Tag Archives: power







Amped up impact: MG Electric brightens new veterans’ care facility


Energy is flowing for MG Electric as the Boardman-area electrical contractor rewires a former grocery store in Youngstown that will soon be a hub for veterans’ services. The building, which sat vacant for years on Belmont Avenue, is the new home for the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission. It’s currently located at Oak Hill Renaissance. […]

Faces of the Trade: Arnold’s electrical career is surging with hustle and heart


Deciding on an electrical career was a big, first step, for Isaac Arnold, but he has the grit, patience and determination to build a solid future. The 22-year-old Lowellville native, now a third-year apprentice, didn’t waste time after high school. He had his sights set on being an electrician and got the nudge from a […]

Santon Electric rewires Kia dealer to be brighter than ever


There’s a full-scale makeover happening at the Ken Ganley Kia dealership on Market Street in Boardman, and Santon Electric is leading the charge on electrical changes. A crew has been on-site since early spring managing a complete overhaul of the building’s electrical infrastructure. Steve Boyce, the foreman on the job for Santon Electric, is no […]

CR Electric flips the switch for new Austintown Grocery Outlet


The transformation of the former JCPenney location in Austintown continues, and CR Electric is playing a key role in the changes. A Grocery Outlet store is moving in, and for these local electricians, it’s been quite an overhaul. “When we walked in, the building was empty,” said Tom McCleery, project manager for CR Electric. “This […]

CR Electric goes the distance on high-voltage well project in Vienna


The call to bring power back to the Copper Ridge injection well in Vienna meant activating a full-scale, high-voltage operation for Girard-based electrical contractor CR Electric. It’s an atypical job that demanded some engineering expertise, heavy duty equipment and thousands of feet of wire. “The well site is about 4,000 feet back from the road,” […]

Faces of the Trade: Sometimes a “Plummer” makes a great electrician


The original blueprint for Tom Plummer’s life didn’t include being an electrician, but at the end of the day, he knew he wanted more than a desk job.   Originally from Clarion, Pa., Plummer spent four years at Penn State Dubois, where he pitched for the baseball team and earned a degree in Human Development […]

Birtalan adds “penguin power” to career in electrical industry


What felt like a setback early in Alex Birtalan’s career ended up wiring him for growth within the electrical industry. He started as an electrician apprentice with “Joe” Dickey Electric in 2019. Three months in, he found out he was color blind, which then made it unsafe for him to be in the field. After […]

Dickey Electric gives a “blue glow” to downtown Youngstown bank


A new light has been cast on the Chase Bank in downtown Youngstown – due in part to work by “Joe” Dickey Electric. The branch moved to the ground floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton at the corner of Market and E. Federal St. and opened in March. The bank’s old home was across the […]

Billy Zarlingo, foreman at University Electric, outside the Mercy Health Behavioral Hospital in Liberty.

University Electric brings the energy to behavioral health hospital


Healthcare facilities have been common projects for area electrical contractors, and University Electric is powering one of the latest, the Mercy Health Behavioral Hospital. Construction has been underway on Belmont Avenue in Liberty for the last several months. The building is adjacent to the recently opened rehabilitation hospital. It’s the result of a partnership between […]

Ahren Peplow, the new training director at Youngstown Area Electrical JATC.

Peplow takes the helm as Youngstown JATC training director


There’s a new leader at the forefront of the Youngstown Area Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC). Ahren Peplow, an experienced electrician and passionate educator, is stepping into the role of training director. He’s replacing Ed Emerick, who’s retiring at the end of February, after being in the position 19 years. Peplow, a dedicated […]