KCM Group is pleased to shout out one of our longtime collaborators, Paul Jestings, on his recent retirement. Paul spent nearly 30 years working as a Project Manager and the Director of Operations at the Portsmouth Abbey School in Portsmouth, RI. While he retired from the Abbey in 2019, Paul joined KCM Group due to his pre-existing relationship with Ray Keough, assisting with ongoing initiatives at Portsmouth Abbey and lending his expertise to other notable projects.
Paul’s career in the industry began early, following in the footsteps of his father, who owned and operated an electrical refrigeration business. At just 16, Paul started working for the family business.
“I remember growing up, my father would put various motors out on the kitchen table and would ask me, ‘What’s wrong with it?’ and it was up to me to figure it out,” Paul recalls.
By the age of 18, Paul had earned his electrician’s license and later added a pipe fitter’s license, OSHA 10, and several other certifications. For 16 years, he ran a crew of six electricians alongside his father, until Portsmouth Abbey offered him the role of Plant Engineer. His familiarity with the Abbey, having previously completed work there with his father, made the transition easier. When an opportunity to become the Director of Operations opened up, Paul was approached to gauge his interest in the position.
“I never really wanted to be a paperwork guy,” says Paul. “I didn’t think I could make the same impact sitting behind a desk, but I decided to give it a shot, and I ended up working in that role for close to 30 years.”
During his time at the Abbey, Paul formed lifelong relationships with many of the Benedictine monks and continues to meet regularly with Brother Joseph. His work at Portsmouth Abbey helped modernize the school’s infrastructure with energy-efficient projects and cutting-edge technologies.
“Brother Joseph and I built the first utility-grade turbine in the state of Rhode Island—still running to this day at the Abbey. It’s a 660,000-watt unit that, on a windy day, can power the entire campus. It paid for itself in the first four years. It’s been 15 years now.”
He also spearheaded the installation of advanced energy-efficient systems like Viessmann boilers and other high-tech equipment, ensuring the Abbey reaped the benefits of long-lasting, sustainable technologies.
Paul’s introduction to Ray Keough came during the construction of a $21 million, 30,000-square-foot science building at Portsmouth Abbey, where Ray was hired as the Owner’s Project Manager. They struck up a friendship from there.
“When I was retiring, Ray asked if I would come work with him to help with other Abbey projects. I learned a lot from Ray—we had a good relationship. I worked with trades and handled anything technical or code-related, and he worked more on the owner’s rep side. It was a great partnership.”
After joining KCM, Paul brought his expertise to various projects, including the Orbit Energy Rhode Island LLC’s $20 million bio-fuel facility and consulting on the electrical aspects of the United Theatre project, where he collaborated with Rick Hall. His official retirement came about recently after the completion of installation of a new elevator at Portsmouth Abbey.
Even in retirement, Paul’s passion for the trades remains strong. He continues to undertake personal projects, from home renovations to installing a rainwater collection system at his house. He’s always on the lookout for new technologies and enjoys experimenting with the latest advancements. He’s also active in the community as a board member and on the building and grounds committee at Saint Philomena School, located across the street from Portsmouth Abbey.
Though he’s retired, Paul still holds a deep love for the trades and often reflects on his career fondly.
“I loved being able to talk to electricians and other people in the trades, talking about code. It is certainly something I miss,” he reflects.
Paul’s career has been defined by his technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, and genuine passion for innovation. Though he may have retired, his impact on the industry, Portsmouth Abbey, and his colleagues will be felt for years to come.
