10/03/2024

NECA 2024 Convention & Trade Show Highlights

The Convention was held in San Diego - Sept. 28 - Oct. 1, 2024

NECA 2024 Convention & Trade Show

The NECA Convention & Trade Show was held September 28 – October 1, 2024 in San Diego, California.  Registration was at an all-time high – over 10,200 registrants!   There were over 70 attendees from the Chicago and Cook County Chapter.  Highlights of the Convention include the following:

• ECA member, David Hardt, Academy of Electrical Contracting Chair, Hardt Electric, Inc. introduced the new inductees to the Academy, which included Rick Jamerson, NECA Governor, Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc. and ECA Executive Vice President, Mark Thomas.
  
  
• ECA Executive Vice President, Mark Thomas, was also the recipient of the 2024 Robert L. Higgins Association Executive Distinguished Service Award.
  
  
• Four students from the NECA-IIT Student Chapter: Lukasz Pawlik, Stefana Sas-Pawlik, Victor A. Quniones Rocha, Zoe Zylstra, and IIT Facilitator, Dr. Daniel Tomal were able to participate with the Convention.
  
  
• The Board of Governors meeting held on September 28^th featured guest speaker, Kenneth Cooper, IBEW International President; the Governors voted and passed one By-law Proposal regarding Dues Amounts and two Ordinary Proposals (Reserve Finance Policy and NECA-IBEW Category 1 Referral Language – clarifying 12,000 hours experience in the trade).
  
  
• ELECTRI International will be continuing Business Coaching - it is open to all NECA contractors and utilizes subject matter experts; 32 proposals were recently reviewed; the next ELECTRI meeting will be January 15 – 17, 2025, the International program will be held in Italy in 2026; working on a KPI Benchmarking Tool, among many other areas.
  
  
• NECA Government Affairs will be looking to disburse $1.8 million dollars for the upcoming cycle; a major Permitting Bill is progressing; and a major FAA Bill passed.
  
  
• The Safety Roundtable session featured topics including: OSHA Rulemaking concerning Heat Regulations, Emergency Response, Workplace Violence, Crane – Aerial Lift Safety, among other areas.
  
  
• The Prayer Breakfast featured Clint Morgan, San Diego Chapter President, National Security Works.
  
  
• The Labor Relations Roundtable featured breakout groups and industry issues discussions.
  
  
• The Business Development Roundtable also featured breakout groups and varied industry issues discussions.
  
  
• The Chapter held a number of events, including: a “Welcome to San Diego” reception on Friday, September 27, 2024 at the Grand Cabanas Area of the Pendry San Diego Hotel; attendees were able to join the Chapter on Sunday, September 29, 2024, as a number of reservations to areas restaurants were made available; the Chapter Dinner was held on Monday, September 30, 2024 at the Oxford Social Club - Pendry San Diego Hotel; a special Academy Induction Reception for Rick Jamerson and Mark Thomas was held on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at Nason’s Beer Hall – Pendry San Diego Hotel; a Pre-Closing Event Reception immediately followed the Induction Reception.
  
  
• NECA’S Opening Reception was held on September 28^th in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter; the Opening General Session was held on Sunday, September 29, 2024 and featured Commander Rorke T. Denver, U.S. Navy SEALs; the General Session that was held on Monday, September 30, 2024 featured Katie Ledecky, Olympic medalist; the Closing General Session that was held on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 featured Rocco Mediate, Professional Golfer; and the Closing Celebration was held on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 on the U.S.S. Midway and featured Kool & the Gang!

We thank all of our members who were able to participate with the Convention.  We look forward to next year’s Convention, as it will be held September 12 – 15, 2025 in Chicago!

Congratulatory Plaques recognizing Rick Jamerson, NECA Governor, Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc. and Mark Thomas, ECA Executive Vice President for their induction into the Academy of Electrical Contracting, as well as Mark Thomas receiving the Robert L. Higgins Executive Distinguished Service Award during the NECA Convention.

David Hardt, Academy of Electrical Contracting Chair, Hardt Electric, Inc.,
as he was about to address the Convention attendees.

David Hardt, Academy of Electrical Contracting Chair, Hardt Electric, Inc.,
as he introduced the new Academy of Electrical Contracting Inductees.

Pictured from left to right are:
David Hardt, Academy of Electrical Contracting Chair, Hardt Electric, Inc. and
Rick Jamerson, NECA Governor, Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc.

Pictured from left to right are:
David Hardt, Academy of Electrical Contracting Chair, Hardt Electric, Inc. and
Mark Thomas, ECA Executive Vice President.

Pictured from left to right are:
Mark Thomas, ECA Executive Vice President, Katherine Wagner and Kelly Gundlach.

All of the Academy Inductees.

IBEW International President, Kenneth Cooper is introduced at the Board of Governors Session.

Grand Cabanas area of Pendry Hotel.

Grand Cabanas area of Pendry Hotel.

NECA Convention Opening Event in San Diego Gaslamp Quarter.

Pictured above is Clint Morgan, San Diego Chapter President, National Security Works
during the NECA Prayer Breakfast. 

Pictured above is the opening of the Electrical Contracting Innovation Challenge (ECIC) finals.

Pictured above is the ECIC Student Chapter reception.

Pictured are the NECA-IIT Student Chapter students and IIT Facilitator (from left to right):
Lukasz Pawlik, IIT Facilitator, Dr. Daniel Tomal, Victor A. Quniones Rocha, Stefana Sas-Pawlik, and
Zoe Zylstra.

Pictured above is the start of the ELECTRI Council session.

Pictured above is the Labor Relations session.

Pictured above is Rick Jamerson, NECA Governor, Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc.,
as he addressed the Business Development session.

Pictured above is Elbert Waters, III, Powering Chicago Executive Director,
as he also addressed the Business Development session.

Pictured above is Bob Fimbianti, ECA President, Linear Electric, Inc., 
as he welcomed the guests at the Chapter Dinner.

Pictured above from left to right are:
David Long, NECA CEO and Mark Thomas, ECA Executive Vice President.

Pictured from left to right are:
Kendra Dinkins, ECA Vice President,
Rick Jamerson, NECA Governor, Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc., and
Bob Fimbianti, ECA President, Linear Electric, Inc. 

Pictured from left to right are:
Kendra Dinkins, ECA Vice President,
Mark Thomas, ECA Executive Vice President, and
Bob Fimbianti, ECA President, Linear Electric, Inc. 

Pictured are the guests at the Special Induction Reception / Pre-Closing Reception.

The Closing Celebration on the U.S.S. Midway with Kool & The Gang!

Pictured above is Jerry McGlynn, ECA Safety Committee Chair, McWilliams Electric Company, Inc.,
as he reminds all that the NECA Convention is coming to Chicago in 2025!