PW Classmates: Tell us about your life! What do you do now for work?

Craig Tupper: I am the Senior Technical Proposal Manager for ABB Inc., formerly GE, and I oversee complex proposals involving large electrical equipment (High, Medium, and Low Voltage Switchgear, Transformers, and Electrical Integration projects) from Virginia to New York. It’s a wonderful, challenging, and rewarding job that I take a lot of pride in. It’s pretty cool to be awarded jobs with some of the biggest data centers on the East Coast, like Amazon, Microsoft, and Digital Realty, or big utility upgrade projects with companies like PECO, Constellation Energy, or Baltimore Gas & Electric. Locally, always been doing projects with companies like Boeing, Kimberly-Clark, and Lockheed Martin, among others. I have also done work for The White House, the National Institutes of Health, the Intelligence Community, and the Smithsonian Institution. I love my Job! I would be retired already if I didn’t enjoy it so much.

PW Classmates: What has your career path been since graduating from PW?

Craig: I went right to work after graduation as an electrical summer helper at Limerick Nuclear Plant because I had to wait a year after graduating high school to apply to get into the I.B.E.W. Union. I was accepted right away since my father, my brother, my uncle, and two cousins were already electricians in the Union (this is where I say to my kids and other folks, it doesn’t matter who opens the door to an opportunity, it’s what you do when you walk through it). I completed the IBEW NJATC 4-year apprenticeship program and graduated third in my class. I then went to work for Union Electric Contracting Co. after completing my apprenticeship program and stayed with them for the next 28 years, advancing from Journeyman to Foreman, then to General Foreman, and ultimately to Estimator and Project Manager. I loved working for UECCO. Then, an opportunity came from out of the blue in 2015 to become a proposal manager for GE for the Mid-Atlantic Region. It was an offer that I would have been nuts to decline, but it came with a ton of change and responsibility. I took a leap of faith, and it has worked out tremendously.

PW Classmates: Tell us about your family.

Craid: I am not even remotely joking when I say I have the greatest wife in the universe. My Tracey Leigh is my best friend and my rock. Tracey had a long career as a very caring and compassionate Registered Nurse (We met at Mercy Suburban Hospital, and it was love at first sight). Now she is happily retired with an even better job: watching our grandkids! We are extremely blessed to have four wonderful and accomplished children.

• Zak is 35, graduated from Jefferson School of Medicine, and is a Physician Assistant (PA) on the Penn Medicine Cardiac & Heart Transplant Team in Philadelphia. He was recently promoted to lead the 5th-largest VAD (Ventricular Assistive Device) clinic in the country, helping to bridge patients until they undergo heart surgery or a transplant.
• Madison is 34 years old, graduated from West Chester University, and serves as the Complex Sr. Group Sales Manager for HHM Hotels, specifically for the Rittenhouse & Westin Hotels in Philadelphia. This girl is definitely a fierce leader and well-respected in the hotel industry, as well as in her previous position as Marriage/Event Coordinator. If something needs to get done, they call Madison.
• Jesse is 32, graduated from Kutztown University, where she also received her Master’s Degree in Teaching, along with all the necessary certs (Math Cert, ELA Cert, Reading Specialist Cert, English Cert, Instructional Coach Cert, and Principal Cert), all to become a principal before the age of 30. She is making a huge difference in children’s lives as a Middle School Principal in the Pottstown School District.
• Joshua, our baby, is now 30. He graduated from Widener University with a degree in Civil Engineering, then returned to receive his Master’s degree in Structural Engineering. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Structural Engineering from Lehigh University while working full-time (I don’t know how he manages it). He is a professional structural engineer specializing in bridges with HNTB in King of Prussia.
• We have been blessed with four wonderful grandchildren: George, who is 4 and named after my father, Guilia is 2, Maverick is 1, and Crew was born this week (I never liked my name, Craig, so my son and daughter-in-law took the CR from Craig and the EW from my middle name Andrew and came up with Crew! I don’t want to leave out my daughter-in-law, Cassandra, and my son-in-law, Drew, as we love them too! We are an extremely close family, and we love one another dearly.

PW Classmates: What did you dream of becoming when you were in high school?

Craig: A professional baseball player, of course, but that wasn’t very realistic. LOL. It was always in the cards for me to become an electrician. Having a trade has served me very well on a professional and personal level, as there isn’t much I can’t do when it comes to home projects!

PW Classmates: What are some of your hobbies today?

Craig: We are avid, crazy Eagles Fans and long-time season ticket holders (Tracey Leigh was even a Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader for 5 years back in the 80s). We love all sports; we loved seeing the thousands of sporting events our children competed in over the years. I love to hike, watch sports, play golf, and visit wineries, among other things. Most of all we love to travel. We love seeing new things and going to new places.

PW Classmates: What advice would you give to your high school self?

Craig: I’d say: “What a dumbass! I can’t believe you are still living! Man, O Man, did we have a good time.” I mean, there is no way in hell kids today would get away with weekend shenanigans like ours back in the day. It seemed like EVERY weekend was full of entertainment. We had a tremendous circle of friends. High school was wonderful in every way. With that being said, I would tell my high school self that life is going to throw you curveballs, there will be trials and tribulations, and your loved ones won’t live forever. You are going to make mistakes. You will never be able to go back in time to change something you did or didn’t do, or change something you said or didn’t get to say. All you can do is try to learn from it and work to be a better person each and every day.

PW Classmates: What advice do you have for others about creating your best life?

Craig:  We don’t know how long we have here on earth, so live life to the fullest. Have fun and laugh daily. You only get out of life what you put into it. I always told my kids to always give 100% no matter what they are doing. I don’t care if they ever made a mistake, because you learn from them (God knows I have). Just never let anyone outwork or out-hustle you. Take pride in what you do; it doesn’t matter what that is. Most importantly, be kind and compassionate to others, accepting of their differences, as we never know what they may be going through. Make a difference in people’s lives. Go out in the world, breathe the air, say “yes” instead of no, go places, do things. Stay active. I know it hurts the bones and muscles a little more at our age, but just do it, feel alive. And most of all, love your spouse and your family with every ounce of your being. Don’t go looking for greener grass; make the effort to keep your own grass green and thriving.

PW Classmates: What would you like to say to all of your classmates today?

Craig: I truly wish every single classmate the best. The Class of 1982 was the best. Thank you for being a huge part of my life. Your success is our success, your heartaches are our heartaches. We know life can be tough at times, so just do your best to persevere, because the days always get brighter. Never take on a burden alone. Reach out when you need help. I guarantee you someone will step up. If you see something, say something. Don’t live life with regrets. On a side note, I spent two years building a Mancave for folks to enjoy, so if you are ever in the Limerick area, hit me up on Facebook. All are always welcome.