About Us  >  Meet the Team  >  James Flaherty

James Flaherty Vice President of Operations, New Jersey Office

Value Delivered

Jim oversees delivery of the end-to-end project services required to help clients successfully confront the complex issues involved in today's facilities management environment. When a new project is awarded, he selects the project team, including the project manager, labor superintendent, general foreman, project engineer and other required staff. He also conducts the initial team meeting, establishes the problem-resolution process and provides other start-up guidance. Throughout the project, he works closely with his team and the client to ensure a collaborative approach that results in on-time, on-budget completion, while enabling the kind of total customer satisfaction that attracts new clients and builds long-term relationships with current ones.

 

Expertise

Jim's career started when he began working in a relative's contracting business at the age of 15. After attending college and completing his military service, he joined Power Electric as an apprentice, later becoming a superintendent. He then went to work at Allan Electric, where he held project manager and director of operations posts, before moving to Kleinknecht Electric Company as a project manager. From this initial position, he moved up to vice president of operations for the company's New Jersey office. He joined Forest in 2003. The result is extensive project management expertise in such areas as client satisfaction, staff motivation, manpower mobilization, vendor and subcontractor management, and equipment and materials purchasing.

 

After serving with the United States Marines in Viet Nam, Jim earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Seton Hall University.

 

A licensed electrical contractor in the state of New Jersey and a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local #164, Jim holds a gubernatorial appointment to the New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors.

 

The Personal Side

Jim and his wife, Bernadette, a learning disabilities consultant and winner of the prestigious 2007 Educator of the Year Award for her district, have one grown son, Paul. Paul has followed in his mother's footsteps by becoming a high school mathematics teacher. In addition to enjoying his family, Jim is an avid hockey fan. A former Division I college hockey referee, he now coaches the New Jersey Devils youth hockey team.