Influential Woman · Electrical

Marianne M Martinez

Project Manager, Prime Electric

San Jose, CA

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree High School

Her Story

About Marianne

I've been in the electrical industry for about 21 years, and I've been a project manager for probably about 10 or 11 years now. I work on all projects, managing all the financial and budgets and everything. I oversee the whole project, from $10 million to $25 million worth of electrical. I am the inside person that works with the field, and we collaborate together to build the end product. I barely got out of high school and started as an admin. I just knocked on every door and never took no as an answer. When one person couldn't help me, I just kept moving on until someone was willing to teach me or I got the answer I could work with, and moved up from there. One of my most notable achievements was becoming a PM and being able to be a part of the Luma Hotel across from Giant Stadium with a rooftop bar. That was one of my most memorable and challenging projects that I had during COVID, and it was a huge accomplishment for me - a notch on my belt.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Marianne

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to my grandparents. My grandparents were pickers - they worked in the fields. And they never gave up, and they did everything they could to make sure that they could buy a home and raise their families. You know, speaking two languages, and they never gave up, and I watched that. They raised me, and I watched that growing up, and I saw that you don't give up, you keep going. That's what they instilled in me, and that's what I'm doing now.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

I've always been taught to make friends with everyone. You know, keep it going, because you never know when you're going to end up on another project with someone. You never know when that person that is a PE is going to become a PM or a VP, or, you know, so you always want to keep a good attitude. A good, strong, professional attitude, and do the best you can. Don't have bosses to be the bad guy. Always try to keep it going.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

Stay positive. Stay strong. Work hard. And never give up. You know, we have a place here, and we're good at what we do. But never, never give up. Keep, keep moving forward. Always, you know, when one door shuts, keep looking for that next door.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

I think that the environment has changed. Schedules are more impacted and fast-paced, and I think that we need to, as a culture of construction, need to figure out a way to attack those in a better way. It seems like everything's rush, rush, rush. Before, you had a 12-month schedule, now it's, I want it done in 9 months, you know? And that's a lot of stuff to have done in a short time frame. I just think the way construction is being done has definitely evolved. So, and I think that we're getting there, but it has been challenging.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Honestly, I think that being upfront and honest is the best way to go. I feel that strong work ethic, you know, you get to work on time. Stay as you do, and do as you say. Then I don't go wrong.

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