Meet the Technical Services Manager: Del Chinotto
Chances are, if you have called our Technical Services team with an electrical question, you have spoken with Del Chinotto.
As Technical Services Manager, Del is one of the experienced voices at the other end of the phone, helping electrical contractors work through technical questions, unusual site situations and the occasional problem that is particularly difficult to explain without seeing it firsthand.
With 56 years as a fully licensed electrician, Del brings a remarkable depth of practical knowledge to every conversation.
Following in his father’s footsteps
Born at Midland Hospital and still proudly calling Perth home, Del’s path into the electrical industry began close to home.
His father was an electrician, and that family connection inspired Del to enter the trade himself. What followed was a career spanning more than five decades, countless job sites and almost every type of electrical work imaginable.
When asked which area of electrical work he enjoyed most throughout his career, Del’s answer was simple: every single bit of it. Rather than being tied to one particular speciality, it was the variety of the trade that kept the work interesting.
Del especially enjoyed the fresh air, travelling to a different site each day and the sense of freedom that came with working in the electrical industry.
Supporting contractors when they need it
Our Technical Services team provides members with a trusted place to turn when they encounter a technical question, need help interpreting requirements or want another experienced perspective on a difficult situation.
The calls they receive can cover an enormous range of subjects. Some questions can be resolved quickly, while others require careful discussion, investigation and a good understanding of exactly what is happening on site.
For Del, the first challenge is often translating what the caller can see into a clear picture over the phone.
That requires patience, practical knowledge and the ability to ask the right questions, particularly when the problem is unusual or the contractor is working under pressure.
After over half a century in the trade, there are few situations Del has not encountered in one form or another. His experience allows him to look beyond the immediate question, identify potential issues and help contractors find a practical path forward.
The call that required a different kind of problem-solving
Of course, not every Technical Hotline call is the same. Some might be a bit more challenging than others.
One of the most unexpected calls Del remembers involved trying to resolve a technical problem for a contractor who did not speak English. To bridge the language gap, Del found himself speaking into the contractor’s phone with a translation app so it could translate the conversation and relay the technical advice.
It was an unusual way to troubleshoot an electrical problem, but it also captured what the Technical Services team does best: adapt to the situation, work through the details and help the person on the other end of the line reach a solution.
Experience you can rely on
Del’s career represents an extraordinary amount of knowledge, but it is his willingness to share that knowledge that makes him such an important part of the Technical Services team.
Whether the call involves a straightforward question, a confusing installation or something neither person expected to be discussing that day, Del approaches it with the same practical mindset developed over more than half a century in the electrical trade.
So, the next time you call Technical Services and hear Del’s voice on the line, you can be confident that your question is being handled by someone who has spent years and years living and breathing the industry.
And don’t worry if you think it’s a curly one – chances are he’s seen something very similar before.
