Details
April 2, 2026
"AI in Electrical Construction" 4/2/2026 at 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
The event to be held on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (INTECH) - 6201 W. 115th Street, Alsip, IL.
"AI in Electrical Construction"
Thursday, April 2, 2026.
8:00 am - 4:00 pm - Large Multi-purpose Room
IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (INTECH)
6201 W. 115th Street in Alsip, IL 60803
The Electrical Contractors’ Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Research and Education Committee is proud to sponsor the "AI in Electrical Construction" seminar on Thursday, April 2, 2026 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (INTECH) at 6201 W. 115th Street, Alsip, IL 60803 - (708) 389-1340. Breakfast & Lunch to be served. (A Continental Breakfast to be available at 7:45 am).
The session is to be facilitated by Carl Britton, Iron Thread Consulting.
THE FEE FOR THIS PROGRAM IS $100.00 FOR ECA MEMBERS.
The all-day seminar will cover the following:
Build Automated Systems That Work
This is a hands-on build session. You will not sit and watch slides. You will leave with working AI tools in your business. In this nearly 4-hour portion of the overall workshop, you will:
- Build a custom ChatGPT GPT in under 10 minutes for real daily tasks.
- Set up a Clade Project to act as your digital job trainer for documents, specs, ad workflows.
- Connect your tools with Zapier to automate admin, reporting, and handoffs.
AI in the Trades: PM & PE
If your PM or PE is buried in paperwork, chasing down RFIs, or stuck in tedious scope reviews, it’s time to work smarter, not harder. In this nearly 4-hour portion of the overall workshop, you’ll learn how to use AI tools to streamline your workflow, reduce errors, improve communication, and save time across every phase of a project. No fluff. No jargon. Just practical tools and skills you can use tomorrow morning.
What You’ll Learn:
- AI Demystified: Understand what AI actually is (and isn’t), with clear examples tailored to construction roles. No buzzwords. Just real-world relevance.
- Prompt Engineering 101: Learn how to “talk to AI” to get precisely what you need—from schedule drafts to polished client emails.
- Scope & Contract Review with AI: Use AI to identify risks, vague language, and conflicting terms in contracts, scopes, and specs—saving hours of review time.
- Job-Ready AI Tools: Build your toolkit: Intro into ChatGPT, Claude, Notion AI, Excel AI, and more. Learn which ones to use, how to use them, and when to trust them.
- Hands-On Scenarios: Practice solving common PM challenges using AI. From submittals to schedule updates, you’ll leave with repeatable workflows that work in the field and the office.
Start using AI to reduce stress, save time, and level up your efficiency without needing to become a tech expert.
THIS PROGRAM IS ONLY FOR ECA MEMBERS!
If you're interested in attending the "AI in Electrical Construction" seminar, please click on the link below to register or go on-line at the ECA website at: www.ecachicago.com (Event Calendar portion)
(Please register soon as the size is limited to 20 for this session.)
Please contact the ECA with any questions at (708) 531-0022. We look forward to your participation with the program! Thank you for your continued support of Association activities.
Carl Britton, Iron Thread Consulting
Meet the guy who bridges the gap between hard hats and artificial intelligence. With 20 years of construction experience and 15 years in tech, Carl brings a rare combination of dirt-under-the-fingernails credibility and cutting-edge AI expertise that resonates with contractors who've never met a tech guru who could actually swing a hammer. After growing up working residential concrete with his uncle (which, he jokes, kept him motivated to stay in school), Carl earned his degree in education and became a Class B General Contractor. But it was when a tornado destroyed his home in 2013 that his mission crystallized: dedicating himself to helping his community rebuild. That same spirit of practical problem-solving now drives his approach to AI education for the trades.
As a three-time published author and seasoned speaker, Carl has delivered hundreds of workshops and keynote presentations to major industry organizations including NECA National, multiple NECA chapters, SMACNA, MCA, and various professional associations across the country. His secret weapon? He's not your typical AI evangelist lecturing from an ivory tower, he's been in the trenches, knows the real challenges contractors face, and speaks fluent "construction site."What sets his workshops apart is simple: AI nerds know AI, but Carl knows both construction AND AI. His hands-on, energetic approach makes complex technology accessible and immediately actionable.
