How Energy Leaders Scale Infrastructure 5X Without Losing Culture or People with Christopher Mattila

In this episode of ChoinqueCast, host Jim Emerick sits down with Christopher Mattila, Director of Construction Project Management at American Transmission Company (ATC), to discuss what it takes to deliver large-scale transmission and infrastructure projects in today’s high-demand environment.With 17 years at Minnesota Power, where he built and led a Project Management Office, Chris shares how those experiences shaped his leadership approach. He reflects on leading complex capital programs at ATC, maintaining execution discipline, team alignment, and a strong organizational culture during a period of rapid industry growth.Together, they explore how organizations scale infrastructure delivery, drive transparency, and preserve culture when capital investment grows faster than headcount, and the leadership mindset required to navigate this accelerated growth without sacrificing performance or long-term stability.Expect to LearnHow to scale a capital program by over 50 percent year over year without multiplying headcountWhy culture and transparency matter more during rapid growthThe impact of data centres and regional transmission projects on utility planningHow to lead cross functional teams through major changePractical advice for building or restarting a PMO in a complex organisationEpisode Breakdown with Timestamps[00:00] – Teaser[01:09] – Welcome & Introduction to the ChoinqueCast with Chris Mattila[06:32] – The Unexpected Call from ATC: An Offer He Couldn't Refuse[11:43] – The Fear: Can Culture Survive Explosive Growth?[17:30] – Strategy for Project Managers: A Unique Approach to Leadership[23:28] – Engagement Scores: Why Empowerment and Transparency Won the Day[29:48] – What Makes ATC Special? Family, Transparency, and 360-Degree Reviews[35:09] – Closing Remarks and Looking Ahead🔗 Connect with the Guest Christopher Mattila:👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-mattila-mba-mspm-pmp-2822433/👉 Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atc/👉 Company’s Website: https://www.atcllc.com/🔗 Connect with the Host Jim Emerick:👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimemerick/🔗 More from Choinque:👉 Website: https://www.choinque.com/blog👉 Facebook: https://facebook.com/918903204639744👉 Instagram: https://instagram.com/choinquecast👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@choinque👉 X: https://x.com/choinque👉 Email: [email protected]🔗 More about Leadership Courses:👉 Schedule: https://www.academyleadership.com/Emerick/ 🔗 Follow the Podcast:👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/choinquecast/id1290927745👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/56oY3glVaoTXmmcWWGQGry?si=69f1cd525a5d4be5👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAA4czS4aI7V5g3i2Sd4bUQ