Author Archives: necaibew







Jeremy Morrow, foreman at Penn-Ohio, outside the Meijer store in Austintown.

Penn-Ohio’s precision and electrical expertise lights up Austintown Meijer


For Penn-Ohio, staying on top of a large-scale project like the Austintown Meijer has taken a lot of strategy and electrical expertise. Jeremy Morrow, the foreman for Penn-Ohio, has already smoothed out quite a few complexities since the job began in May. Prints, piping and punctuality “When we started here, it was just dirt,” he […]

Todd Ambrose, IBEW Local 573 business manager, Mark Phillips, IBEW Local 573 president/organizer, at Trumbull County Children Services delivering bikes for kids at Christmas.

Wheeling in holiday magic: Local 573 keeps tradition of bike donation for kids


IBEW Local 573 is again making Christmas brighter for children in need by donating 20 bikes to Trumbull County Children Services. Union leadership made the delivery on December 16, and agency employees helped unload and wheel the bikes into the building. “It’s hard not to feel for these kids. I couldn’t imagine growing up without […]

Dimming holiday electrical hazards: 7 tips for a bright season


“Rigging up the lights” may be one of the pains of decorating for the season, but proper setups can prevent holiday electrical hazards and even save lives. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), December is the peak month for house fires caused by electrical malfunctions. Matt Lucy, the residential superintendent at Becdel Controls, […]

Dan Santon, owner of Santon Electric in Boardman, stands with his WYTV Hometown Hero plaque at his memorial outside the company for military members, health care workers, police and fire departments.

Honoring “Hometown Hero” Dan Santon for dedication to Boo Squad


There’s a special place in Dan Santon’s heart for young people who give back to the community. And one Mahoning Valley organization doing just that is giving back to Santon in the form of gratitude for his support. The founder of Boo Squad, Heather Hrina Medvec, nominated Santon for the WYTV Hometown Hero award. He […]

Nick Clemmer, project manager at Liberty Electric, outside Cleveland Steel Container building in Warren.

Liberty Electric energizes new manufacturing facility in Warren


A high level of expertise and history of quality work is helping Liberty Electric maneuver its latest project at Cleveland Steel Container in Warren. Electricians recently finished the underground infrastructure, but they will be on the job for at least another nine months, according to Nick Clemmer, project manager for Liberty Electric. “It’s all about […]

Jeff Barber, VEC vice president of projects, on stage at NECA convention, being inducted as Fellow into NECA Academy of Contractors.

VEC’s Barber honored as Fellow of NECA Academy of Contractors


A “small but mighty” chapter is making big waves yet again on the national scene. Jeff Barber, the executive vice president of projects at VEC in Girard, has been inducted as a Fellow into the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Academy of Contractors. He was honored during the annual NECA convention in San Diego, Calif. […]

Mike Engle, project manager at University Electric, and Ivan Lindberg, apprentice-to-be.

University Electric bakes new energy into Insomnia Cookies on YSU campus


A key ingredient in the recipe for an Insomnia Cookies coming to YSU campus is University Electric. The bakery plans to open sometime in fall 2024 at the corner of North Hazel Street and Lincoln Avenue. After spending just over a month on the project, electricians wrapped up their work in early October. Starting from […]

Amy and Matt Connelly, with Austin Claussell, the first-time recipient of a memorial scholarship in honor of their son, Adam.

Honoring a dream: Friend of late IBEW Local 573 apprentice first to receive memorial scholarship


It was an emotional moment for Amy and Matt Connelly to present the first-ever memorial scholarship in honor of their son to his lifelong friend. Adam Connelly, 21, passed away in November 2022 following a car accident. At the time, Adam was a second-year apprentice with IBEW Local 573. In his memory, the Connellys are […]

Apprentice Grace Morrison helps students bend conduit at the Mahoning Valley SKilled Trades Expo.

Students connect to the value of a career in the electrical trade


Droves of students flocked to the electrical exhibit at the Mahoning Valley Skilled Trades Expo on September 17-19. They were learning to bend conduit, testing out a virtual reality tool that walks them through various electrical tasks, talking with apprentices about basic wiring and what a career is like, as well as getting an up-close […]

Apprentice shows students how to bend conduit at Mahoning Valley Skilled Trades Expo

Skilled Trades Expo creates a surge of interest in the electrical industry


Projects for the NECA-IBEW Electricians remain steady, but events like the Mahoning Valley Skilled Trades Expo are driving awareness about careers in the electrical industry. Since the first expo in 2019, apprenticeship applications have increased for IBEW Locals 64 and 573. “Before we started, until now, they’re up between 10-15 percent. It’s been a good […]