ECA Industry Update
NECA Convention & Trade Show - VIRTUAL EVENT!
October 5 - 7, 2020
The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) announced the 2020 Convention and Trade Show will take place entirely online October 5–7, featuring brand-new virtual experiences. McCormick Place in Chicago, the planned site for the 2020 Convention, informed NECA that it does not have approval at this time to hold the event, and the association is adjusting accordingly.
 
This virtual event will maintain its traditional dynamic speakers and educational opportunities, but has been adjusted to meet the evolving requirements demanded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
“The NECA Convention and Trade Show is the industry’s hallmark event. It is important we continue to provide the best education, the latest offerings in innovation, and continue cultivating the sense of community within the industry that our organization has always provided,” said NECA CEO David Long. “For that reason, NECA 2020 Live will utilize the latest technology to bring the convention and show to contractors across America.”
 
NECA 2020 Live will feature inspiring keynote addresses from NECA 2020 host and emcee David Meade and Paralympic gold medalist Victoria Arlen, as well as a fireside chat with industry leaders and dozens of educational sessions. NECA is excited about working with their industry-leading exhibitors to bring the latest electrical and telecommunications products to the industry. All events will be streamed online for attendees. The inaugural NECA Apprentice Challenge is postponed while the NECA Safety Professionals Conference will now be hosted as a virtual event later in 2020. 


Registration for the NECA 2020 Live opens early July, 2020.
 
Visit  www.necaconvention.org  or www.necanet.org to stay in the know on all NECA 2020 Live upda tes!
ECA Leadership Webinar Series #3
“Building High Performance Teams"
Presented by Alex Willis, Leadership Surge
June 18, 2020 at 11:00 am
The ECA Research and Education Committee is pleased to present a Leadership Webinar Series. The third of three programs to be presented by Alex Willis, Leadership Surge on June 18, 2020 is called, "Building High Performance Teams." Please click on Alex's photo for a brief introduction to the webinar!
 
Building High Performance Teams Overview:
A highly engaging training program packed with a plethora of fun activities and games focusing on the key characteristics of high performing teams. The high energy training program will help you equip members of a team with the essential skill set and mind set to be a professional team player in a high performing team in which every individual takes responsibility to be productive, proactive and reliable.

The training program will help you create a more professional, dynamic, effective work team that enjoys the work environment and consistently achieves more.
POWERING CHICAGO to host Illinois Real Estate Journal Webinar: June 25, 2020, 10am CST
Commercial Real Estate Technology & COVID-19: Powering Chicago's Reopening

  • Learn what brokers are hearing from clients about their CRE needs amidst the pandemic?

  • How can the physical environment be adapted at CRE properties to safely bring employees back to the office?

  • How can tech innovation help CRE bounce back from the COVID-19 cliff? 
Your Powering Chicago team will describe the tech modifications that can be implemented now by our skilled union workforce, to create a contactless environment at CRE properties.

NECA Government Affairs Townhall Webinar - June 25, 2020
On June 25, 2020 at 2PM ET, NECA’s Government Affairs team will brief participants on NECA’s policy and political agenda while providing updates on NECA’s requests for Congress in the Phase IV coronavirus response legislation. This quarterly webinar is normally an exclusive benefit for Members of NECA’s Political Leadership Council (PLC), but as a special benefit in these uncertain times we’re opening it up to all NECA members for one last time.
 
NECA is committed to ensuring the voices of our industry are heard during this time. They continue to advocate for the needs NECA contractors and remain devoted to keeping our members well informed on the policies impacting them.  
NECA's Legal Webinar 2 Update -
PPP Loan Forgiveness
Please click on the link below for an update to a NECA Coronavirus Legal Webinar Q&A update, effective 6/8/20. Question # 40, pertaining to the SBA Interim Final Rule regarding the rehire exception in the PPP loan forgiveness process has been updated.
Subscribe to NECA's New Email Newsletters /
NECA's Virtual Classroom -
June Schedule 
NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, educational opportunities and information you need to stay ahead of the game. Make sure you are subscribed to NECA's email newsletters by doing the following:

  1. Navigate to https://www.necanet.org/
  2. Located in the top navigation, click on the NECA Newsroom webpage. 
  3. On this page, you will find short descriptions of each email newsletter and frequency of distribution. 
  4. Click the Subscribe Now button or the Subscribe to NECA's Email Updates button to be taken to the sign-up form. 
  5. Fill out your information and choose which email newsletters you would like to receive. 

Please pass this information on to ensure everyone has the option and opportunity to subscribe to NECA's email newsletters. All new members will automatically be opted-in to ALL email newsletters. Please email info@necanet.org with any specific questions. 
As you know the NECA Education Team has been working over the past several weeks to provide more educational options for members as the pandemic has disrupted our day-to-day lives. NECA has begun working with their instructors that deliver in-person training to make their most popular options available as part of NECA”s Virtual Classroom. Please click on the link below for the remainder of June coursework listing and registration information. 

Please reach out to the education team with questions at education@necanet.org .
2020 Project Excellence Awards

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO:
JUNE 30, 2020
NECA began accepting submissions for the 2020 Project Excellence Awards Program on January 1, 2020. These prestigious awards recognize NECA member companies for their outstanding commitment, professionalism and ingenuity in delivering an electrical project across 12 different market sectors.

Submissions for projects completed in 2019 will be accepted until June 15, 2020. 
"Resilience, Recovery & Renewal" Podcasts Available /
US 50 State Reopening Tracker 
Baker McKenzie has launched a podcast series called, 'Resilience, Recovery & Renewal,' which aims to offer you key insights as you continue to navigate the business and legal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The series features Baker McKenzie's legal experts and other thought leaders discussing the topics at the top of mind for businesses right now, ranging from immediate crisis management to the stabilization of operations and business model transformation. Please click on the link below for the podcast information.
We are pleased to make available the Baker McKenzie  US 50 State Shelter-in-Place / Reopening Tracker , which identifies the relevant state-wide shelter-in-place orders and their related expiration dates as well as the state-wide reopening plans, and whether local (county/municipal) orders also apply, in each of the 50 United States. Please click on the link below for the State Re-opening Tracker.
NDERA Update / Recall Letter
In accordance with the National Disease Emergency Response Agreement ( NDERA ), enacted by the national organizations of IBEW and NECA dated March 16, 2020, an employer who has a job halted/delayed due to the COVID-19 has the right to Lay-Off or Furlough his IBEW employees, and recall them back upon the restart of the project in which the member was laid off/furloughed from.

A number of contractors have exercised that right and are now starting to recall employees per the NDERA. When recalling employees and returning them to work it is critical that it is done properly. The contractor must notify the #134 referral office that employees are being recalled and returning to work, prior to the individual returning to work.

Please click the link below for a sample letter that could be used to inform the #134 referral office of the recall / return to work. This letter or a similar letter should be emailed to the #134 referral office at Referral@local134.org , prior to returning the recalled employees to work.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES PAGE AT WWW.ECACHICAGO.COM
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.
EVENT CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS
You can find all ECA, NECA and Industry Event date changes or cancellations due to COVID-19 on ECA's website here.


ECA Golf Outing -
August 4, 2020
The Electrical Contractors’ Association of City of Chicago (ECA) is pleased to present a special event in lieu of the ECA Annual Spring Conference. The event is the “ECA Golf Outing.” This is an opportunity for Chapter members to not only participate in a complimentary golf outing on August 4, 2020 at Kemper Lakes Golf Club, 24000 N. Old McHenry Road in Kildeer, Illinois, which includes use of a driving range, lunch, food and beverages on the course, cocktails and dinner, networking and a raffle; but, an opportunity to contribute to the NECAPAC.
 
ECA Educational Programming Available Through Remainder of 2020
Please click on the link below for a listing of ECA educational programs that are available through the remainder of 2020. Registration is available from the ECA website at: www.ecachicago.com. (Please visit the Event Calendar section.)
IMSCA PAC Raffle Drawing -
September 11, 2020
Tickets Now Available!
     
IMSCA is excited to announce the IMSCA-PAC 2020 fundraiser has resumed!  The winning tickets will now be drawn at IMSCA’s Board and Membership meeting on September 11, 2020 . Please click on the link below for a copy of the Raffle Ticket Order Form. THANKS to the generosity of our IMSCA members for prize donations, SEVEN RAFFLE WINNERS will be drawn this year! Tickets are $50 each. The winners do not need to be present to win.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Jessica Newbold Hoselton, Executive Director, Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) at: (217) 523-4361.
Save the Dates

ECA SUMMER SOCIAL EVENT
August 14, 2020
Lakeside Theater Venue
Chicago, IL


"MANAGING FIELD PRODUCTIVITY" -
RE-SCHEDULED from March 25, 2020 to August 26, 2020 (This session is full!)

Additional "MANAGING FIELD PRODUCTIVITY" Session
Arranged For August 27, 2020
(Registration is now Open!)
Drake Oak Brook Hotel
Oak Brook, IL

"ADVANCED ESTIMATING OF ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION" -
RE-SCHEDULED!
September 16 & 17, 2020
(8 spots remain!)
Drake Oak Brook Hotel
Oak Brook, IL

"SUCCESSION PLANNING" SEMINAR
October 21, 2020
Drake Oak Brook Hotel
Oak Brook, IL


"THE TOP HABITS OF HIGH-PERFORMING FOREMEN" SEMINAR
November 18, 2020
Drake Oak Brook Hotel
Oak Brook, IL