James S. Downie
President
Jim has more than 30 years of UVM experience and is the president of ECI. He provides corporate leadership for ECI, including oversight of all field operations for the Consulting, Total Management, Field and Technology Services (geospatial work management systems integrations and unmanned aerial system (UAS) utilization).
Previously, as Executive Vice President, Jim provided leadership in areas of ECI’s corporate strategy, expanded service development, program oversight, technology and strategic executive consulting services in relation to wildfire prevention, UAS application development and vegetation management program improvement.
Prior to joining ECI, Jim served as the Director of Vegetation Management & Ancillary Programs (wood pole maintenance and other facility inspections) of a large investor-owned utility serving eight western and mid-western states. Over his 24-year career there, he established and maintained a collaborative strategic sourcing initiative for contractor relationships focused on continuous improvement, resolving workforce turnover issues and improving worker/public safety, productivity and electric service reliability. He is also recognized as an innovation leader in the leveraging of technology (geospatial analysis, LiDAR, high resolution imagery, work management software) for management of bark beetle epidemics, state-wide wildfire prevention/protection and FAC-003 compliance.
Jim has been active in several industry organizations, including serving as president of the Utility Arborist Association and program chair for the Rights-of-Way Symposium (ROW 12).
Jim holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, minor in Environmental Science from Hartwick College and is an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist and Utility Specialist.
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