, he demonstrated a deep understanding of electrical equipment, a strong work ethic, and the ability to perform reliable work under pressure,” Herb says of Rhett.

Their paths into MEP were different, but both arrived with technical experience to build on—and more to learn.

MEP Coordination: Closing the Gaps Between Systems

Moving from equipment service to the general contractor side meant broadening Rhett’s focus—from an individual piece of equipment to its role in the project.

Equipment can be installed without being ready to operate. Controls, wiring, or connections may depend on another team’s work. Rhett helps clarify those responsibilities and resolve the gaps.

When equipment from two vendors needed to communicate, for example, he worked with both vendors to address wiring and settings issues rather than leave the problem until another visit.

“We understand what their concerns are and we make it our concerns as well,” Rhett says of the owner’s needs.

Kwasi approaches coordination by looking at how components interact, including what teams will need to access and maintain them. The generator layout conflict is one example of why reviewing those requirements early matters.

As systems move toward startup and commissioning, Kwasi participates in inspections and helps oversee energization. Bringing electrical equipment online requires careful preparation, with safety guiding the team’s approach.

“I think the most important thing that we do at RO is we always start with safety,” Kwasi says.

Learning From the People Around You

Rhett sees a willingness to learn as essential to the MEP role.

“You’re not expected to know everything or be the master of everything, but you’re kind of expected to try and learn,” he says.

Kwasi’s experience shows how that learning can happen. He spent his first two months at RO shadowing Herb, with an experienced colleague available to answer technical questions as he built on his mechanical background.

“I grew into this position. I didn’t come here with it,” Kwasi says.

Herb recognized “his exceptional attention to detail,” recalling how Kwasi used Bluebeam to bring mechanical and electrical drawings into one layout. Just as important was his desire to help teammates “understand how the entire building functions.”

“At RO, we value people. It starts with leadership at the top and our commitment to protecting life and well-being,”

Herb burnett, Director of MEP

Since joining RO, Rhett has continued developing under Kwasi’s guidance. He is also using his GI Bill to pursue a degree in electrical engineering.

As he learns, Rhett shares what he knows. That includes exploring ways to use Compass, RO’s in-house AI assistant, in his MEP work and helping teammates apply useful approaches.

“Let me show you what I know,” Rhett says. “Give me a call anytime you have any questions.”

Support That Starts With People

For Kwasi, support at RO began before he settled into the work.

On his first day in Texas, he needed to pick up a rental car he had booked in Fort Worth, unaware of the distance from DFW Airport. Kevin Porter, RO’s Vice President of People Services, stepped in and drove him there.

It was a practical gesture that Kwasi still remembers.

“People also need to know that they matter and that someone is invested in their success,” Kevin says.

That same emphasis on people shapes Herb’s approach to helping his team grow.

“At RO, we value people. It starts with leadership at the top and our commitment to protecting life and well-being,” Herb says.

For Kwasi and Rhett, that support has included people willing to answer questions, share technical knowledge, and help them take on something new.

Explore MEP Careers at RO

MEP work means looking beyond an individual piece of equipment to understand how a building comes together—and helping teams resolve the details that make it work.

For Kwasi and Rhett, that work builds on different technical backgrounds and a shared willingness to keep learning. Whether they are catching a layout conflict before installation or working through an equipment startup issue, they help bridge technical knowledge and the project’s needs.

Interested in putting your technical experience and curiosity to work? Explore opportunities at r-o.com/careers.