NECA-IBEW Electricians in Action







Faces of the Trade: Todd Ambrose, Local 573 business manager


There’s a “new” face at the IBEW Local 573 union hall in Champion. On Friday, July 8, Todd Ambrose was sworn in as the new business manager/financial secretary for a three-year term. At the top of his priority list: building on the “brotherhood” aspect of the organization. “I want to put the time and effort […]

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 […]

"Joe" Dickey Electric junior estimator Alex Birtalan.

LMCC Scholarship recipient learns life-changing detail while working


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 […]

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 […]

Local 573 apprentice has her eyes on the future


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 […]

Ahren Peplow stands with his work.

Electrical career a tradition, calling for Local 64 member


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 […]