The leading knowledge exchange for Data Center, IT and Mission Critical professionals.
Chris Cooper is the Senior National Accounts Manager for Legrand EWS. Chris currently leads Legrand North America EWS’ strategy around cable pathway and management in meeting the needs of the mission critical industry. He has worked with data center owners, electrical engineers, and contractors for the past 15 years to help design and develop safe and efficient methods on product installation in data centers.
Chris has 30 plus years of experience in the electrical construction industry. He began working as an apprentice for an electrical contractor while in high school and continued as an electrician through college. Chris graduated from The University of North Texas with a BBA. Upon graduating, he went into distributor sales working for both Anixter and Graybar focusing on the industrial/commercial market. After 15 years in distribution, he began working in the wire and cable manufacturing sector starting at Alpha Wire and Cable then moved over to Southwire. At Southwire, he spent over 13 years focusing on MV and 600V cable installation, with most of that time working on data center projects. The need for large power cables and fast project timelines inspired his passion for the mission critical industry and the desire to ensure the designs are safe and can be efficiently built.
The time at Southwire prepared Chris for the move to Legrand, where he concentrates on Cablofil’s cable pathway and wire management systems in the mission critical arena. Working with the cable management allows Chris to work closer with owners and contractors on creating designs that maximize efficiency in a challenging labor market. Cablofil is continually improving products to not only ensure faster installation but also products that increase jobsite safety.
One of the aspects Chris enjoys most is providing training for contractors on best installation practices. At many of these trainings, installers have been in the electrical trade for less than 5 years and many have never been trained by a manufacturer on best practices for cable pathway installations. Cablofil provides this training for their product as part of their solution package.
Involvement with 7×24 Exchange and the Mission Critical Industry
Chris has been attending 7×24 Exchange Meetings and Conferences for seven years. With owner and contractor relationships all across the US, Chris understands the importance of being a part of each community and is a member of six different 7×24 Exchange chapters across the US. Chris enjoys many aspects of the 7×24 Exchange International Conference, one of his favorites is the ability to bring his family with him. Allowing families to attend has allowed his two daughters many opportunities they would not have had. From hearing the wisdom of keynote speakers to conversing with industry leaders at dinner, they have developed social, leadership, and communication skills which they will carry with them through their career.
WIMCO has been especially insightful for his daughters, Laine and Remington. Whether they pursue a career in the Mission Critical Field or not, they have been able to hear how women are advancing and positively impacting engineering and construction in the Data Center market. Just like many others, this market is in need of greater diversity and WIMCO highlights the contributions women are making. Allowing young girls to see these women in action empowers them to know there is no job they cannot do.
In addition to 7×24 Exchange, Chris is a member of iMasons where he serves on their education committee. Chris has been married for 30 years. He enjoys archery, sports shooting, and building items out of repurposed wood from construction sites.
