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ECA Industry Update

Powering Chicago recognized by the

United States Department of Labor as an

"Apprentice Ambassador"

Powering Chicago is proud to be included in the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) initial cohort of 207 Apprenticeship Ambassadors. Each ambassador is expected to share their experiences and to collaborate with the department to champion apprenticeship opportunities.

The Apprenticeship Ambassador program was announced in November 2021 and championed by DOL Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. The goal of the program is to bring together industry, labor, education, equity and workforce leaders to partner with the department’s Office of Apprenticeship to promote Registered Apprenticeships as a valuable workforce strategy in high-demand industries and to expand opportunities for people historically underserved. Read Article.....

RSVP HERE

ECA Chicago Summer Social Event just around the corner!


August 11th @ Streeterville Social

Loew's Hotel Chicago


* This is an members only event open to ECA Member Contractors and their employees. Learn More 


ECA & Powering Chicago attend the 2022 NECA Business Development Conference in Washington D.C.


NECA’s Business Development Conference returned to Washington, D.C., July 20th-22nd, after 3-year hiatus, welcoming Electrical Contractors, as well as NECA, IBEW, and LMCC representatives from across the nation. The Conference provided a great opportunity to share ideas and talk on common issues we face in our industry, discuss opportunities and threats to our market, as well learn about new and emerging technologies that will provide new business opportunities for electrical contractors in the coming decade.


Rick Jamerson, ECA Chapter President & NECA Business Development Task Force Committee member, moderated a panel discussion featured LMCC professionals working in markets across the nation. Read more......

ECIC / Video Submittal Stats:

The top three ECIC finalists are:

Iowa State University

Pennsylvania State University

Wayne State University

 

The top three Video Submittals are:

Illinois Institute of Technology

Kennesaw State University

Wayne State University

ECIC 2022 Finalists /

IIT Video Submittal (Top Three)

The ECA Student Committee oversees the NECA Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) Student Chapter. This year the NECA IIT Student Chapter participated in the Electrical Contracting Innovation Challenge (ECIC) which focused on creating a bid proposal for a Student Center. IIT did not place as a finalist; however, the Student Chapter placed in the top three for their video submittal.

 

The top three ECIC finalists are to advance to the final round of the competition at the NECA Convention in Austin, TX. The top three videos will be voted on during the Convention, as well.

 

Congratulations to the students and "Thank You!" to all who were able to assist.

NECA Safety Annual Survey

(7/27/22)

Please click on the link for the NECA Safety Annual Survey.

7/27/22 - NECA Safety Annual Survey
RAFFLE FLYER

IMSCA-PAC 2022 Fundraiser Raffle is Now Open

IMSCA-PAC’s 2022 fundraiser is underway! 


NINE RAFFLE WINNERS will be drawn this year! Tickets are $50 each. Each ticket purchased buys you a chance to win the prize of your choice. Your choices include:

 

·   FOUR tickets to cheer on the Chicago Bears vs. Washington Commanders at Soldier Field (October 13 2022, 7:20 p.m.). This prize also includes parking passes (Value: $1,100.00). Donated by Tom Morton, LLD Electric Company.

·   FOUR tickets to cheer on the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center (Date TBA). These are 200 Club Level seats with parking passes (Value: $750.00). Donated by Jim McGlynn, McWilliams Electric Company.

·   $1,000 Travel Package that includes a $500 American Airlines gift card and a $500 Hotels.com gift card. Donated by Bloomington/Normal PHCC.

·   $750 Bass Pro gift card. Donated by Underground Contractors Association of Illinois.

·   $500 Amazon gift card. Donated by Illinois Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association.

·   $500 Best Buy gift card. Donated by PCA of Greater Chicago.

·   $500 Cabela’s gift card. Donated by Electrical Contractors Association of Chicago.

·   $500 Top Golf gift card. Donated by SMACNA Greater Chicago.

·   $500 Cooper’s Hawk gift card. Donated by Associated Steel Erectors of Chicago and Bold New Strategies.

 

The winning tickets will be drawn at IMSCA’s Board and Membership meeting on September 16, 2022. The winners do not need to be present to win.

CLICK HERE FOR "ECA - NECA  SAFETY FORUM"  (8/23/22)

Registration

To register, please click on the link above.  You need to use the COMP CODE: ECA MEMBER when registering (ECA MEMBER is all uppercase).


You can also visit the ECA website at: www.ecachicago.com (Event Calendar area) and register on-line for this complimentary program. Please contact the ECA at: (708) 531-0022 with any questions. We look forward to seeing you, there!

Pictured above is John Dimos,

CIH - Instructor

ECA / NECA Safety Forum

“Infectious Disease Hazards in Construction”

Tuesday, August 23, 2022 

The Electrical Contractors’ Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Safety Committee along with the Northeastern Illinois Chapter, NECA is proud to sponsor a special program, "Infectious Disease Hazards in Construction," as follows:

 

DATE:        

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

 

TIME:         

7:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

  

LOCATION:

IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (INTECH)

6201 W. 115th Street

Alsip, Illinois

(708) 389-1340

Capacity: 40 persons

 

INSTRUCTOR: John Dimos, Construction Safety Council

 

Infectious Disease Hazards in Construction is a FREE half-day course designed to raise employee awareness of infectious disease hazards lurking on construction jobsites; oftentimes posing an invisible threat to electricians. This program addresses hidden dangers to a worker’s health and livelihood. There will be discussion of OSHA requirements, as well as best practices and control plans to identify hazards and limit exposure to this serious risk.

 

Upon successful completion of the course, attendees will be able to: 

·        Identify common viral/bacterial/fungal diseases and their methods of transmission

·        Evaluate a work environment’s potential for harboring an infectious disease

·        Employ protective equipment and practices to prevent infection

·        Understand OSHA requirements for medical surveillance

 

This program is complimentary to ECA members, only.

NECA Government Affairs -

EV Charging Stations Update (7/21/22)

Please click on the link for the Memo on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program - "Notice of Proposed Rule Making."

7/21/22 - National EV Infrastructure Program - Proposed Rule Making

City of Chicago --

Sexual Harassment Policy / Preventive Training Adjustment(s)  - Update

Please be aware that the City of Chicago has recently updated (July 1, 2022 its Sexual Harassment Policy / Training Requirements for those firms who do work with the City.

 

Section 8. 2-160-040 was expanded in regard to definition of sexual harassment and additional time needed for actual training.

 

Please click on the link for the training modules for the city’s new sexual harassment policy.  

City of Chicago Training Modules

SAVE THE DATES!

NECA Convention & Trade Show - October 15 - 18, 2022

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

CHAPTER ROOMING BLOCK IS FILLED!

Please contact the ECA office in regard to availability options! 

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The NECA Convention & Trade Show is coming! Please visit www.necaconvention.org for registration.  Please be aware that the Austin City Limits (ACL), Texas home football and Formula One will be occurring near the Convention time-frame. 


Again, Registration is open for the Convention; but, the Chapter Block is Filled! If you're registering and the Four Seasons is listed as not available, another hotel would be utilized. Please contact the ECA office in regard to availability options for the Four Seasons and/or the other hotels in the overall NECA block.   Also, "Early-Bird" rate closed on August 3, 2022.

Click Here for More Information

NECA This Week (8/1/22)

Please click on the link for the current edition of "NECA THIS WEEK."
CLICK HERE FOR "NECA THIS WEEK"  (8/1/22)
neca_logo.gif

NECA Government Affairs Update  (7/29/22)

Please click the link for the recent update from NECA Government Affairs (7/29/22).

CLICK HERE FOR UPDATE 

New NECAPAC Website!

NECA Government Affairs is excited to announce the launch of the new NECAPAC website! Their new website for online contributions can be found on the Government Affairs homepage and also here: https://necapac.necanet.org


On this new website you can find information on:


NECA will be updating this content frequently and we hope this new website becomes a resource for the membership. Please click on the link for more information.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR NEW NECAPAC WEBSITE INFORMATION
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IN PROGRESS -- At ELECTRI Council’s summer meeting in Washington, DC, attendees received updates on ELECTRI’s current research. The projects funded in January 2022 are on schedule and will be released in the coming months. CLICK HERE for the draft Lean Construction Handbook that will be part of the research produced by Robert Leicht.


IN ADDITION -- The Council voted to fund two new research initiatives:

  • The Decline of Occupational Attendance – Changes Electrical Contractors Need to Make to Address Trade Worker Work-Life Balance (WLB) Concerns,

Lonny Simonian, California Polytechnic State University

  • Tracking Progress of Electrical Construction with Reality Capture

Thomas Czerniawski, Arizona State University. 


ACTION ITEM – To participate on the task force for either of these projects, please contact Josh Bone at Josh.Bone@electri.org or Amanda Harbison at Amanda@necanet.org 


HOW BROKEN IS IT? – ELECTRI held a LinkedIn Live Panel on Supply Chain Challenges in the EC Industry. Our thanks to panelists Michael Lotfy and Eric Meadows (Schneider Electric), David Moeller (Graybar), Brad Abrams (Sonepar), Michael Plaster and Ken Alloway (ABB) and our moderator David Long, NECA CEO. In addition to the Council members at the meeting, more than 500 people joined the session via LinkedIn. Watch the Live Panel here.

 

IMPROVE OPERATIONS. IMPROVE BUSINESS. -- Thank you to our panelists for the Contractor Panel on Managing Growth Through Operation Improvements. Rick Jamerson (Jamerson and Bauwens Electric), Greg Gossett (ERMCO Inc.), Matthew Guarracino (JM Electrical), Greg Padalecki (Alterman Inc.), and Dan Shea (Shea Electric) all provided great insight on how to responsibly grow your company and provide career advancement opportunities for your workforce.


WHAT DO YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY WANT? -- Thank you to our panelists for the Live Council Room Session on Employee Benefits & Flexible Work Hours. Chris Foster (Whitehead Electric), Mike Leone (Procon Constructors Inc.), Jeff Restine (Fuller Electric), and Tony Waters (Parsons Electric) plus members of the audience all shared tactics they use to show appreciation and recognition for their employees and the role company culture plays in being able to provide a flexible workplace.


IDEAS FROM COUNCIL COMPANIES -- ELECTRI Council companies are very willing to share their thoughts, ideas, and experiences with the EC industry. Here are several pieces, prepared by Council members, for the 2022 Academy of Electrical Contracting summer meeting. We appreciate each author’s time and effort to share this information with our ELECTRI readers. The papers can be found here.

CLICK HERE FOR LISTING OF AVAILABLE STIPENDS!
ECA Stipends Available for Upcoming Programs!
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Executive Committee has approved a number of educational stipends for many special programs / conferences throughout 2022. All stipends / reimbursements are made after each conference with registration confirmation(s) and applicable receipts forwarded to ECA. Please click the link for the stipend opportunities.
Learn More
Free Webinars through the Employee Assistance Program
Members are invited to take advantage of the free webinars through the Employee Assistance Program.

ECA Members may log-in to the interactive work/life web portal for information on a variety of topics. Webinars are available at any time of day and our mobile app allows employees to access services such as counseling and work life resources right from the palm of their hand.
Follow ECA Chicago on Social Media!
LinkedIn Public Page
In Case you Missed It...
Webinar recordings available online for ECA Members!
If you missed a meeting or webinar by ECA, you can now log-in to the website and view the program you missed. Many recordings are now available, and more will be added daily from webinars held over the past year. Go to www.ecachicago.com and under the "Industry Resources" pull down menu, select "Member Education and Webinar Recordings". You will be prompted to log-in, and then you are free to browse webinar recordings you may have missed. Please contact ECA with questions (708)531-0022.
COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR ECA MEMBERS:
Stay up to date on the latest changes for our Industry including news releases, legislation and Government mandates, workplace safety and preparation guidelines, OSHA alerts, and more that affect electrical contractors in Chicago and Cook County.
 

SAVE THE DATES


August 11, 2022

ECA Summer Social Event

Streeterville Social Club, Chicago


August 18-19, 2022

Young Professionals of ECA Chicago: 2022 Leadership Conference

Lake Lawn Resort & Conference Center, Lake Delavan Wisconsin



September 12 - 13, 2022

Advanced Estimating of Electrical Construction

Drake Oak Brook Hotel -- Oak Brook, IL



September 14, 2022

ECA Regular Membership Meeting

Union League Club of Chicago



September 21, 2022

ECA Chicago - NECAPAC PLC Golf Outing and Fundraiser

Cog Hill Golf Club, Lemont IL


October 12, 2022

ECA Regular Membership Meeting

Erie Cafe -- Chicago, IL


October 15 - 18, 2022

NECA Convention & Trade Show

Austin, TX



November 3, 2022

Managing Construction Delay Claims

Maggiano's Banquets -- Oak Brook, IL



November 16, 2022

Transform Your Organization for the Future

Drake Oak Brook Hotel - Oak Brook, IL 



Saturday, December 17, 2022

Electrical Contractors' Association of Chicago Annual President's Party & Holiday Celebration

Offshore, Navy Pier Chicago




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