03/13/2026

Paddy's Day Luncheon 2026

Friday, March 13, 2026 at the Chicago Hilton & Towers

70th Annual Paddy's Day Luncheon
Friday, March 13, 2026

The 70^th Annual Paddy’s Day Luncheon was held on Friday, March 13, 2026 at the International Ballroom of the Chicago Hilton and Towers.  This unique networking event offered hundreds of colleagues in the Electrical Industry of Chicago the opportunity to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! The attendees saw the Shannon Rovers perform, enjoy the luncheon, compete in the famous Door Prize Drawing and congratulate the Francis P. Cummins Award winner, as well as congratulate the Big Shillelagh 2026 - Mark P. Gibson, as he emceed the events and welcomed in the 2007 Big Shillelagh.

The Electrical Contractors’ Association of City of Chicago (ECA) would like to congratulate Mark Thomas, ECA Executive Vice President, as he is the 2026 Francis P. Cummins Award winner!   The ECA would also like to congratulate Elbert Walters, III, Powering Chicago Director, as he is the 2007 Big Shillelagh!

We thank all that were able to attend this fun event and hope many more will be in attendance for next year’s celebration.

Pictured from left to right are three Big Shillelaghs:
Elbert Walters, III, Powering Chicago Director and the Big Shillelagh 2027,
Stef Lopata, Kelso-Burnett Co. - retired, and
John Donahue, former INTECH Director.

Pictured from left to right are:
Kelly Gundlach, spouse of Mark Thomas, and
David Witz, Continental Electrical Construction Company, 2025 Big Shillelagh,
as they display the Francis P. Cummins Award for Mark Thomas, ECA Executive Vice President.