11/08/2024

NECA-IIT Student Chapter Session - November 7, 2024

The program was held at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT).

NECA-IIT Student Chapter Session
November 7, 2024

The NECA - IIT Student Chapter is excited to participate in the upcoming Electrical Contracting Innovation Challenge sponsored by NECA and ELECTRI International.  The challenge will begin in earnest in January 2025.  Prior to that time, the students have had guest presenters throughout this semester to aid in familiarizing them with various aspects of the electrical construction industry.   Leviton, Trimble, Powering Chicago, and soon to be Milwaukee Tool, visit the students via an on-line presentation highlighting their particular specialty. 

The students would like to thank Elbert Walters, III, Executive Director of Powering Chicago for his special presentation held during the Student Chapter session on Thursday, November 7, 2024, regarding Powering Chicago and its impact on the industry. He discussed various aspects of how Powering Chicago came about, its efforts to promote the industry though its inception through the Labor Management Cooperation Committee of Chicago (LMCC Chicago).

The LMCC Chicago works to promote the Chicagoland unionized electrical construction industry. LMCC Chicago assists numerous industry-related organizations, as well as charitable entities, awards the Electrical Industry Scholarship Program (EISP) and offers tuition reimbursements to applicable electricians continuing their education through IIT, among other areas. The LMCC continues to direct the efforts of “Powering Chicago” as well as the “Ours to Protect” website portal. Also, the Powering Chicago website highlights signatory contractors’ efforts concerning new technologies and benefits to the industry through the “Power of Better” video campaign. We wish to thank the LMCC Chicago management Trustees for their dedication: Eric Nixon, Chair, Maron Electric Company, David Chorley, Continental Electrical Construction Company, William Cullen, III, Sharlen Electric Company, Nicholas Santoro, JMS Electric Inc., and Associate Trustee: Pat Nugent, Aldridge Electric, Inc 

Mr. Walters also highlighted the many opportunities available in the Chicagoland union electrical construction industry from apprenticeship to journeylevel training at the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (INTECH) in Alsip, Illinois to project engineering / management positions within signatory contractor firms.  He emphasized that many contractors utilize CAD, BIM, and design-build aspects on their projects.  He encouraged the students to consider working in the electrical construction industry.

Again, we thank Mr. Walters for his assistance and welcome ECA members for their input as the challenge will soon progress!  Please contact the ECA office for further information.

Pictured above is Elbert Walters, III, Powering Chicago Executive Director.