EFC’s 2023 CEMRA Person of the Year Award Recipient is Patrick Marion, Desdowd

This year’s CEMRA Person of the Year Award was presented to Patrick Marion, President, Desdowd at the 2024 EFC Industry Conference in Banff. This award recognizes an EFC member, individual, or company that makes a difference through their leadership, commitment, and outstanding contribution to CEMRA.

Patrick began his career in the electrical industry on September 11, 1989, as an inside sales rep before moving into outside sales in January 1990. In 1998, Pierre Dowd asked Patrick to lead Desdowd Quebec Sales. In 2009, Patrick became the president and sole owner of Desdowd.

Patrick has been heavily involved in EFC, specifically the Quebec Region. As one of the past Quebec Region Chairs, Patrick is responsible for helping to start the first EFC Quebec Region Golf Tournament, as well as the Holiday Reception and Fall Activity. He was also instrumental in setting up the “Quebec Regions Personality of the Year” award in 2000, which he was awarded in 2021. This is Patrick’s second time winning the CEMRA Person of the Year award, which was awarded in 2012.

Patrick has been very involved with CEMRA and the reps for the past three decades, always willing to provide knowledge or advice to those within the industry. He has been a loyal supporter of CEMRA Night at the EFC Annual Industry Conference, and Canada Night at the NEMRA Annual Conference. Patrick is also actively engaged with the CEMRA Networking groups.

We asked Patrick what this award meant to him, and he stated that he couldn’t be happier to receive this award for a second time as voted on by his peers within CEMRA. We also asked Patrick what advice he had for those apart of CEMRA and in the electrical industry at large, to which he responded “Always hire people better than you and support them. The Desdowd philosophy has always been hard work, integrity, family and to never forget where you came from.”

Patrick Marion will be retiring on September 11^th, 2024, exactly 35 years after he entered the electrical industry. Although he is retiring, he will still be a part of Desdowd, working as a consultant for the next five years.

Congratulations Patrick on this honour and thank you for your contributions to CEMRA and the electrical industry over your career.

Nominating a company or individual for their hard work, dedication to the industry, and accomplishments builds our community to grow, lead, and compete in an ever-changing world. Recognition can bread success.

To view other EFC award recipients, click here.