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Electrical Connection

Electrical Connection and the St. Louis Cardinals Host High School STEM Education Event at Busch Stadium

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St. Charles area high school students honored earlier this year for achievements in STEM education learned more about how data science is used to improve the fan experience by the St. Louis Cardinals.  The Cardinals partnered with the Electrical Connection to treat the students to a behind the scenes look at how technology is changing and improving baseball operations, all requiring a strong foundation in STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and math.  The May 15, 2019 presentation at Busch Stadium detailed how data analytics are used in marketing and in measuring a player’s performance that is part of new information graphics on scoreboards. The presentation also revealed ever evolving integrated IT and communications systems in the stadium.

The panel discussion was moderated by Tony Simokaitis, director, scoreboard operations & fan entertainment, senior account executive. Panelists included:

  • Joe Abernathy, vice president, facility planning and engineering;
  • Jennifer Needham, manager, ticketing & business analysis; and
  • Jaren Haukap, editor, Daktronics specialist.

“The Cardinals have been part of this community for more than 100 years and every generation brings something new from which to learn and adapt,” Jim Curran, executive vice president, Electrical Connection, told the students.  “You are the generation that is already helping chart new ways to understand and enjoy America’s pastime.  Our contractors and electricians are proud to be part of that infusion of technology that is improving the fan experience.”

Every year, NECA contractors and IBEW have been tapped to engineer and install the new technology infrastructure, not only at Busch Stadium but at Ballpark Village. The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

The students engaged in the presentation were honored at the March 1, 2019 STEM Celebration Breakfast presented by EDC Business & Community Partners in St. Charles County and also sponsored by the Electrical Connection.  They were joined by school officials and Greg Prestemon, EDC president and CEO.

The STEM education event began with brief tour of Busch Stadium, including a visit to the UMB Champions Club, where the Cardinals’11 World Series championship trophies are on display.

The St. Louis Cardinals STEM event is one of several educational initiatives support by the Electrical Connection.  Others include partnerships with the FIRST Robotics, the Saint Louis Science Center, Missouri Energy Initiative (MEI), the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)and more.

Electrical Connection members provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  For more information visit www.electricalconnection.org

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Electrical Connection Donates Services Farmington Pet Adoption Center

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As the only no-kill pet adoption shelter serving six counties just south of St. Louis, the Farmington Pet Adoption Center receives anywhere from 15 to 20 abandoned and unwanted pets a month.  It finds homes for about 150 dogs and cats a year.  But providing lifesaving care and treatment for unwanted pets from such a large geographic area was becoming more challenging in the aging building sheltering the animals.

“The heating and cooling system in the shelter was outdated, inefficient and costly,” said Jim Bilhorn, Farmington Pet Adoption Center volunteer.  “We had a plan to modernize the system with two heat pumps, but it required major improvements to our electrical infrastructure that we just couldn’t afford.”  Then, Bilhorn met Lee Asher, business representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1.

“A lot of our IBEW workforce and retirees live in the Farmington area and were familiar with the long history of Farmington Pet Adoption Center,” said Asher.  “I contacted IBEW Local 1 Business Manager Frank Jacobs and we came up with a plan to leverage our Electrical Connection labor-management partnership to help.”  The Electrical Connection is a partnership of IBEW and the St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

Mobilizing a local IBEW team consisting of retirees Wyman Nash and Kevin Pettus and journeyman wireman Mike Gilliam, Matt Psalmonds, Chris Pipkin and apprentice Nick Haney, the Electrical Connection donated 50 hours of service upgrading wiring and circuits to support the heat pumps.  Joining in the volunteer effort was Farmington-based NECA contractor Meier Electric Co.

“The IBEW/NECA Electrical Connection partnership provided an extraordinary community service to the Farmington Pet Adoption Center,” said Bilhorn. “It was a significant electrical upgrade and we have the peace of mind knowing that the IBEW/NECA team delivered all the installations in accordance with the National Electrical Code.”

The donated electrical services allow Bilhorn to focus on other operational improvements through a year-long $30,000 fundraising campaign.  The adoption center is primary funded through donations and its Second Chance Resale Store.  To donate to the pet adoption center visit www.farmingtonpet.org.

“No matter what the economic conditions, the need to care for and find homes for abandoned and unwanted pets never ends,” noted Bilhorn.  Bilhorn says they often find pets dropped off anonymously at their door.  Sometimes it’s a stray that was found or a litter of puppies that a pet owner simply could not take care of.  “Things happen in people’s lives – they lose their job, they get older and infirm or become incapacitated in some way – and they simply don’t have the ability to care for their pets.  That’s what we’re here for.”

The Electrical Connection has been supporting the Farmington community for more than 25 years.  It is best known for its annual donation to the Farmington “Shop with a Cop” program.  The partnership has donated more than $65,000 to the holiday giving program since 1993.

Electrical Connection members provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  For more information visit www.electricalconnection.org.

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Electrical Connection Hosts Business Panel Discussion on Skilled Labor Development

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For Dennis Gralike, director of the IBEW/NECA Electrical Industry Training Center, the need to change the mindset of skilled labor development is abundantly clear at many high school career fairs.  “I’ll enter a gymnasium and find colleges set up on one side of the gym and everyone one else directed to set up on the other side,” notes Gralike.  “Then I’ll ask the career fair coordinator why colleges and the trade programs are separated.  After all, our program offers college credits and we train a lot of college students and graduates, all free of charge and with no student loans.”

Gralike was among four panelists in the March 27, 2019 St. Louis Business Journal “Future of Skilled Labor Development” Power Breakfast moderated by Publisher Robert Bobroff.  Bobroff said a record 240 people attended the event at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in Creve Coeur, Mo.  Other panelists included Bonnie Daniels, senior vice president, culture and people services, MiTek; Jeff L. Pittman, PhD, chancellor, St. Louis Community College; and Sandra Marks, senior vice president, Clayco.

All panelists agreed that collaboration and partnerships among community agencies, businesses and schools remains essential to skilled labor development.   But no industry is being more rapidly transformed by technology than the electrical and communications industry.   Gralike noted that the IBEW/NECA Electrical Industry Training Center is continually adapting its more than 70-course curriculum to meet those changes as it has for more than 75 years.  Through the Electrical Connection partnership, the training center is funded and operated jointly by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

“The digital age, smart infrastructure, renewable energy, robotics, advanced manufacturing, integrated communications and so much more are not possible without the skilled electricians and communication technicians we train,” said Gralike.  “But there remains a significant stigma attached to construction work that puts off high school students and other career aspirants.  We have a more than 90 percent graduation rate that launches dynamic, well-paying engineering and building careers that power and connect our businesses and communities – and it’s free of charge!”

Gralike noted that Electrical Connection’s IBEW/NECA leadership is working to change the mindset on construction careers in several ways:

  • Investing in and supporting STEM education that connects science, technology, engineering and math to electrical careers.
  • Offering continuing education to advance pace setting skills, including 58 hours of college credits through education partnerships with St. Louis Community Collegeand most major university in St. Louis area. 
  • Educating career counselors and students about the dynamic changes in the industry with training center technology that includes a rooftop solar array and courses on Building Information Modeling and next generation electrical/communication installations, including green energy, smart building technology and advanced manufacturing.
  • Broadening outreach by partnering with community organizations to attract more minorities in the electrical trades.  More than 25 percent of apprentices at the training center are minorities.
  • Mentoring programs that strengthen career development and help aspiring entrepreneurs launch their own electrical and communications contracting firms.
  • Strategic outreach to engage business and civic organizations, including board service on the Hawthorn Foundation, St. Louis Regional Chamber, the Missouri Energy Initiative, theEconomic Development Center of St. Charles County and the Missouri Governor’s Workforce Development Task Force.

Electrical Connection members provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  For more information visit www.electricalconnection.org.

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Electrical Connection Supports a Robust Minority Contracting Community

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Sabrina Westfall

In 2005, Sabrina Westfall graduated from the IBEW/NECA Electrical Industry Training Center and embarked on a career as an IBEW electrician.  Her skills would help build projects at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL, the Washington Avenue revitalization, renovations to the old Woolworth building downtown for Big Brothers Big Sisters and improvements to the Washington University campus.  Then, in 2008 the Great Recession hit and work dried up. Westfall took hold of her own destiny by tapping two programs supported by the Electrical Connection partnership to not only broaden her skills, but also launch her own electrical contracting company.  Westfall’s story was recently spotlighted in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch business page.

The 26-year-old Electrical Connection partnership unites the 7,000-member International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, whose more than 150-member companies are among the region’s largest electrical contractors.

To broaden her skills, Westfall enrolled in the master electrician certification program at the IBEW/NECA Electrical Industry Training Center – where her electrical career began, 100% funded by IBEW/NECA with no tuition and no students loans.  The certification program is also a necessary step in starting up an electrical contracting business. Certified as a master electrician in 2010, Westfall found her skills in greater demand.  In 2014, she launched J West Electrical Contracting.

Construction, though, is an unforgiving business for startups, bedeviled by late payments for services, aggravating cash flow.  According to Small Business Trends, only 36.4% of construction startups last five years. To ensure her sustainability as a business enterprise, Westfall tapped a 13-year-old program also supported by the Electrical Connection IBEW/NECA partnership – the Regional Union Construction Center (RUCC).

Launched in 2006 by the venerable labor-management group Saint Louis Construction Cooperative (formerly PRIDE of St. Louis, Inc.), RUCC helps minority- and women-owned union construction companies sustain and grow businesses via a structured program that helps them improve their business skills.  Using volunteers from the area’s most successful construction-related businesses, including law firms, accounting firms and construction firms, it mentors startups with business advisory boards.  Alan Richter has been director of RUCC for its 13-year existence.  IBEW Local 1 Business Manager Frank Jacobs serves on its board.

Westfall, who is African American, is among three IBEW/NECA-trained electricians-turned-entrepreneurs among eight business owners in RUCC.  The other two include Avid Electric and Communications owner Katie Jimenez, who is Hispanic, and Pearl Street Electric’s owner Megan DeAngelo, a Caucasian.

Now in its fifth year, Westfall’s J West is doing well.  It has worked on projects at Ballpark Village, Lambert St. Louis International Airport (store remodels) and Washington University (renovations at the Kemper Art Museum). She’s worked with and been mentored by a number of other large NECA contractors including Bell Electrical Contractors, American Electric & Data, Guarantee Electrical Construction Co., and RJP Electric LLC.

Electrical Connection members provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  For more information visit www.electricalconnection.org.

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Electrical Connection Sponsors STL Football Club’s Fifth Season in St. Louis

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Following up their first-ever post season appearance, Saint Louis Football Club’s (Saint Louis FC) has kicked off its fifth season with the Electrical Connection as a major sponsor again.  Its first game was Saturday, March 9, 2019 at Toyota Stadium at World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo., netting 2-1 win against the Indy Eleven.  Saint Louis FC is again be wearing their familiar jerseys emblazoned with the Electrical Connection logo.  The Electrical Connection is also be offering one free jersey giveaway for each of the 17 home games at its web site.  To register for the jersey giveaway, visit www.electricalconnection.org.   The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

“Our five-year partnership with Saint Louis FC has helped spotlight our more than 150 NECA electrical contractor members and the more than 5,000 highly skilled and safe IBEW electricians and communication technicians they employ,” said Jim Curran, executive vice president, Electrical Connection. “Beyond energizing the IBEW/NECA brand of excellence, the Saint Louis FC partnership also allows us to strengthen our community building initiatives.”

Saint Louis FC is playing 34 games this season, including an annual fundraiser sponsored by the Electrical Connection on July 27, 2019 to raise money for “Shop with a Cop” holiday giving programs.   For the fourth year in a row, the Electrical Connection will leverage its Saint Louis FC Partnership at the “Christmas in July” game to raise money for the St. Francois County and Ferguson “Shop with a Cop” programs, both the law enforcement trust building charities.

The Electrical Connection is spotlighted not only on the jerseys but also field banners, scoreboard promotions and other signage at Toyota Stadium.  In addition, the Electrical Connection is supporting Saint Louis FC’s youth programs and has been a strong supporter of the efforts to bring a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise to St. Louis.

“We look forward to an exciting new season and a continuation of our five-year partnership with the Electrical Connection,” said Jim Kavanaugh, CEO, Saint Louis FC.

Toyota Stadium in World Wide Technology Soccer Park features a Biergarten, Corner Flag Hospitality Patios, a Fan Zone, space for tailgate parties, a Craft Beer Corner, and great food options. For game tickets, visit www.saintlouisfc.com

Saint Louis FC plays in 36-team United Soccer League (USL).

Electrical Connection members provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  For more information visit www.electricalconnection.org.

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Electrical Connection Salutes Students Excelling in STEM Subjects

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A smart infrastructure is taking shape redefining next generation electrical and communications installations and the skilled workforce to engineer and build it.  With that in mind, the Electrical Connection continues to energize STEM education, science, technology, engineering and math.  That ongoing support was on display as the Electrical Connection co-sponsored the annual STEM Celebration Breakfast presented by EDC Business & Community Partners in St. Charles County on March 1, 2019.  The 10th annual salute recognized 22 St. Charles County high school students who excel in STEM subjects.  The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

“Smart infrastructure, including smart cities, smart buildings and smart homes define ever more complex electrical and communications installations that our IBEW/NECA partners excel in delivering,” said Jim Curran, executive vice president, Electrical Connection.  “By embedding technology in our real estate assets, builders, facility managers and governments gain greater understanding of how those assets are performing.  This in turn creates better decision making in how we design, operate and maintain them.  We salute these STEM achievers because STEM education is absolutely critical to our industry investment in workforce development to advance smart technology and more.”

IBEW and NECA invest more than $3 million annually in training at the award winning IBEW/NECA Electrical Industry Training Center at 2300 Hampton Ave. in St. Louis.  For more than 75 years, the training center has produced more highly skilled and safe electricians and communication technicians than any other education program in Missouri.  It features a five-year, 10,000 hour education program that is industry funded at no taxpayer expense.  Its apprentices are instructed free of charge and have opportunities to earn a living while they learn the electrical trade.

“A strong foundation in STEM education is essential to complete our robust curriculum that will ultimately prepare our skilled and safe workforce to engineer and install not only smart infrastructure, but advanced manufacturing, data centers, integrated communications, renewable energy and more,” said Dennis Gralike, director of the training center.

Gralike was part of a panel discussion on career development at the event.

During the salute to students, Curran announced that through the Electrical Connection’s partnership with the St. Louis Cardinals, students and school officials will be treated to a special behind the scenes look at how STEM education is applied to running the storied baseball franchise.  At a future date, they will be invited to Busch Stadium to hear from team officials in several departments about how they apply STEM subjects.  The learning session will be concluded by a luncheon co-sponsored by the Electrical Connection.

The St. Charles County high school students honored at this year’s STEM breakfast include:

  • Zeke Emerick, Lutheran High
  • Luke McNeil, Christian High
  • Margaret White, Duchesne High
  • Amina Islam, St. Dominic High
  • Brendan Martin-Hilker, St. Charles High
  • Nicholas Schmitz, St. Charles West High
  • David Yang, Francis Howell High
  • Hannah RodeCap, Francis Howell Central High
  • Kevin Tran, Francis Howell North High
  • Brooklinn Liesmann, Orchard Farm High
  • Mahima Shahrawat, Ft. Zumwalt East High
  • Taylor Pachke, Ft. Zumwalt North High
  • Mitual Atul Pandya, Ft. Zumwalt West High
  • Aravind Kalathil, Fr. Zumwalt South High
  • Ian Deal, Wentzville Holt High
  • Michael Coyle, Wentzville Liberty High
  • Nate Beattie, Wentzville Timberland High
  • Eric Reininger, Lewis & Clark Career Center

Students honored in the Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) Program include Chris Morell, Allana Guffey, Mikayla Bowman and Colten Smith.

The STEM breakfast is one of several educational initiatives support by the Electrical Connection.  Others include partnerships with the FIRST Robotics, the Saint Louis Science Center, Missouri Energy Initiative (MEI), the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and more.

The STEM Celebration Breakfast and panel discussion was held Friday, March 1, 2019 at the Piazza Messina in Cottleville, Mo.

Electrical Connection members provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  For more information visit www.electricalconnection.org.

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Electrical Connection Supports Rural and Urban “Shop with a Cop” Programs

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Donates a Total of $10,000 to St. Francois County And Ferguson Law Enforcement Holiday Giving Programs 

For the 26th year the Electrical Connection is a major supporter of the law enforcement community trust building program “Shop with a Cop.”  The labor-management partnership is contributing $5,000 each to St. Francois County “Shop with a Cop” and Ferguson “Shop with a Cop.” The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).  This year’s donation raises the Electrical Connection’s 26-year commitment to “Shop with a Cop” to more than $75,000.

The St. Francois County “Shop with a Cop” program is among the oldest and largest in the nation.  This year, it served more than 500 children on Dec. 18, 2018 when law enforcement throughout the state came to the Farmington, Mo. Wal-Mart to buy children holiday gifts they would not otherwise receive.  The following day, on Dec. 19, 2018, the Ferguson police department hosted its “Shop with a Cop” program at the Ferguson Community Center at 1050 Smith Ave., serving more than 30 children. Gifts at the Ferguson event were purchased at Target. The Electrical Connection has supported the Ferguson “Shop with a Cop” for the past three years.

The Electrical Connection was joined by Saint Louis FC at both “Shop with a Cop” events.

Members of the Electrical Connection provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  For more information visit www.electricalconnection.org.

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Electrical Connection Energizes U.S. Probation Officers Holiday Gift Giving Program for Families in the Justice System

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IBEW/NECA Partnership Donates $2,500 to Children’s Holiday Event 

A program to help rehabilitate inmates and ex-offenders in the justice system is being energized by the Electrical Connection through its support of a holiday gift giving program.  In the process, the Electrical Connection is also introducing construction careers to ex-offenders in the justice system.  On December 12, 2018, the Electrical Connection presented a check for $2,500 to support a children’s holiday event, which is co-sponsored by the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in partnership with the U.S Probation Office.  The money supported holiday gift giving to families served by theUnited States District Court Eastern District of Missouri, Probation Division.  The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

On December 12, 2018, children gathered with families at a holiday party the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church gym at 4967 Forest Park Ave in the Central West.  They were given winter coats, Christmas gifts and celebrated the holiday season with festive activities. Up to 250 children were served in the program.  At a separate event, children of inmates in the federal system were able to visit with their mothers via a teleconference.

“The Electrical Connection has built a reputation for supporting the St. Louis community and we greatly appreciate its support of our gift giving program to strengthen families served by our justice system,” said Scott A. Anders, Chief U.S. Probation Officer.  “The Electrical Connection is adding even greater value by introducing a solid career path in the electrical industry to those we rehabilitate.”

In many ways, the U.S. Probation Officers Children’s Holiday Event is much like the “Shop with a Cop” program long supported by the Electrical Connection.  The law enforcement community trust-building program provides holiday gifts to children that they would not otherwise receive.  The Electrical Connection supports “Shop with a Cop” programs in Ferguson, Mo. and in St. Francois County, Mo.

“We are greatly impressed by the U.S. Probation Office’s Project Re-Direct and the support it provides to inmates and ex-offenders,” said Jim Curran, executive vice president, Electrical Connection.  “Its creative approach to rehabilitation, which the holiday giving event is part of, goes a long way to stabilizing lives and families while strengthening our community.”

Project Re-Direct is led by Clark E. Porter, MSW, an ex-felon himself, who is now a program support specialist for United States District Court Eastern District of Missouri.  It is an intense seven-month program that consists of substance abuse treatment, community service, employment assistance, and support for ex-offenders to reduce recidivism and reorient their lives to give greater purpose beneficial to society.  Learn more about Porter and Project Re-Direct in this video.

Members of the Electrical Connection provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  For more information visit www.electricalconnection.org.

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Electrical Connection Details Readiness for Rapid Changes In Energy Technology

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Smart infrastructure, including smart roads, and innovations in energy storage and micro grid technology are coming to Missouri, but will the state have the skilled workforce needed to build it?  Jim Curran, executive vice president, Electrical Connection, gave a resounding yes. Curran was among the speakers and moderators at the third conference this year in the Midwest Energy Policy Series (MEPS) presented by the Missouri Energy Initiative (MEI). The Electrical Connection represents a partnership that develops and trains the vast majority of highly skilled electricians and communication technicians that serve the state’s technology and energy needs.  The day-long MEPS conference was held on Dec. 5, 2018 at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 hall and training center.

The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association. Curran spoke on workforce and Electric Vehicles as well as moderated the panel discussion on Future Technology Pushing Today’s Economy.  It featured Tim Arbeiter, director of broadband for the State of Missouri, Tim Sylvester, CEO, Integrated Roadways, and Tim McMahon, senior vice president of advocacy and government relations, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)

“It is time for the Show Me State to stop having the world show us and time we started showing the world what Missouri does,” said Curran. He noted that under leadership of Director Dennis Gralike, the staff of the IBEW/NECA Electrical Industry Training Center in St. Louis helped develop the national curriculum for fixed electrical vehicle charging stations. Working with OEMs, Gralike’s staff developed the first-ever Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) launched in 2011 and now the standard for supporting EV infrastructure.  “For the EV market to be successful, there had to be assurances of reliable fixed charging stations,” noted Curran.  “Having quality, licensed contractors and a skilled and safe workforce to install charging stations was critical for the EV consumer experience, if the market was to expand.”

Curran added that Gralike’s team is now engaged in training for energy storage and micro grid certification, partnering with Penn State nationally.  “We have talent, skilled resources based here now in Missouri to not only be competitive but to lead the way worldwide in new technology development, installation and acceptance,” noted Curran.  IBEW/NECA invests more than $3 million annually in training.  For more than 75 years, its training has been free of charge and at no taxpayer expense and allows apprentices to earn a living with benefits while they take the 78-course curriculum at the training center. It also offers continuing education for journey workers.

John McClain

Echoing Curran comments on workforce readiness was John McClain executive consultant with Cornerstone Consulting.  McClain, who has more than 45 years of experience in the manufacturing industry, served on the Energy, Economic Development and Missouri panel discussion.  He presented a case study in Kentucky, a right-to-work state, where a manufacturer was having issues with power supply and distribution until McClain brought in the Electrical Connection partnership to fix the problems.

“No state should have policies in place that suppress skilled workforce development,” noted McClain. “The Electrical Connection’s industry-funded training program is the standard for pace-setting skills and safety serving Missouri’s energy and technology needs.  It’s a great asset to Missouri and is exported to other states whose policies have led to skilled training atrophy.”

Joining McClain on his panel discussion were Byron DeLear, regional executive, Ygrene Energy Fund and Randy Moore, CEO, ZAF Energy Systems.

The other panel discussions were Energy Providers Spurring Economic Development featuring Mike Kearney, vice president, economic development, Ameren, and Drew Robinson, manager of renewables KCP&L, Spire, Inc. There was also a 2019 Legislative Outlook featuring Missouri Senator Ed Emery and Representative Rocky Miller.

The Missouri Energy Initiative is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association of public and private-sector entities working together to increase energy economic development, innovation, and education throughout the state. MEI serves as an independent public policy group on emerging energy issues and focuses on being a trusted source of energy information for Missouri and the Midwest. The organization encourages creative collaborations and promotes affordable, reliable and sustainable energy efforts.

For more than 100 years, the Electrical Connection IBEW/NECA has been the “go to” resource for safe and reliable electrical and communications construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  For more information, visit www.electricalconnection.org

 

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Electrical Connection Joins Salute to IBEW President Emeritus Edwin D. Hill

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Edwin Hill

The Electrical Connection mourns the loss of inspirational labor leader Edwin D Hill.  Hill passed away on Dec. 1, 2018.  He began his career as construction wireman in 1956 and rose through the ranks to become president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and was later honored as its president emeritus.

“The labor movement has lost one of its greatest visionaries and leaders,” noted IBEW International President Lonnie R. Stephenson.  “We join with President Hill’s friends and family in mourning his loss. But while this is a moment of great sadness, we draw inspiration and joy from President Hill’s nearly six-decades of service to working families and the union that was the cause of his life: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.”

Hill navigated numerous challenges for IBEW, strengthening the union with progressive programs to deliver greater value in its highly skilled and safe workforce.  Among those was the“Code of Excellence,” which helped earn local NECA contractor PayneCrest an AGC Keystone Award in 2016 for its work with IBEW on the Flint Creek Environmental Retrofit in Gentry, Ark.  The project’s use of the “Code of Excellence” was spotlighted by Electric TV.  Read more.

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