Michael Caputo, Senior Project Estimator at McKEON.
Project estimators are the first line of contact between McKEON and its distributors. They receive requests for a quotation, and price projects based on a client’s specifications. They also have the expertise and technical product knowledge to offer guidance and support on any technical adjustments a client may want to suggest.
Michael graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in English. He initially had no intention of working as an estimator. It wasn’t until someone told him about an opening at McKEON that he considered the career. “I didn’t know what an estimator did nor what the company did,” Michael said. “I thought we were talking about those doors,” he said, pointing to the door at the entrance to Software Engineer Dawn Betro’s office.
Michael has been with McKEON since 2016. “It was really hard [adjusting to the position],” Michael said, “but I soon got the hang of it. I had good teachers. I just had to flip a switch from reading and writing to math.”
Despite not having a background in engineering, Michael is in constant communication with the engineering department. Whether he is delivering parts orders or conferring with one of the engineers about the plausibility of a project, Michael is heavily involved in multiple facets of the company’s operation so McKEON may efficiently service its distributors.
During his years with McKEON, Michael’s desk has become littered with gifts from coworkers. Gray’s Anatomy, three baseball cards, and stuffed animal ducks from an insurance company perch atop a file cabinet. All were dropped off by co-workers and now have become mementos of his time at McKEON.
A fun fact about Michael is that his pet parrot, Bean, has racked up 45,000 followers on Instagram through his dancing videos. “He was a Covid baby,” Michael said. “I was bored so I started posting and he instantly went viral.”
