02/15/2026

"Navigating the Skilled Labor Shortage: Mega Projects, Incentive Pay, and the Department of Labor" seminar - Feb. 11, 2026

Session was held at Gibsons Steakhouse in Oak Brook, IL.

"Navigating the Skilled Labor Shortage:
Mega Projects, Incentive Pay, and the Department of Labor" seminarWednesday, February 11, 2026

The Electrical Contractors’ Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Research and Education Committee was proud to have sponsored the "Navigating the Skilled Labor Shortage: Mega Projects, Incentive Pay, and the Department of Labor" seminar that was held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Gibsons Steakhouse at 2105 Spring Road in Oak Brook, IL.  The session was presented by Ted Uppole, Vice President NECA Labor Relations, Brendan Coakley, Assistant Professor in the Construction Management Department at California State University, Chico, and Dr. Anthony Perrenoud, Department Chair for the Construction Management Department in the College of Engineering at Boise State University.

The re-electrification of the United States is in full swing and while this creates tremendous opportunity for electrical contractors, it brings with it a new host of challenges with no simple solutions.

The seminar examined:

1) “Exploratory Analysis of Incentive Pay in Electrical Construction” by Brendan Coakley - how incentive pay works in practice and its implications for productivity, labor supply, cost, and retention;  

2) “The Impact Mega Projects Have on Labor Market – Major Findings and Recommendations” by Dr. Anthony Perrenoud - the impacts of mega projects on local construction markets;

3) “Costly Mistakes and How to Avoid Them” by Ted Uppole - an incentive pay/per diem best practices session to help contractors stay in compliance with the US Department of Labor.

We thank the presenters for their time and expertise discussing the various areas regarding Incentive Pay and its ramifications concerning:  effectiveness, administrative burden, morale challenges, absenteeism, pitfalls, megaproject reviews, per diem, proper calculation of overtime pay, among many other issues.  We thank the Midwestern Region NECA for their assistance in coordinating the speakers.  The opportunity to have a real “Ted” talk, along with the data shared by Professor Coakley and Dr. Perrenoud was most appreciated by the attendees. 

Please check out the Calendar of Events on the ECA website for future Research and Education Committee sponsored programs.

Pictured from left to right are:
Ted Uppole, Vice President NECA Labor Relations, 
Dr. Anthony Perrenoud, Department Chair for the Construction Management Department in the College of Engineering at Boise State University, and
Neil Parish, ECA Director of Operations.

Pictured above is Kendra Dinkins, ECA President, Taylor Electric Company, as she opened up the session.

Pictured above is Brendan Coakley, Assistant Professor in the Construction Management Department at California State University, Chico, during the Q & A portion of his presentation.

Pictured above is Dr. Anthony Perrenoud, Department Chair for the Construction Management Department in the College of Engineering at Boise State University during his presentation.

Pictured above is Ted Uppole, Vice President NECA Labor Relations.