ECA Industry Update

STAY INFORMED:

Dept. of Labor New Davis-Bacon & Related Act Update Webinar

Thursday, August 31 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET

Free (members)

The Department of Labor executed the most extensive update to the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts in more than four decades on August 8, 2023. The Department has introduced a sweeping set of new regulations that encompass a wide range of aspects concerning the administration of the act. These updates include revised wage scales, new definitions for 'prevailing wage,' specifications regarding the site of work, and expanded coverage to include new construction areas. NECA invites you to register for the webinar below so you can stay informed on the latest enhancements of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts!

Registration is Open for NECA’s Estimating Virtual Classroom programs. Registration is still very limited so don’t delay!

Below are the registration links:

Basic Estimating: Tuesday, September 5-Tuesday, September 19, 2023, | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET

Registration for these programs is on a first-come, first served basis. In the event a program sells out and you wish to be added to the wait list for that instance, please email education@necanet.org.

NECA Convention & Trade Show - Philadelphia

September 29, 2023 - October 2, 2023

Registration for the NECA Convention & Trade Show has begun! Room Reservation for the Chicago Chapter Block ended on August 10, 2023. It is now based on availability. Please register as soon as you can.

Registration

Please visit www.necaconvention.org to register for the NECA Convention/Accommodations. The Convention Center is located at the Philadelphia Convention Center, 1101 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

Those who register early (on or before August 10, 2023) will receive the “early” price of $1,725 for members and $1,100 for the member’s spouse / guest. Those who register beginning on August 2, 2023 will receive the "regular" NECA Convention registration fee of $1,975 per NECA member, and $1,300 for the member’s spouse / guest.

After you have registered, please e-mail a copy of your completed registration transaction to the Association office at registration@ecachicago.com. This will allow us to have a record of your registration information, should you need any assistance after registering.

Hotel Reservations

The Hotel for the Chicago & Cook County Chapter is the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center located at 1 N 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA. The room type and rate that is available is the Standard Room (1 King Bed or Two Double Beds) at $505.00 Single / Double.

Convention Stipend

The ECA Executive Committee approved the stipend of the Registration Fee for up to two representatives and their guests from each ECA member firm that registers for the Convention. The registrations will be reimbursed to the applicable companies after the Convention. The Executive Committee also approved an additional stipend of $1,000.00 per applicable attendee’s room block utilization for the NECA Convention & Trade Show to offset the room night cost increase with the Four Seasons Philadelphia Hotel.

Pre-Convention Workshops Update:

CLICK HERE for Information for the Electric Vehicle Symposium - 9/28/2023

CLICK HERE for Information Regarding Pre-Convention Workshop, "Construction Suicide Prevention Outreach and Mental Health Program" - 9/29/23 - Information / Registration.

CLICK HERE FOR CHAPTER EVENTS INFORMATION / CONVENTION REGISTRATION

NECA recognizes that health and safety is a “Shared Responsibility” between employers and employees and provides this training for awareness and to help reduce incidents, injuries, and fatalities through an established Safety Management System, adaptable for all organizations. Designed for new safety professionals in the electrical contracting industry, NECA's Safety Professionals Institute provides participants with the “must know” topics for those responsible for keeping our inside and outside linemen safe.

Download the brochure and registration form

Format

Pre-work: Five (5) hours of online, on-demand content
Core curriculum: 3 days of in-person instruction led by industry professionals
Capstone project: Create a detailed safety program, reviewed by industry experts, to take back to your company

The Registration Fee of $3200 includes three days of instruction, all course materials, those meals and receptions/dinners indicated in the Schedule of Events, and support from subject matter experts during your Capstone project. The Registration Fee does not include lodging, airfare, or other miscellaneous expenses. Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and for securing ground transportation upon arrival. Upon review, accepted applicants will be notified and provided the information to make their hotel arrangements within NECA’s room block.

NECA’s Executive Management Institute (EMI) is an intensive, three-and-a-half-day learning experience designed to enhance the leadership skills of current and up-and-coming executives and managers. Designed for senior executives in the electrical contracting industry, this program provides state-of-the-art management concepts and analytical tools that build on existing knowledge of electrical contracting businesses and the industry to increase the value and effectiveness of electrical contracting firms.

Download the brochure and registration form

For your application to be considered, you must submit the following:

A completed application form
A curriculum vitae (CV) or resume highlighting your relevant experience
A letter of recommendation from a senior leader in your company. If you are the most senior executive in your firm, a notation of this is sufficient.
Payment must be provided within one week of acceptance. Payment must be made via credit card. A link to make a secure payment will be provided following acceptance.

The Registration Fee of $3950 includes three and a half days of instruction, all course materials, and those meals and receptions/dinners indicated in the Schedule of Events. The Registration Fee does not include lodging, airfare, or other miscellaneous expenses. Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and for securing ground transportation upon arrival. Upon review, accepted applicants will be notified and provided the information to make their hotel arrangements within NECA’s room block.

Midwest Regional Conference

March 11 - 14, 2023

Mark your calendars for next year’s Regional Conference in the Bahamas! Midwest Region NECA is planning an exciting event and hope to see everyone there for great education, networking, and fun activities.

Passports are required, so make sure yours is up to date!

Please Note:

Midwest Region NECA invites Council Members and their spouses to attend the Vice President's reception on March 10, a day before the conference begins. Council members, please take this into consideration when making travel plans.

Document Crunch

Contractors who sign up for the service will have exclusive access to an ELECTRI-specific solution through Document Crunch’s innovative platform.

Watch Demo Video

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Satyam Verma at sverma@documentcrunch.com.

Click for NECA Alert (7/19/23)

Click for NECA This Week (8/28/23)

NECA Education / Convention Update (8/9/23) - Carrie Liberio, High Voltage Electric Interview

NECA Education / NECA Labor Relations Offer New Program,

"Union Relations for Project Managers."

NECA Education / NECA Labor Relations are excited to announce a new course in the NECA Learning Center: Union Relations for Project Managers.

The two teams worked in collaboration to produce a 30 minute on-demand class which helps:

Explain the importance of understanding the local Collective Bargaining Agreement
Identify Category I language to determine what provisions will vary between locals
Describe the important provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement
Summarize the PMs role and interactions with the union
Describe your company's policies and practices
Explain the importance of the superintendent and foreman in the union relationship
Identify the impact union relations will have on a job

This course is designed to provide foundational knowledge for new Project Managers and/or members of your company who will interact with union represented employees or union officials. To register for this course, click the link below.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

NECA Government Affairs Update (7/28/23) --

Please click the link for a recent update from NECA Government Affairs.

If you have any questions regarding the update, please reach out to NECA Government Affairs to: Hadlea Bender, Specialist at: (713) 870-8619 / Jared Karbowsky, Director, Government Affairs, National Electrical Contractors Association at: 443-975-2932

Click Here for Update

Federal Government Funding Announcements / Regulations

Compiled by NECA Government Affairs:

Please click the link for the latest funding announcements and regulations the Federal Government has posted.

Click Here for Update - 8/23/23

ECA Stipends Available for a Number of Events!

The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Executive Committee recently approved a number of educational stipends for various events throughout 2023. Please click on the link for the current listing.

The registrations will be reimbursed to the applicable companies after the Conference. After you have registered for the applicable event, please e-mail a copy of your completed registration transaction to the Association office at registration@ecachicago.com. This will allow us to have a record of your registration information, should you need any assistance after registering.

CLICK HERE FOR LISTING OF APPLICABLE STIPENDS

ELECTRI Updates

A NEW CONNECTION – AECINSPIRE has joined the ELECTRI Council as a Founder. The company, headquartered in Newark, California, focuses on ways to revolutionize material management for construction projects. Lonnie Cumpton, Co-Founder and Senior Director for Product Strategy and Customer Success will serve as the company’s representative to ELECTRI. Our sincere thanks for your commitment to ELECTRI and the EC industry.

HAPPY AND PROUD – ELECTRI loves sharing good news. Yes, we are happy and proud to announce the arrival of Hayden Payne Jochim, Anna and Corey Jochim’s first-born son. Hayden was born on August 11, 2023, weighing in at 6 lbs. 8 oz. Welcome to our newest team member!

WHAT ARE YOUR SAFEGUARDS? – ELECTRI had an incredible response to our recent conversation about cutting-edge technologies and best practices to safeguard critical data and ensure business continuity in the face of unforeseen challenges. Many thanks to Matt Lamb (Rosendin Electric) for leading this episode of IT and Coffee. To share the tips and techniques with your key team members, click here to listen again.

WHAT DO THEY NEED? - Line contractors face very different issues. In this Think Like a Leader conversation, Steve Gaines, Jr., NECA’s Southeastern Line Constructors Chapter Executive for 25 years, shares valuable information about the needs of line constructors, their relationship with all the other NECA chapters, and the importance he places on listening carefully before making decisions. Listen to this interview on your favorite podcast service here.

FOR MANY YEARS TO COME – That’s how Tony Burrow describes his company’s involvement with ELECTRI. Nantze Electric (Texarkana, Texas) has joined the ELECTRI Council at the Founder level. In the letter of commitment, Tony expressed special thanks for ELECTRI’s efforts on behalf of the EC industry. We welcome Tony as Nantze’s rep to the Council.

THEY MADE THE DECISION – The Memphis Chapter – NECA has joined the ELECTRI Council at the $100,000 Founder level. The Chapter’s leaders participated in the July Council meeting and Chapter Executive Zachary Casutt notified ELECTRI shortly thereafter that their members wanted to get more involved with the ELECTRI agenda. Memphis has named Rodney Leath (Shelby Electric Company, Inc.) as its representative to the Council. ELECTRI looks forward to working with all of the Memphis Chapter members.

A NEW PARTNERSHIP – The ELECTRI Council selected Amelia Celoza, Ph. D. for the Foundation’s 2023-2024 Partnership for Career Advancement Award. Dr. Celoza received her doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin, Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering. Her first project with ELECTRI will be to evaluate the impact of inexperience on BIM-based design coordination between the GC and MEP contractors and identify opportunities to address that impact. Amelia will join the Council for its meeting during the NECA Convention to discuss the project and get Council member input. She will also have several opportunities to talk with industry members during the trade show at the ELECTRI booth #629.

OUR SINCERE THANKS – Research projects often require a significant number of survey responses in order to reach meaningful findings and conclusions. The response to ELECTRI’s requests for EC industry participation in the research survey process has been outstanding this year. We appreciate your interest in helping the industry by sharing your experiences and data.

All ELECTRI Council members: Help steer the future of Electrical Contracting (EC) research by joining one of our task forces. Each of our research projects is assigned a task force of industry experts to work with the researcher. Your expertise will shape valuable outcomes for the industry. Let's advance the EC landscape together!

Fair Outcomes for Electrical Contractors for Schedule Compression and Out of Sequence Work- Timothy Becker, ASU
Managing Rework with an Early Warning System, Proactive Remedies, and Proper Documentation - Hala Nassereddine, NCM Consulting
MEP Contractors and GCs: What is the Cost of Inexperience? - Amelia Celoza, University of Colorado Boulder

If you want to participate in one of these new projects, please contact Amanda Harbison at Amanda@electri.org .

The Council Room panel reviewed the updated Change Order Guidelines and their importance. Attendees shared their process for pricing change orders more effectively and ways to communicate the update to many more contractors across the country. Click here to watch the Council Room session. Click here to download the full Updated Change Order Guidelines report.

ConTech and Coffee showed us the power of Microsoft Office 365 from a field perspective, exploring applications specifically tailored for electrical contracting professionals. Participants gained valuable insights into ways to significantly enhance communication, productivity, and streamline operations in the electrical contracting industry. Click here for the ConTech and Coffee link.

One more thing… Our June ConTech and Coffee guest, Desmond Vincent (Shea Electric), offered ways to incorporate MS Forms and Power Automate into your daily workflow. His examples were for a JHA form and Daily Job Status Report, and displayed for either your PC or a mobile app. He also provided form templates for both, please click the links to download.

JHA Form Template Daily Job Status Report

BRAVO TIMES 12 - Congratulations to the 12 participating NECA Student Chapters for their outstanding proposals for the 2023 Electrical Contracting Innovation Challenge (ECIC). Each team’s dedication and hard work impressed the competition judges. ELECTRI is pleased to announce the three finalist teams moving forward to the final stage at the 2023 NECA Convention & Trade Show in Philadelphia:

🏅 Iowa State University

🏅 University of Wisconsin - Madison

🏅 Wayne State University

Please join us on Friday, September 29^th at 1:30 PM Eastern time for the final ECIC oral presentations during the NECA Convention in Philadelphia. Room TBD.

BY THE WAY – Each year, the ECIC judges truly enjoy the opportunity to engage with the finalist teams. If you are interested in serving as a judge for the oral presentations, please contact Laura.Holmes@electri.org

LIGHTS. CAMERA. ACTION. – The second half of the ECIC Student Chapter initiative is the video competition. This year’s contest was too close to call. So, ELECTRI is pleased to announce four video finalists for the ECIC event: Ball State University, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Wisconsin – Madison, and Wayne State University. You can watch each video during the ECIC event on September 29^th and vote for your favorite. Thanks to every Student Chapter team that submitted a video entry.

EASY ACCESS – Last week we released the recap of the ELECTRI Summer meeting. For those of you looking for just the slides from the sessions, ELECTRI has organized all the session slides into one place, and they can be retrieved by clicking the following links:

Day 1 Slides - Click here

Day 2 Slides - Click Here

Day 3 Slides - Click Here

CHECK THEM OUT – The ELECTRI Council break-out sessions were filled with solid discussion and excellent recommendations. Click the links below for the white papers with the key take-away notes from the conversations.

ELECTRI International Quick Links

ELECTRI Meetings ELECTRI Research Council Room Sessions Prefab 101 Videos ConTech & Coffee/ITea & Coffee Think Like A Leader

SAVE THE DATES

September 20, 2023

ECA Regular Membership Meeting

Chicago Firehouse

Chicago, IL

September 29 - October 2, 2023

NECA Convention & Trade Show

Philadelphia, PA

ecachicago.com