Local electrical contractors are seeing an increasing number of homeowners wanting generators to stay connected during power outages. Becdel Controls has been bustling with inquiries. Requests have grown steadily over the last six years. The Niles electrical contractor went from installing 12 generators per year to more than 200 in 2023. Drivers for demand of […]
The teachers became the students at an information session about skilled trades careers. Around 70 area guidance counselors and educators gathered at the Sheet Metal JAC Training Center in Boardman to learn about the many opportunities for young people in the building trades. Eric Davis, training director at the Warren Electrical JATC, was among the […]
Grace Morrison doesn’t want or expect special treatment when it comes to her career. She wants to be known as a hard worker with a good attitude, determination and the willingness to learn. And with those qualities, she hopes to be a natural leader in the electrical trade. The 25-year-old is a third-year apprentice at […]
After more than 20 years as a journeyman electrician, Kenny Lucas is taking on new challenges as the president/organizer for IBEW Local 64. He’s adjusting from life on job sites to helping manage about 430 union members. He’s responsible for building and monitoring membership and leading union meetings. Lucas also stays aware of what’s happening […]
IBEW Local 64 connected with the future of the trade as the host for the electrical construction wiring portion of the Northeast Regionals SkillsUSA Competition. Hundreds of students were involved from more than a dozen schools in the region. There were six participants for the electrical competition on February 22. It included a written exam […]
Pursuing a college degree can be costly. Learning a skilled trade, like becoming an electrician, allows young people to start a career right out of high school without accruing student debt. The below information leaves a comparison to ponder – apprenticeship or college? Costly college or apprenticeship earnings? In Ohio, the average cost to attend […]
It’s a fundraising number the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley has never seen in its 105-year existence. Eric Carlson, president of “Joe” Dickey Electric, and his wife, Bethany, served as 2023 campaign co-chairs and helped bring in more than $3.7 million for the organization. The Carlsons have been involved with United Way […]
Growing up on a farm in northern Trumbull County taught Karisten Blackshere about hard work and being hands-on. Now, in her first year in the electrician apprenticeship at the Warren JATC, she understands early mornings, sacrifices and persistence. However, it took thousands of miles and several life experiences to get there. Venture to Las Vegas […]
[Following is the NECA-IBEW’s submission in the recently published Business Journal Growth Report 1 issue] A steady combination of commercial projects and residential work kept the energy high for NECA-IBEW Electricians in 2023. Overall, the signatory Mahoning Valley electrical contractors and IBEW union locals are keeping an optimistic outlook for 2024. IBEW Locals 64 and […]
To say business is growing at a “rapid pace” is an understatement for Shawn Campbell, co-owner and project estimator at Connected Technologies. The company started in March 2021, and the number of completed jobs has more than doubled since then. Connected Technologies is a low-voltage contractor dealing with the installation of data cables/towers, fiber optics, […]