May is Electrical Safety Month, but preventing hazards is something everyone should pay attention to every day. Not doing so can result in serious injuries, fires and even death. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), there are about 51,000 electrical fires each year, which result in nearly 500 deaths, more than 1,400 injuries […]
A practicing attorney for 25 years, Chris Sammarone is the new executive director for the Mahoning Valley NECA chapter. He officially took the helm on May 1. He fills the seat left by Tom Lipka, who held the position since 2019. Lipka was recently promoted to a field representative position for NECA’s Eastern Region. Coincidentally, […]
A new era is coming for the former Wedgewood Lanes and nightclub space on South Raccoon Road in Austintown. Boot Electric, of Columbiana, is playing a part in the renovations. The company has been working there for three months, and it’s come a long way. “When we started, it was basically bare bones. The whole […]
A year of planning and strategizing for a power upgrade at Brainard Rivet in Girard came down to a six-hour window of critically timed electrical work. CR Electric calls it an intense project to tackle. Brainard Rivet needed to change over from an 800-amp service to 2,000 amps. The company manufactures fasteners, rivets and pins […]
Local electrical contractors are seeing an increasing number of homeowners wanting generators to stay connected during power outages. Becdel Controls has been bustling with inquiries. Requests have grown steadily over the last six years. The Niles electrical contractor went from installing 12 generators per year to more than 200 in 2023. Drivers for demand of […]
The teachers became the students at an information session about skilled trades careers. Around 70 area guidance counselors and educators gathered at the Sheet Metal JAC Training Center in Boardman to learn about the many opportunities for young people in the building trades. Eric Davis, training director at the Warren Electrical JATC, was among the […]
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 […]
After more than 20 years as a journeyman electrician, Kenny Lucas is taking on new challenges as the president/organizer for IBEW Local 64. He’s adjusting from life on job sites to helping manage about 430 union members. He’s responsible for building and monitoring membership and leading union meetings. Lucas also stays aware of what’s happening […]
IBEW Local 64 connected with the future of the trade as the host for the electrical construction wiring portion of the Northeast Regionals SkillsUSA Competition. Hundreds of students were involved from more than a dozen schools in the region. There were six participants for the electrical competition on February 22. It included a written exam […]
Pursuing a college degree can be costly. Learning a skilled trade, like becoming an electrician, allows young people to start a career right out of high school without accruing student debt. The below information leaves a comparison to ponder – apprenticeship or college? Costly college or apprenticeship earnings? In Ohio, the average cost to attend […]