ECA News & Events Update

Join ECA at Mastro's Steakhouse this Wednesday evening for the May Membership Meeting.

Pictured is Nick Espinosa,

Chief Security Fanatic, Security Fanatics

Please join us for the ECA Regular Membership Meeting. The evening dinner program will feature industry updates, and a guest presentation from Nick Espinosa, Chief Fanatic, Security Fanatics.

The evening event is scheduled as follows:

ECA Membership Meeting

Wednesday, May11, 2022

Mastro's Steakhouse

520 N. Dearborn

Chicago, IL

(312) 521-5100

COMPLIMENTARY VALET PARKING

Registration / Networking: 5:30 pm

Dinner: 6:00 pm

Business Session: 7:00 pm

Event Concludes: 8:00 pm

We hope that you will be able to attend and learn more about Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)! We look forward to seeing you, there!

CLICK HERE FOR MEETING REGISTRATION

CLICK HERE FOR PREVIOUS MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES

Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago's "2022 National Rebuild Day" draws over 225 volunteers from ECA Chicago & IBEW 134

On April 30th, over 225 ECA Chicago & IBEW 134 members volunteered their time to help rebuild Chicagoland communities! Thank you to all our members who dedicated their time to rebuild over 30 homes in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood, and suburban Chicago Heights. The event featured special guest appearances by members of the Chicago Bears football team, and City of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Here is a recap video from the event.

Powering Chicago highlights ECA Member in

honor of Mother's Day

Leading Hard Rock Concrete Cutters Toward Success - ECA Member featured by Powering Chicago

Growing up in and around her family's company, the new president of Chicago concrete cutting company, Hard Rock Concrete Cutters, Corrie Dvoratchek Krula didn't always plan to lead the company. In fact, at one point, she vowed she never would return to work at Hard Rock.

Chicago Building Congress Merit Awards Ceremony

May 4, 2022

The Chicago Building Congress (CBC) held their 66^th Annual Merit Awards on Thursday, May 4, 2022 at the Radisson BLU Aqua Hotel in Chicago. Powering Chicago was an event sponsor. ECA member, Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc. was on the winning “Healthcare” category team. The winning project was “Advocate Aurora Illinois Masonic Medical Center – Physical Therapy & Sports Health Center and Parking Structure.” The companies involved with the project include: Turner Construction Company (Construction Manager / General Contractor), SmithGroup (Structural Engineer, Civil Engineer, Landscape Architect), Grumman Butkus (Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire Protection Engineer), Dickerson Engineering, Inc. (Electrical Engineer and Technology Consulting), Hill Mechanical (Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire Protection), Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc. (Electrical), RG Construction (Drywall) and LeJeune (Steel). Congratulations to Jamerson & Bauwens and all of the Merit Award winners!

Pictured above are representatives of Advocate Aurora as they were presented the Healthcare Category Merit Award.

Pictured at the CBC Merit Awards Ceremony - back row from left to right are:

Mark Thomas, ECA Executive Vice President, Casey Knoerr, Kelso-Burnett Co.,

Elbert Walters, III, Powering Chicago Executive Director, Rick Jamerson, ECA President, Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc., Carrie Spaeth, ECA, Tim Taylor, ECA, Jerry McGlynn, McWilliams Electric Company, Inc.

Pictured from left to right (front row) are:

WC Schult, Super Electric Construction Company, Julio Moreno, Gibson Electric & Technology Solutions and

Bob Fimbianti, ECA Vice President, Linear Electric, Inc.

ECA Members demonstrate their commitment to Safety during Construction Safety Week (May 1-8th, 2022)

ECA caught a few examples of how Chicago Chapter Members emphasized the importance of Safety during Construction Safety Week on social media. Find ways your Company can participate in National Electrical Safety Month at the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). To commemorate National Electrical Safety Month each May, ESFI spearheads an annual campaign to educate key audiences about the steps that can be taken in order to reduce the number of electrically related fires, fatalities, injuries, and property loss. ESFI’s National Electrical Safety Month 2022 campaign features a comprehensive collection of new and updated resources to help facilitate an effective electrical safety awareness campaign for your community, organization, school, or family.

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:

· The Political Leadership Council (PLCs)

· An interactive map showing who we support with NECAPAC funds

· Updates on the NECAPAC capitol competition, and more!

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

ELECTRI’s Company Culture Survey

ELECTRI International is developing a toolkit of shared practices contractors can use to attract high level talent, improve customer and team member loyalty, and increase employee engagement. We want to learn why your employees want to be where they are and what steps you are taking to improve your overall corporate culture. Yes, it is a survey designed for your entire workforce.

The Chicago & Cook County Chapter, NECA is helping ELECTRI identify new ideas and actions for team building, innovation, communication, the office environment, and other key indicators. This is important information that we hope to get into your hands as soon as possible.

Click here to share ELECTRI’s Company Culture Survey with your employees so they can answer a few questions. The deadline for replying is May 11^th . To encourage them to complete the survey, please let your staff know that one lucky survey participant will receive a $100 Amazon gift card.

Thank you for working with ELECTRI on this research initiative. Also, we encourage you to explore all of ELECTRI’s completed research at www.electri.org.

NECA Government Affairs -

White House "Rural Playbook" &

DOT "Rural Electric Mobility Infrastructure"

NECA Government Affairs is sharing the ‘Rural Playbook’ the White House recently published and has been holding State specific briefings on. The PDF details the federal funds that will be made available and the best contacts for those funds. Additionally, there is a PDF from the Department of Transportation specifically on ‘Rural Electric Mobility Infrastructure’.

If you’d like to find more information on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law please visit www.build.gov and www.energy.gov/bil for energy specific projects. If you have any questions, please contact Jared Karbowsky, Director, NECA Government Affairs at 443-975-2932.

CLICK HERE FOR WHITE HOUSE "RURAL PLAYBOOK"

CLICK HERE FOR DOT "RURAL ELECTRIC MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE"

Chapter Event:

Monday, June 13, 2022

Donald Voss Room / Patio

Evening Reception & Dinner

Stipend Available:

The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives and their guest and/or spouse, if applicable, of participating ECA member firms for the NECA Midwestern Region Conference on June 12 – 15, 2022. Reimbursements will be made after the conference.

If you have any issues in reserving rooms, please contact Melissa West at [email protected] or (202) 991-6283.

CLICK HERE FOR CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

NECA Midwestern Region Spring Conference -

The Broadmoor Resort

Colorado Springs, CO

June 12 - 15, 2022

The NECA Midwestern Region Conference is just around the corner! We hope that you are able to attend this event. The Midwestern Region, NECA has reserved a block of rooms for arrival between Sunday, June 12, 2022 to departure on Thursday, June 16, 2022 on a first-come first-serve basis. If you wish to reserve a room outside of the blocked dates, please contact the hotel, directly.

If you would like to attend the conference, on-line registration has begun. Please click on the link or visit www.necanet.org to register for this event. Also, please send a copy of your on-line transaction to the Association office. This will allow us to have a record of your registration information should you need any assistance after registering, as well as aid us in reimbursement(s) and preparing for the Chapter event. Register soon, as rooms are going fast! Registration ends on May 10, 2022!

NECA's Vice President's Reception (Council Members Only) is on Saturday, June 11, 2022.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

SAVE THE DATES: AUGUST 18-19TH

Young Professionals Leadership Conference

CONFERENCE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION COMING SOON!

Save the Date handwritten on a white background.

ECA Chicago Summer Social Event

Thursday, August 11, 2022

4:00pm - 8:00pm

Join us at Streeterville Social, Rooftop Bar and Restaurant, on August 11th for the ECA Summer Social Event! As the city’s largest outdoor rooftop terrace with sweeping skyline views, Streeterville Social offers a sprawling 9,000 square foot, park-like setting to enjoy a summer afternoon with fellow members.

Registration will open at www.ecachicago.com this June.

While NECA cannot guarantee all members will be a fit for every Peer Group, NECA is committed to create an opportunity for any NECA member that wants to join a Peer Group. NECA supports the formation of Peer Groups as a valuable opportunity for members to grow their businesses.

NECA does not actively participate in Peer Groups. Completion of this survey does not obligate joining a Peer Group. Please direct any specific questions to Ian Andrews, Field Representative.

CLICK HERE FOR INTEREST SURVEY

Participate In Peer Groups!

Peer Groups are a business group of companies that operate in the same industry sector and are of similar size but different geographical, non-competing markets. Participants in Peer Groups have an opportunity to share experiences and gain perspectives from individuals in the electrical construction industry that do not operate in the same geographic market; thus, enabling an environment for trust and the open exchange of ideas and information. NECA has relationships with three outside professional facilitators: Maxim Consulting, HopeStar LLC, and FMI, to offer a range of high quality options to best fit member firm’s needs.

Benefits of a Peer Group include, but are not limited to:

Ability to have candid conversations about operational challenges, the need for cost savings, improved productivity, and increased efficiencies.
Access to a forum to discuss key business topics such as strategy, business development, finance, management, human resources, equipment, technology, safety, succession planning, operations, and industry best practices.
Opportunity to learn from fellow contractors that have faced similar business challenges.
Access to business consultants who can serve as a corporate advisory panel.
Access to a strong network of peers and business growth strategies.

Any member interested in joining a peer group should complete the survey.

Submit your Application today for the:

NECA Project Excellence Awards

To showcase the exceptional work performed by our member-contractors throughout the country, NECA created the Project Excellence Awards to recognize companies for their outstanding commitment, professionalism and ingenuity in delivering an electrical project across 13 different market sectors.

NECA will accept submissions for the 2022 Project Excellence Award from March 1 to June 30, 2022. Awards will be based on whether the electrical/technology portion of the project is valued under or over $1 million for each market sector, except for industrial, low voltage/integrated systems, overhead transmission, residential, substation/interconnection and transportation/infrastructure. More information here.

Applications submitted must be based on projects completed in 2021.

LEARN MORE

ELECTRI Practical Guide to KPIs

MEETING PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES -- A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is a quantifiable measure that businesses can use to evaluate an organization’s success in meeting performance objectives. Each KPI considers the business’s context, strategies, and values and is a metric that incorporates performance targets so companies can track their progress toward goals. ELECTRI worked with Maxim Consulting to create a practical guide for contractors to use KPIs in their companies. The results will serve as an educational resource for executives to understand how to set up and use KPIs and will help EC contractors identify best in class metrics for a variety of functional business areas. Click here to download the full report.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Webinars & Member News

EAP solutions are available via on demand telephonic support and through video counseling, mobile app, work/life web portal and chat functionality.

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.

View the Upcoming Webinars, and Free Services for Members, and Log-In instructions here.