Meet

Our Team

Having a solid corporate structure is key to delivering successful high voltage construction projects. Hot Line Construction’s core team of experts has decades of experience in the industry.

Brentwood

Carol Bade

Founder

Carol was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area. She began her career by spending over a decade in the banking industry. In 1981, she partnered with two others to start California Splicing & Testing (CST). In 1986, Carol left CST and started Hot Line Construction, Inc. with her late husband, Denney. He was an expert in the high voltage industry and worked around the world for many years. Carol’s financial experience, high voltage background and leadership skills helped her to run the company successfully. For over 30 years, Carol has grown the company from 5 employees to over 650. Hot Line Construction is 100% woman owned, WBE-certified and considered a leader in the industry in both safety and production.

Carol is an avid golfer, aviation enthusiast, traveler and a supporter of many causes. She is beyond grateful for the support of the Hot Line team and is proud to run one of the top high voltage companies in the industry.

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Kelly Kutchera

CEO

Kelly was raised in Pleasanton, CA, and began her accounting career at a young age. In 1986, she started out as the Office Manager with Hot Line Construction, handling all Corporate Operations of the company from Client/Vendor Relations, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Contract Management and Controller responsibilities. She began a private two-year accountant training program with a CPA Firm out of Sebastopol, CA. This gave her a much deeper knowledge into the critical layers of accounting she currently uses today. Kelly has been with Hot Line for a total of 19.5 years, acting as Executive Vice President & CFO for 10 years, and CEO since 2023. Additionally, she attributes her knowledge and keen management skills to being raised around the high voltage electrical industry since birth.

Kelly is married and resides in Brentwood, CA; she likes to barrel race/rodeo in her off time and enjoys spending time with her husband, three children & grandson.

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Troy Myers

President & COO

Troy was raised in Pleasanton, CA, and after graduating high school, he served four years in the Coast Guard. He later joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to begin his apprenticeship and spent the next 25 years as a journeyman lineman and lead cable splicer. He owned and operated California Splicing & Testing before selling it to Hot Line, where he served as Vice President from 2008-2018. Now, as President and COO of Hot Line, Troy oversees all operations and manages contracts with local utility companies and other entities. He is a respected member of the utility community and represents Hot Line as a leader in safety and innovation.

He enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, skydiving, playing golf and scuba diving.

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Lisa Armas

A/R Manager

Lisa has 32 years of hands-on experience in accounting and management. During her 12 years at Hot Line Construction, Lisa has been involved in every aspect of the accounting program, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, finances, retirement programs, management and training of new employees.

Happily married with three grown children, Lisa spends her leisure time horseback riding, fishing, boating, hiking and enjoying the outdoors.

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Southern California Region

Jerad Simmons

Senior Vice President

Jerad has been with Hot Line Construction for several years, working in the San Jacinto and South Rural regions prior to assuming his current position in December 2013. He began his career in 1988 at a small utility in Arizona. In 2001, Jerad moved to Southern California, where he worked as a lineman for SDG&E, a foreman and general foreman for Henkels & McCoy, a general foreman and field manager for Par Electric, and a training director for Northwest Lineman College (NLC). At NLC, he taught classes on electrical theory, EPZ grounding, and transformer theory as well as field-training classes such as climbing and rope splicing. He received the Eagle Award for the most outstanding instructor.

Jerad lives in Ventura County with his wife, Penny. Their oldest son, Ross, is a 3rd generation lineman for a small REA in Wyoming. Their youngest son, Trevor, is a Construction Coordinator for Hot Line.

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Ventura Region

Jacob Milhoan

North Coast District Manager

Jacob was born and raised in the Santa Clarita Valley. He started out working in construction and at an LAPD impound yard in North Hollywood. He served a two-year mission for his church before attending the College of the Canyons. During college, Jacob was introduced to line work and decided to trade in his college education for an apprenticeship program. Along with his brother-in-law, he attended line school, climbing school, the apprenticeship and eventually topped out. He worked for several high voltage contractors before finding a home at Hot Line, where he has excelled as a District Manager.

Jacob still lives in the Santa Clarita Valley with his wife, three daughters and son. I am married with 4 kids, 3 girls and the youngest is a boy. He enjoys spending time with my family and friends, attending church, watching my kids sporting events, riding dirt bikes and going to the lake.

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Corona Region

Frank Barrett

South Civil District Manager

Frank began his career in 1999 as a road construction inspector for Cal Trans. During his career, he has been an estimator/project manager, chief estimator (underground utilities), and a general manager (civil construction). He earned his B.S. degree in civil engineering from California State University, Chico.

Frank enjoys spending time with his wife, Judi; son, Eli; and daughter, Sydney. His hobbies include running, hiking, basketball, swimming, diving, working around the house and watching sports.

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San Joaquin Region

Shawn Howard

District Manager

Shawn began his career over 25 years ago with an AJATC Apprenticeship Program, which earned him his journeyman lineman ticket. Prior to working at Hot Line Construction, Shawn has assisted several companies, including Par Electric and Kimsey Electric, in managing, building and maintaining power lines throughout the United States. His passion for work has taken him to New York, Florida and Texas for hurricanes; Kansas for ice storms; and California for fire and heat storms.

Shawn is a father of three. His hobbies include hunting, fishing and shooting guns.

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Northern California Region

Casey Rush

VP and Transmission/Distribution & Substation District Manager

Casey joined the Hot Line family in 2007 after spending several years with PG&E where he completed his apprenticeship. Starting his career in the oil fields at the age of 17, Casey has been in the industry for over 20 years. During his career, he has run multiple storm response operations and has supported a wide variety of clientele including Private Sector, Utility, Renewable Energy, Substation and Emergency Response. He has extensive knowledge of the industry, including Transmission, Distribution and Substation.

Casey has been married for 19 years and has 5 beautiful children. He enjoys spending time with his family, milling lumber and caring for his animals.

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Scott Kabrich

Private Sector District Manager

Scott has been in the high voltage industry for 29 years, coming up through the ranks from a groundman to a cable splicer to a foreman in the field. Currently, Scott is a Superintendent & estimator for the Private Sector Division. He has been a member of IBEW Local 595/1245 for the duration of his career. Growing up in a family of linemen and cable splicers, Scott has been immersed in the industry his entire life. This has enabled him to learn all aspects of the industry.

Scott was born in Castro Valley and grew up in Pleasanton. He has been married for 30 years and has a son in college. Scott enjoys playing golf and traveling.

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