Jim Wiley at the Dunkirk substation.




National Grid’s 6,000 New York employees know the importance of being reliable and dependable as we safely deliver natural gas and electricity every day.

And it’s people like construction supervisor Jim Wiley who embody these values of dependability and reliability. Since the 1980s, Wiley has set a high bar for leadership and excellence that is appreciated by many who have gotten to know, work with and learn from him. It’s his knowledge, experience and work ethic that benefit our customers, our communities, and those who work for the company today and in years to come.

In recent years, Wiley has overseen construction of many of the company’s high-profile, multi-million-dollar projects – including an asset separation project and new substation in Dunkirk.

“National Grid pays a good price for a good product,” he said. “I believe in taking in pride in what you do, and want a job done as if I was doing it for myself.”

“He’s extremely thorough and wants to do the right thing at all times,” said National Grid Lead Environmental Engineer Lisa Montesano. “He goes out of his way to make sure that our people are safe and that the company is protected from liability.”

Montesano added that she, our customers and the company have benefitted from Wiley’s proactivity as he always seems to be a step ahead, asking questions or pointing out potential environmental hazards. 

Wiley hallmarks: Perfection, Quality, Workmanship 
“Everything Jim touches needs to be perfect,” said Walter Wojtanowski, Director of Project Management, Construction, New York. 

Wojtanowski said that visitors at National Grid’s $116 million Gardenville substation in West Seneca might notice details such as bolt patterns, foundations and steel bus work, which he described as uniform and in a straight line: hallmarks of Wiley’s work.

“When you see it, you can tell that Jim built it,” Wojtanowski said. “And no one will question that it was done correctly as the quality and workmanship are all there.”

Added Montesano, “Jim makes sure that quality is top of mind because what we’re building should be in service for 50, 60 years. And that’s admirable.”

She said that another admirable quality of Wiley’s is his humility. He deflects praise on himself so that he can heap it on others. As Wiley walked the yard at the Dunkirk substation, he mentioned one name after another of people with whom he’s worked – past and present – and his deep appreciation for them.

“One doesn’t need to know everything; sometimes you just need to know whom to contact and they’ll assist you,” Wiley said. “I treasure the experiences that I’ve had working with so many good, brilliant people.” 

Wiley’s rewarding experiences include serving more than 30 years on the Ellicottville Central School District school board, a role that he said made him a better parent to his three daughters, and a better worker because he served on various committees.

National Grid Principal Project Manager Thomas Brim has worked with Wiley on the company’s last few major construction projects, including Gardenville and the $41 million Dunkirk substation.He said that when Wiley is not occupied with project-related outages, he gladly accepts other storm-related roles, and is among the first to volunteer when a community needs a hand.

“My wife Mary is the same way,” said Wiley, who added that volunteerism is important to him and his family. “We try to help if there’s a person in need.”

“He’s a great resource,” said Brim, who added that he often learns something every time he speaks with Wiley. “He knows our specifications. But he also knows how to do so much, like pour concrete or fix a car engine. He operated a bulldozer to dig a pond on his own property. He can take anything apart and put it back together. I know that when he’s on a job, everything will be taken care of. And that’s sometimes easier said than done because he’s responsible for so much.”

New Supervisors Work With Wiley  
Wojtanowski said that it’s not coincidental that Wiley has played important roles on the company’s most high-profile investments.

“He’s a great teacher and is patient with people,” he said. “And one of his initiatives is to make sure that everyone gets to go home safely at the end of the day.”  

Wiley joined the company in 1986 as a meter reader and worked various jobs before retiring from National Grid in 2011. Then, after working as a contractor on projects that took him to the Southern Tier region of New York and as far away as New England, he re-joined the company: first as a contractor in 2012, then as a full-time employee in 2019.

“I was sad when he left but happy when he returned to the company,” Montesano said. “He’s sharp as a tack and knows so much, including high voltage power and construction.”

Wojtanowski said that when new supervisors join the group, he pairs them with Wiley with the notion that some of what he knows may rub off on them.

“We’ll never have someone step in and replace him because he’d be a tough guy to replace,” Wojtanowski said. “We rotate people to work with him, so that they’ll absorb some of his knowledge and make them better. His years of experience aren’t things that we’ll ever be able to find, so whatever he can share with others will ultimately benefit us.” 

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