NECA-IBEW Electricians in Action







University Electric crew working on wiring for EV chargers that will go in the parking lot on Fifth Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard in Youngstown.

Full power: University Electric setting up chargers for EV drivers in Youngstown


Charging stations will soon be available for EV drivers in two parking lots in downtown Youngstown. University Electric is the contractor hooking up the service and installing them. The existing Kress lot, next to West Federal Street, will eventually have two stations capable of charging four vehicles at a time. “We have not started there […]

IBEW Local 64 apprentice picnic. Cody Hilliard, Ed Emerick and Kenny Lucas.

A powerful picnic: Local 64 celebrates apprentices


There was a strong sense of camaraderie at the IBEW Local 64 and Youngstown Area Electrical JATC apprentice picnic on June 13. It was a chance for everyone to talk shop without tool belts. Among the festivities at the Youngstown Shrine Club pavilion, completers of the three-year residential and five-year commercial/industrial programs were recognized with […]

Santon Electric sign outside duplex on Glenwood Avenue in Youngstown.

Santon Electric tackles residential housing projects in Youngstown


Residential housing on Youngstown’s South Side is getting powered by Santon Electric. Electricians have been going between duplexes on Glenwood Avenue and single-family homes being built on Bernard Street. The projects are an effort between the city and the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Santon Electric is working with Joe Koch Construction – the lead contractor […]

electrician installing an outlet

7 helpful tips for Electrical Safety Month


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 […]

New leader for Mahoning Valley NECA: Attorney Chris Sammarone takes reins


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, […]

Jamie Henderson and PJ Beres, of Boot Electric, at Wedgewood Plaza renovation project.

Boot Electric shines new light on Wedgewood Plaza renovations


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 […]

CR Electric outside Brainard Rivet in Girard for power upgrade.

CR Electric’s power upgrade breathes new life into manufacturing plant


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 […]

Matt Lucy, of Becdel Controls, showing home generator.

Installing peace of mind: Becdel and Santon hook up home generators


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 […]

Cody Hilliard and Kenny Lucas, of IBEW Local 64, at guidance counselors presentation about skilled trades.

Electricians school educators about skilled trades careers


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, IBEW Local 573 apprentice, working on switches at Warren JATC.

She’s got grit: Local 573 apprentice lights path for women in the electrical trade


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 […]