Management & Leadership Team
Denise Hartnett
President | CFO
Denise is an original founder of Laser Electric, starting in 1987. Today, Denise oversees day-to-day operations, including staffing, office management, project oversight, and financial operations. All business decisions regarding customer and project selection and development are handled by Denise, along with customer and internal communications. With her extensive business experience, we have been able to develop into a strategic and efficient company that continues to grow each year.
Kevin Hartnett
Vice-President
Kevin started in the electrical trade as a Marine Electrical Trainee in 1973. He advanced to Marine Electrician at National Steel & Shipbuilding (NASSCO), working on ships for the Navy and private industry, both new construction and service. Kevin then served a four-year Electrical Construction Apprenticeship, graduating in 1979 as the top graduate in his class. From 1981 through 1986, Kevin served as a State of California Certified Apprenticeship and Journeyman Training Instructor. Denise & Kevin started Laser Electric together in 1987. During his time at Laser Electric, Kevin has been a field technician, estimator, project manager, and general manager. Kevin has extensive design/build experience, including complete design of several multi-million dollar telecommunications centers, data centers, emergency, and standby power systems, alternative energy systems, and large UPS installations.
Justin Hartnett
Vice President | General Manager
Justin has over 12 years of field experience that began with a 4 year apprenticeship. He then became a journeyman electrician, which led to him running extensive projects as a foreman. In 2007, Justin was promoted to an estimator and worked his way up the corporate ladder over the next 15 years. As a project manager, he managed several 2+ megawatt cogeneration projects, (4) 250KW and larger solar plant projects, (4) large Bloom Energy fuel cell projects, multiple large tenant improvement projects, an extensive $1M power system & industrial control upgrade for Nestle Foods (completed start to finish in 4 months), multiple industrial and HVAC DDC control systems, fume hood control projects, lab upgrades, and school projects. His current title is General Manager; his responsibilities include overseeing the overall operations of the Sales Department, estimating, project management, service and special projects, and the HVAC Controls Department.
Emily Hartnett
Vice President/Director of Internal Operations
Emily began her construction career in 2003 as an estimator with a general contractor, a role she stepped into with no prior experience, but quickly mastered under the guidance of the company’s owner. Her aptitude for the industry led her to a mechanical contractor in 2005, where she not only served as an estimator but also managed small projects, enhancing her project managing skills. In 2011, Emily’s career progressed at another mechanical contractor where she excelled as a Project Manager Assistant. Here, she played a pivotal role in overseeing all project facets from inception to completion, honing her ability to manage complex processes, timelines, and budgets. Emily joined Laser Electric in 2013 as the DDC Estimator, a position she held for several years before transitioning to a Project Coordinator role. This role expanded her responsibilities to assisting with various aspects of project execution. Her journey continued as she took on HR responsibilities, Contract Management, AP/AR Management, and Contract Administration. Today Emily oversees all aspects of internal operations of the office, demonstrating her vast expertise and commitment to excellence in every facet of her role at Laser Electric.
Jack Larabee
Operations Manager Large Projects
Jack has been in the electrical industry for 38 years, starting his career in the field as a journeyman electrician and working his way up the ladder to a foreman managing large crews. His ability to manage did not go unnoticed. After serving as a project manager for 23 years, he found his way to our firm in 2010. Jack excelled as a PM and was promoted to Senior Project Manager, and now carries the title of Operations Manager. He oversees all aspects of our large construction project division including: approx. 100 field employees, the Safety/Superintendent, Project Coordinator and three PM’s. He also oversees the warehouse and fleet. Jack is well-versed in all types of projects including, but not limited to, K-12 schools, colleges, county facilities, military bases, renewables, and office buildings.
Joe Swall
Estimating Manager | Project Development
Joe has worked in the electrical field for almost 30 years and as an estimator for the last 16 years. He has extensive design/build and CAD experience and has helped our team successfully complete many large commercial, industrial, institutional and military projects all over southern California. Joe oversees four estimators in his department.
Carlos Vidaurri
Service Department Manager
Carlos is a Navy Veteran and Certified Electrician with over 28 years of experience in the electrical industry. Working his way up from Apprentice to Service Project Manager prior to joining the Laser team in 2015. As the Service Department Manager he brings experience in bio tech, industrial, commercial and mechanical installations. Working to repair, replace and design with the latest in electrical systems, with a team that responds quickly, safely and ready when an emergency arises.
Michael Marrone
Special Projects Department Manager
Mike has 16+ years at Laser Electric and 20+ years in the electrical industry. Joining the team in 2007, he came on board as a field foreman focusing on our SDGE Energy accounts at Camp Pendleton. In 2012 Mike was offered a Project Management position in the office to help build our Service Department. During the following 10 year span, Mike excelled and managed over 8,000 service & small projects worth over 37M+ in revenue, mainly focusing on Federal projects in Southern California. Mike is now our Special Projects department manager handling projects in the $100K-$500K range.
Dan Cannizzo
HVAC Controls (DDC) Project Development/Department Manager
Dan Cannizzo has been with LEI for over 12 years. A Marine Corps veteran, Dan brings with him over 20 years of commercial electrical experience with a current focus on DDC (Direct Digital Control). Since being employed with LEI, Dan has worked his way up the ladder starting as a Soundman and then being promoted to Sound and Signal Tech. In 2012 Dan obtained his state JW certification at which time he moved on to become a large project foreman for LEI for 6 years. Dan then moved into an office position to serve as a Project Manager for the DDC division and has been since promoted to DDC Department Manager where he also serves as a Project Developer working with a wide array of Federal, State, and private customers creating and selling DDC projects.
Stephanie Fernandez
Finance Manager
Stephanie Fernandez came to Laser Electric with over 20 years of construction accounting and finance management. Graduating from Cal State San Marcos in 2004 with her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Finance she has worked with construction companies her entire career focusing on government contracting. Currently Stephanie is Laser Electric’s Finance Manager overseeing our company financial reporting. She manages our financial audits and reports internal and external such as financial statements, labor compliance, accounting reports, job cost review, insurance and tax reporting.
Cathie Trautman
HR Manager
Joining the team as the HR Manager at Laser Electric in January of 2024, Cathie brings a robust portfolio of human resource expertise honed across diverse sectors including IT, manufacturing, solar financing, and banking. Cathie is a SHRM Certified Professional and holds an undergrad degree in Strategic Human Resource Management from the University of Phoenix, reflecting a deep commitment to excellence and strategic insight in human resource practices. Cathie’s career is distinguished by a proven track record of leading effective teams in performance and talent management, tactical HR operations, cultural transformation, and significant change management initiatives, driving comprehensive HR strategies to enhance organizational dynamics and propel business objectives forward. At Laser Electric, Cathie is focused on aligning the strategic goals of the company with effective HR solutions, ensuring that both business needs and employee expectations are met with exceptional balance and foresight.