Charles Laidlaw was born and raised in Queens, turned a passion for mechanics into a distinguished 25-year career serving the City of New York.

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After graduating high school and completing trade school, he joined the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 2001. His expertise and hard work led to a promotion to Oiler in 2007 at the iconic 1 Centre Street, followed by another promotion in 2013 to Stationary Engineer at the Queens Criminal Court.

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Always happiest working with his hands, Charles Laidlaw joined a collaborative mechanical team in 2016. His outstanding dedication earned him the prestigious Energy Champion Award in 2019, and he went on to lead the installation of cutting-edge VRF climate systems across multiple city locations.

He officially retired in 2026. An avid motorcycle rider who loves hanging out with friends, Charlie is excited to trade city infrastructure for open roads and golf courses.