Doug Martin, executive vice president, St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), was honored by colleagues in the construction industry for 40 years of service to NECA. The March 6, 2018 salute at the Missouri Athletic Club in Des Peres was the second time Martin was honored this year by the St. Louis construction industry. On Feb. 22, 2018, Martin received the Al Fleischer Management Award for 34 years of service to the venerable Saint Louis Construction Cooperative (SLCC)
A strong advocate of labor-management cooperation, Martin works closely with Frank Jacobs, business manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1, guiding the NECA/IBEW labor-management partnership, Electrical Connection, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Both the St. Louis NECA and the SLCC celebrations of Martin’s service drew leadership from labor, management and the businesses served by the construction industry.
“Doug has always been a champion of advancing construction proficiently and uniting owner, contractor and trade union to overcome any challenges that may arise,” noted Steven S. Sobo, PE, FMP, SFP director, capital projects, Washington University School of Medicine. “He is very attentive to the owner’s needs and is quick to respond when called for guidance or assistance.” Sobo is a member of the SLCC.
For the St. Louis Chapter NECA, Martin helps guide a trade association representing more than 200 electrical and communication contractors located in eastern Missouri. “NECA represents the most proficient electrical contractors in our region, large and small, who provide a wide variety of electrical and communications services,” said Emily Martin, president of St. Louis NECA and president of Aschinger Electric. “Doug’s 40 years of advocacy for NECA at the bargaining table, in the legislature and to the public has helped sustain the robust electrical contracting industry we have today.”
Martin is responsible for negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements with three local unions of the IBEW, under which more than 5,000 electricians and communication technicians are employed. Martin serves as a management trustee on multi-employer health, pension and other employee benefit funds. He also coordinates education, marketing and public relations programs for member contractors and is a spokesman before governmental agencies in connection with legislation impacting the electrical and communication contracting industry.
“There is trust and mutual respect with Doug,” said Frank Jacobs, IBEW Local 1 business manager. “We don’t agree all the time, but Doug listens and always presents his point of view with honesty and conviction. Most importantly, Doug is very passionate about the value of skill and safety in the electrical industry upon which IBEW and NECA collectively build its future as labor-management partners.”
In his role with St. Louis NECA, Martin works with Jacobs and Electrical Connection Executive Vice President Jim Curran to help market skills and safety, invest in workforce development, develop strategic business and education partnerships, fortify STEM education and develop NECA/IBEW as a valuable resource to meet Missouri’s future energy and technology needs.
Their work recently earned the Electrical Connection two prestigious awards: The St. Louis Regional Chamber Ameren Corporate Citizenship Award and the St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers Inclusion Award for Organizational Excellence for Inclusion
“The electrical industry is fortunate to have Doug with technology rapidly changing our world,” noted Curran. “Doug has the vision to meet challenges with thoughtful solutions that will guide our contractors and workforce through the changes.”
Photo Above: Doug Martin, executive vice president, St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association and Emily Martin, president of St. Louis NECA and president of Aschinger Electric