Next Gen All Star: David Agudo

By Nicole Krawcke, Natalie Forster, Editorial Director

David Agudo

AGE: 38

COMPANY: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES

TITLE: STEAM OPERATING ENGINEER

How long have you been in the PHCP-PVF industry?

DA: Eight years

What drew you into the industry?

DA: The ability to physically implement what I have learned.

What is the most rewarding aspect of working in the industry?

DA: Knowing that I can make a difference with my particular skillset.

What motivates you every day?

DA: The industry is constantly evolving, and there is always something new to learn.

What is one thing you wish more people knew/understood about the PHCP-PVF industry?

DA: The industry may be physically demanding at times, but it could also be financially rewarding.

What has been your proudest moment in your career so far?

DA: Overseeing, completing, and commissioning a project from start to finish.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

DA: I take pride in all of my work.

Why he was chosen as a Next Gen All Star Top 20 Under 40 winner:

“David Agudo is a steam operating engineer in facilities maintenance on the campus of University California, Los Angeles, and he is on the swing shift covering the campus buildings for any type of trouble call. The campus consists of 163 buildings and 34 million square feet of space, he is responsible depending on the day of the week to cover all calls from the facilities’ management customer service center. The calls can range from a hot and cold call to a minor or major leak from any mechanical system and the building structure itself. He is also responsible for preventative maintenance schedule at night on systems that cannot be turned off during the daytime which will affect student academic studying or lab work being performed by the students in the research labs on campus. The campus has five Olympic size swimming pools for collegiate swimming meets and recreational activities for the students which put numerous calls on the personnel covering the campus for safe operation of the recreational centers on campus.

“While I was employed at UCLA as his supervisor, he also assembled a control panel on a system that controlled the domestic hot water for 30 showers at Park pool, this system allowed all showers to operate at a constant 115° F. David has an associate degree in HVAC and building automation and was recognized by facilities management in a staff meeting for inputting very detailed notes on the problems with trouble calls on the campus at night, which allowed the campus to improve operations for all personal on the campus during the calendar year. His attendance at night on campus is critical and he never calls out for a work shift. He is an up-and-coming star in the mechanical field in the Los Angeles area at UCLA.” – Paul Patenaude.

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Nicole Krawcke is the former Chief Editor of Plumbing & Mechanical and PM Engineer magazines. She covered the HVAC and plumbing industries for BNP Media. She has more than 15 years of writing and editing experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Michigan State University.

Natalie Forster is the Editorial Director of Plumbing & Mechanical and Supply House Times. Prior to joining BNP Media in 2020, she was an editor and digital content director for Southern Trade Publications, a publishing company with titles focused on the PHCP trades and the real estate industry. Natalie holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.