Author Archives: necaibew







Outlook: NECA-IBEW Electricians leverage strong legacy as catalyst for growth in 2017


Now entering 114 and 90 years, respectively, local chapters of the National Electrical Contractors Association and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have left a lasting legacy as residential, commercial and industrial electricians who have helped shape the landscape of the Mahoning Valley. NECA-IBEW Electricians is an association of IBEW Local 64 (Youngstown), IBEW Local 573 […]

(Part 4 of 4) What is NECA? Safety by design


NECA contractors are the experts at the top of the electrical field. They know the latest technology, the most recent updates to the electrical codes, and they strictly follow safety guidelines and regulations. NECA, a national organization with a chapter locally in the Mahoning Valley, is the voice of the electrical construction industry. Its contractors […]

Apprentice Cody Hilliard Finishes in Top 32 Nationally


It wasn’t quite the wire-to-wire finish that Cody Hilliard hoped for, but in the end the third-year Youngstown Area Electrical JATC apprentice finished in the top-32 in a national tradesman skills competition in Florida hosted by Ideal Industries. “We’re very proud of Cody for representing us so professionally at the Ideal National Championships, and he […]

(Part 2 of 4) What is NECA? 3 unique advantages of NECA electrical contractors


How can you spot a NECA electrical contractor and why should you care? NECA contractors make a difference, both in the quality of their work and their positive impact in the community. NECA, a national organization with a chapter locally in the Mahoning Valley, is the voice of the electrical construction industry. Its contractors set […]

Youngstown Apprentice Advances to Nationals in Electrician Skills Contest


Cody Hilliard is that much closer to the $30,000 prize waiting for the winner of the Ideal Industries National Championships, a first-time skills competition among electrical tradesmen, after winning the Northeast Ohio regional title. Ideal Industries manufactures tools used in the electrical construction trade. Hilliard is a third-year apprentice with the Youngstown Area Electrical Joint […]

(Part 1 of 4) What is NECA? Convention takeaways bode well for Mahoning Valley


We’re kicking off a new blog series on “What is NECA,” starting with the key takeaways from the recently concluded National Electrical Contractors Association’s annual convention in Boston. NECA, a national organization with a chapter locally in the Mahoning Valley, is the voice of the electrical construction industry. Its contractors set industry standards for traditional […]

3 Reasons Not to Pretend You’re an Electrician


Even for the mechanically challenged, some do-it-yourself projects turn out well. But that’s not always the case. Especially if they involve working with something as potentially dangerous as electricity. NECA-IBEW Electricians member contractors and union electricians in the Mahoning Valley suggest hiring a union contractor to ensure your project — however large or small — […]

(Part 7): 12 Reasons to Become a Union Electrician: In-Demand Career, Work in the Mahoning Valley


Sometimes, the demand for specific types of workers is dependent on the overall performance of certain industries, the economy and other important factors. When the economy is struggling, finding a job can be tough, especially one that pays a wage good enough to put food on the table and a roof over the family’s head. […]

(Part 1of 2) Shedding Some Light on Benefits of Retrofitting to LED


If you’ve ever heard a Motel 6 commercial you can probably quote spokesperson Tom Bodett’s last line: “We’ll leave the light on for you.” But unless the budget hotel chain is speaking figuratively, those lights better be LED. [In Part 2 of our series we’ll examine why “All LEDS are not created equal”] According to […]