Tag Archives: apprentice







Grace Morrison, IBEW Local 573 apprentice, working on switches at Warren JATC.

She’s got grit: Local 573 apprentice lights path for women in the electrical trade


Grace Morrison doesn’t want or expect special treatment when it comes to her career. She wants to be known as a hard worker with a good attitude, determination and the willingness to learn. And with those qualities, she hopes to be a natural leader in the electrical trade. The 25-year-old is a third-year apprentice at […]

Top 10 stories of 2023. Collage featuring Dahler Electric, CR Electric, Dickey Electric, Tri-Area Electric

Lights out 2023: Top 10 stories for NECA-IBEW Electricians


Another year is down to the wire, and it’s typically a time for looking back on accomplishments. It’s been a busy, full year for NECA-IBEW Electricians. As the most trusted, professional electricians in the area prepare for 2024, here’s a look at the top 10 stories of 2023:  NECA-IBEW Electricians makes up a highly trained union […]

Sam Decesare, owner of Revolt Electric, outside his work van.

Contractor profile: Revolt Electric running at full charge


In electrical terms, 2023 has been a power surge for Sam Decesare. He officially started his own business, Revolt Electric, in January and has been moving at lightning speed ever since. As a one-man operation, to say he has a full schedule is an understatement. He juggles working, estimates, meetings and the office work. Decesare […]

Twin Peaks opening in Boardman in space left vacant by TGI Fridays.

Gulu Electric to illuminate the Twin Peaks restaurant


A space left empty for eight years after TGI Fridays closed in Boardman is being revived. Twin Peaks, a sports bar and restaurant, is coming to Tiffany Boulevard. Gulu Electrical Contractors, of Youngstown, has been working on the project since the end of August. Steve Weimer is the foreman for Gulu. He says the job […]

Nate Castle, IBEW Local 573, explains conduit bending to students at the MVST Expo in Canfield.

Skilled Trades Expo offers glimpse into electrical trade


The idea of the Mahoning Valley Skilled Trades Expo is to have students get their hands dirty and find a potential career path they wouldn’t have otherwise considered. Nearly 5,000 students flocked to the new event center at the Canfield Fairgrounds between September 20 and 21. This was the fourth year for the event. There […]

New apprentice recruiting videos paint a first-hand picture of life as a union electrician


From making a good living to living a good life, the electrician apprenticeship program is as unique of a career opportunity as the individuals matriculating through it. That dual focus was the aim of a new series of videos launched by NECA-IBEW Electricians of the Mahoning Valley to appeal to apprentice candidates. Canfield’s 898 Marketing […]

Year in Review: Residential electrical work spikes in 2022 for NECA-IBEW Electricians


The busy local real estate market fueled a notable increase in residential electrical work for the region’s union electrical contractors in 2022. Combined with a record-manhours workload on the commercial side, the NECA-IBEW Electricians wore through a few toolbelts last year. In 2023, while the residential side will still remain steady, any type of interest […]

Local 573 apprentice shares insight after making the jump from non-union contractor


Third-year apprentice James Tate is grateful he’s in a union apprenticeship. His story begins after college graduation. He earned a criminal justice degree. “I knew in that field I wouldn’t make the best salary,” Tate said. “I always liked to work outside, work with my hands.” Working a “desk job” didn’t sound appealing. “I didn’t […]

Brogan Kenneally works at an Ohio Turnpike site.

National Guard-to-electrician easy transition for second-year Local 573 apprentice


For Brogan Kenneally, making the switch from military life to full-time electrician has been smooth. The fourth-year apprentice served with the Ohio National Guard for six years, which coincided with his apprenticeship. Kenneally is currently working at University Electric in Youngstown. Easy balancing act “IBEW Local 573 was able to help me balance military obligations […]

Keith Patton works in a lift.

Air Force Veteran and second-year apprentice sees parallels in military and electrical work


While he’s constantly working with his hands, Keith Patton also enjoys a challenge. The second-year apprentice with the Warren Electrical JATC is building on a foundation he established while in the United States Air Force from 2009 to 2017. While serving, Patton was an electrical and hydraulics airplane mechanic, troubleshooting issues on C-5s and C-17s. […]