About

About Bob W Harris

Bob W Harris is Executive Vice President of Business Development at JH Kelly, one of the largest MEP and specialty industrial contractors in the Pacific Northwest. Located in Longview, Washington, JH Kelly has over 1,200 employees and consistent revenues of more than $500 million for 35 years annually. 

With over 35 years of experience in the construction industry, he brings a diverse and skilled background and customer focus to JH Kelly’s project development efforts. He leads JH Kelly’s sales and marketing efforts with a team of 12 sales, marketing, and business development professionals across all operating groups in the company. His expertise is in Win Work strategies for the business’s service side and the pursuit of large Industrial CapEx projects. 

The Journey from Canada to the Pacific Northwest

Born in 1966, Bob is from Toronto, Canada. Still, he began calling the United States home in 1975 when his engineer dad moved to Seattle, Washington, to start a career with Wright Schuchart Engineering, which later became the Harris Group. He developed a love for the construction and engineering community, following in his father’s footsteps, and this passion has served him exceptionally well throughout his career.

On the Ice from an Early Age

Robert Harris played hockey as a child and into his formative years, competing in the United States Hockey League, Junior A, and as a college player at Iowa State University. Although he didn’t remain at Iowa State, his fierce love of sports and competition continues today.

He returned to Seattle and completed his studies at Seattle University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Humanities.

From University to His First Job

Upon graduation, Robert Harris worked as an auditor for a pension fund. Although the job wasn’t in his wheelhouse, it was serendipitous, as it was where he met his wife, Marnie. Bob William Harris decided to pursue his love of construction and engineering and landed a project engineer position with Sverdrup Engineering, where, during the first four years of his career, he managed the demolition and expansion of Concourse D at the SeaTac airport. Under the guidance of his mentors, he decided to look for work as a contractor and found his next home with JH Kelly.

His Career Path with JH Kelly

Robert Harris’s first job with JH Kelly was as a Field Engineer in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where the company rebuilt a compressor station for PGT as a subcontractor to Bechtel Corporation. From there, Bob worked on constructing a sulfur recovery unit at the CHS refinery in Laurel, Montana. He returned to southwest Washington, where he worked on various industrial capital projects and shutdowns until he could work as a Business Development Manager for JH Kelly’s Vancouver office. He excelled in developing new business and, within three years, was promoted to Director of Marketing and Business Development for the entire company.

William credits the craft leadership and operations managers with contributing to the success of his position as director.

In 1999, while JH Kelly underwent several management changes, at 32, he took an opportunity to lead a service contractor in San Diego for Cal-Air, where he honed his actual skill set to drive a sales team of 30-plus professionals. After four years, he reconnected with the owners and returned to JH Kelly, excited about rejoining the company and returning to the Pacific Northwest. He was appointed Vice President, returning comfortably to his previous marketing and business development role.

Robert Harris Selected to Head Newly Acquired Company for JH Kelly

In 2018, JH Kelly acquired Portland Mechanical Contractors (PMC), a large HVAC, plumbing, and refrigeration contractor in the Greater Portland market. Mason Evans, CEO and President of JH Kelly, selected Bob as the group’s executive, integrating PMC into the company’s culture and building the business. With a strong PMC management team in place, Robert Harris was able to grow the sales culture and financial performance of the service business.

Since then, Bob has worked closely with CEO Mason Evans on four separate acquisitions, including an electrical contractor, two service contractors, and one SPG company. 

He currently serves on the Cowlitz Economic Development Council’s board of directors. He has been a past board member of the Washington State Petroleum Association, the Northwest Construction Consumers Council, and Workforce Southwest Washington. 

The Personal Side of Robert Harris

Robert Harris loves to travel with his wife of 33 years, experiencing different countries—their people, food, cultures, and architecture. Harris, the consummate family man, loves spending time with his three children, their spouses, and two adorable grandchildren. 

Bob W Harris is an admitted sports nut who also loves music. He has played hockey for over 50 years and currently skates in the over-35 league in McMinnville, Oregon.