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 […]
Throughout high school, Alex Birtalan didn’t want to go to college. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to just shoot in the dark” and have loans to pay back later, he said. His father, a sheet metal tradesman, approached Birtalan about joining a trade. “I always remember him saying good […]
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 […]
Energy in Downtown Cortland this past weekend was buzzing, and the community has IBEW Local 573 to thank. Since 2019, the union has volunteered time to help set up and energize the Cortland Street Fair. The latest one was held July 21-23. Mike Reed, a journeyman electrician with “Joe” Dickey Electric, led the process this […]
While giving different career paths a go, it was electricity that caused a lightbulb to go off for Grace Morrison. “During my life I’ve had a lot of different career experiences,” she said. Her background includes licensed cosmetology to customer service and management. “I wanted to do something that mattered,” Morrison said. She’s currently working […]
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. […]
It was while he was enrolled at Youngstown State University that Ahren Peplow realized college wasn’t for him. “I bounced between nursing, education and criminal justice majors,” he said. “I couldn’t find anything I truly enjoyed. Then I remembered I took a residential wiring class in high school that I loved,” Peplow recalled. He got […]
Warriors come in all sizes … and ages. For the Lucas family of Canfield, they range from 9-year-old Austin to the IBEW Local 64 union brothers of father Kenny, a journeyman wireman with Girard electrical contractor CR Electric. Austin was diagnosed with autism when he was in kindergarten. “We want each of our members to […]
During friendly competition, apprentices and journeymen electricians vied for a chance to advance to the sunshine state and win some serious cash. A qualifying event for the Ideal National Championship was held at both the Youngstown and Warren JATCs involving members of IBEW Local 64 in Youngstown and Local 573 in Warren. At each, apprentices […]
Once a social spot for live entertainment in downtown Youngstown, the Gallagher building, formerly known as Cedar’s Lounge, is undergoing some work. Helping lead the electrical component of the project are two residential journeymen electricians with Santon Electric: Eric Inskeep and Dustin Ronci. Working in the structure, which was built in 1904, both Inskeep and […]