Dave Sumption: A Lifetime of Leadership in Building Controls and Automation
With a remarkable 40-year career in building controls, building automation, and the construction industry, Dave Sumption stands out as a seasoned expert whose experience spans operations management, construction management, commissioning, project scheduling, financial oversight, contract law, and team leadership. His technical expertise covers HVAC, electrical systems, building automation, energy management, security, and fire systems. Dave’s project portfolio is as diverse as it is impressive, including colleges, prisons, industrial and commercial sites, telecommunications facilities, clean rooms, medical centers, high-rise buildings, convention centers, museums, and military installations. He has held four California contractor’s licenses and is highly proficient in Excel, MS Word, Access, MS Project, accrual accounting systems, and Primavera
Retirement and Personal Pursuits (2013 – Present)
Based in Playa del Rey, California, Dave has embraced retirement as a world traveler, investor, and motorcycle enthusiast.
Vanir Construction Management – County of Los Angeles, California (2004 – 2013)
As an Energy Management Consultant and Project Manager, Dave led the retro-commissioning of six million square feet of county buildings. He managed two LEED and green building projects and oversaw energy, HVAC, central plant, and automation projects at 45 county facilities.
Invensys Building Systems – Los Angeles, California (2002 – 2004)
Serving as Operations Manager and Senior Project Manager, Dave managed new installations and building automation projects, supervising 12 employees and multiple subcontractors. He was responsible for P&L, project scheduling, financial forecasting, and technical training. Dave developed commissioning and project acceptance processes, contributing to the branch’s financial success and overseeing project closeouts after the business was sold to Yamas Controls.
GSP Consultants – Los Angeles, California (2000 – 2002, Semi-retired)
Dave provided building automation and energy consulting services at various facilities nationwide.
PG&E Energy Services – Los Angeles, California (1998 – 2000)
As Program Manager, Dave led the $150 million Los Angeles Schools Energy Upgrade project, which involved HVAC and electrical upgrades at 155 LAUSD schools.
Johnson Controls – Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, California (1994 – 1998)
Dave’s roles included Site Manager for California’s central coast, overseeing construction, energy retrofits, life safety, building automation, sales, estimating, engineering, and service contracts. He managed a $78 million P&L, six Project Managers, and 48 employees, with major projects such as the Getty Museum, LA Central Jail, Kaiser, UCSD, and Cal State DH. He also served as Branch Financial Manager for four months.
Honeywell – San Diego and Los Angeles, California (1973 – 1994)
Dave was Project Executive for all Bank of America projects statewide, focusing on mission-critical data centers. As Los Angeles Branch Installation Manager, he managed a $23 million P&L and 37 employees, with projects including the Gas Company Tower, Cal-Plaza, USC, and Kaiser Fontana. He also trained project managers at the Honeywell Training Institute. Earlier, as San Diego Branch Project Manager and Automation Engineer, Dave managed the branch’s largest projects, such as the San Diego Convention Center and Camp Pendleton Automation, and served as Operational Support Manager. He was recognized with Honeywell’s “Technical Services Citation” in 1987 and named “National Project Manager of the Year” in 1989.
Southwestern College (1972)
Dave graduated with honors (3.92 GPA) from the Electronics Technology program and began working toward a BS at SDSU before joining Honeywell.
United States Navy (1966 – 1970)
Dave served four years as an Electronics Technician aboard the USS Chicago and in Vietnam.
Conclusion
Dave Sumption’s career is a testament to his leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to excellence in building controls and automation. His legacy includes not only the successful management of complex projects but also the mentorship and training of future industry professionals.