ECA 53rd Annual Spring Conference Video Highlights

CLICK HERE for a brief video highlighting the recent ECA 53rd Annual Spring Conference. CLICK HERE for the recent article recapping the event.

NECA Convention Registration is Open!

The NECA Convention & Trade Show will soon be in Chicago! -- September 12 - 15, 2025

Early-Bird pricing ends on July 25th! This means that early registration and housing for the NECA Convention will close on Friday, July 25th - two weeks earlier than previous years. Once that deadline passes, room availability and pricing cannot be guaranteed.

Among the many other NECA Convention events, education, general sessions, a special NECA activity is highlighted below:

Jerry McGlynn, McWilliams Electric Company, Inc. is to be acknowledged as an Academy of Electrical Contracting Inductee during the September 13 General Session.

Chicago Chapter Events                  

For those Chapter members that attend the NECA Convention, the Chicago and Cook County Chapter functions are listed below. For each event, transportation is on own.

Saturday, September 13, 2025

Open Night – 7:00 pm

However, the Chapter has a number of reservations available for dinner at a number of area restaurants.  

Sunday, September 14, 2025 (Joint Chapter Reception / Dinner with Northeastern IL NECA)

7:00 pm: Reception

8:00 pm: Dinner

The Planetarium

1300 S DuSable Lake Shore Drive - Chicago, IL 60605

Monday, September 15, 2025 (Pre-Closing Event Reception)

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm  

Reception (cocktails and heavy hors d'oeuvres) Navy Pier (TBD) - 1000 E. Grand Avenue - Chicago, IL

CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION.

Office Internship Training: Contractor Night

2025 Summer Night Class Training Program

Date:

Tuesday, September 2^nd, 2025

Time:

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (contractors arrive at 4:30 pm)

Location:

IL IBEW Renewable Energy Fund Classroom @ HIRE360

2540 S. State Street

Chicago, IL 60616

The last evening of the 2025 Summer Night Class culminates with the final portion of the internship training. IBEW Signatory Contractors are invited to participate and meet potential office interns who have completed the training program. Contractors are invited to participate by discussing their company, projects, and meeting potential interns. This internship program has been growing and has already proven successful with intern placement with contractors on a small scale in past years. This year, the IL IBEW Renewable Energy Fund (REF) is piloting an internship portion during the Summer Night Class to expand the opportunity. The REF will work to place interns with Contractors based on several factors. This internship is a paid program, by contractor, at $19.00/hr and is strictly for office operations only, no field work is permitted. The REF may provide an initial stipend to assist the contractor (dollar amount to be determined). The REF will have tables and signs set up for the participating contractors. Please reach out with any questions.

To secure their place, Contractors must RSVP to Joseph Kilcoyne at jkilcoyne@Local134.org by: 8:00 am Tuesday August 5^th2025.  Please include the name and contact information for your representative along with the number of interns you are seeking.

EVENTS

CTF and EA Women's Division WNBA Chicago Sky Event 

ALL INDUSTRY COLLEAGUES ARE WELCOME!

July 24, 2025

7:00 PM

Wintrust Arena, SKY Terrace

200 E Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616

Directions and Parking

Join the Electric Association for an exciting WNBA Chicago Sky game—an exclusive joint event hosted by Communication Technologies Forum and the EA Women’s Division!

This is a unique opportunity to reconnect with industry colleagues, expand your professional network, and enjoy an action-packed evening of world-class basketball. Don’t miss this chance to build new relationships in a fun, energetic setting. Register now and be part of an unforgettable experience!

Registration includes game entry to the Sky Terrace, hot dog, chips, and three drink tickets (soft drinks and beer).

Registration Fees:

$150 CTF or Women's Division Member Attendee

$175 CTF or Women's Division Non-Member Attendee

Register today, this event will sell out! Don't forget to invite your colleagues in the industry!  

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

2025 ECA Summer Social

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

First Lady Tours -- 112 E. Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, August 6, 2025, as we have a wonderful evening planned aboard the Classic Lady!

6:00 pm: Arrive Dockside

6:15 pm: Boarding Begins/ Open Bar Service 

6:30 pm: Cruise Commences/ Appetizers and Dinner Buffet

9:30 pm: Disembarkation

Program highlights include:

• Skyline Commentary Architecture Tour aboard the Classic Lady
• Food, Beverages, & Networking
• Fireworks
• Tremendous Views of the City Skyline

All ECA Members, their spouses, and guests are welcome to attend this end-of-summer event!

*For parking information please click here!

**Recommended dress attire is business casual / summer attire. 

Registration has closed. However, you can contact the ECA office for availability.

LEARN MORE

EDUCATION

2025 ECA Research and Education Committee Update

The 2025 Education Programming Schedule is confirmed for 2025. Please click the link below for a full listing with links for registration!

CLICK HERE FOR LISTING

ECA Educational and Conference Stipends for 2025

The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Executive Committee has approved a number of educational stipends for many special programs / conferences throughout 2025. All stipends / reimbursements are made after each conference with registration confirmation(s) and applicable receipts forwarded to ECA.  

CLICK HERE FOR LISTING

Culture of Collaboration Workshop

Transforming Our Industry Together: Introducing the DEI Program for ECA of Chicago

The ECA is continuing its exciting journey to shape our future with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at its core. We've partnered with Leadership Surge to bring a specially designed DEI program to the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) of Chicago, and you’re invited to be a part of this transformative experience.

Please use the scheduling form below to secure a date and register your companies for the live 2-hr DEI Training session:

Scheduling Form

The goal is to have each company choose their preferred training and capture their contact information and preferred training location.

Here’s what's in store for us:

• Tailored Training Sessions: From senior leadership to our valued front-line employees, there’s something for everyone. Get ready to dive into interactive sessions that will empower us to lead and participate in a more inclusive workplace.

• Engaging Learning Formats: Whether it's live workshops or on-the-go learning through a mobile app, this program offers flexible ways to engage with DEI principles. Plus, Toolbox Talks will bring DEI conversations right into our daily routines.

• A United Effort: This isn't just training; it's a movement towards building a workplace where every voice is heard and every contribution valued. We're not just aiming for compliance; we're striving for commitment and change.

Program Intro

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 Nancy Sheehy at nsheehy@documentcrunch.com.

Sign Up for Access

Upcoming Office Hours Session: We will be hosting your next office hours session on Thursday, August 7^th, 2025, at 12:00 PM CT. Kindly encourage your members to attend—especially those who have not yet begun utilizing Document Crunch.

👉 Register for the August 7^th Office Hours

AllOne Health - 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders

As a valued AllOne Health EAP partner, you already have access to essential mental health and employee assistance services. But did you know your relationship with us also provides access to Whole Health Solutions that support both employee well-being and leadership success? 

Through AllOne Consulting, our 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders program equips organizations with proven leadership strategies that drive engagement, retention, and business success. Participants gain hands-on experience applying these principles to strengthen accountability, trust, and vision within their teams. 

Key Benefits: 

• Develop leaders who inspire and align teams 

• Enhance productivity and profitability 

• Create a thriving organizational culture 

Schedule a No-Obligation Consultation to explore how leadership transformation can elevate your workforce. 

P.S. A healthy leader fosters a healthy workplace. Pair leadership development with Wellness Coaching or any of our Stress Management Programs to support holistic well-being. 

Schedule a Meeting

AllOne Health Organizational Consulting and Wellness solutions has numerous programs available, including these 5 most popular and impactful programs right now: 

Organizational Consulting--

Communication Boundaries—Staying Unified in Polarizing Times

Help your team navigate tense conversations and stay connected. 

Designing Teamwork—How We Work, Together

A multi-part framework to align purpose, values, and roles, to improve collaboration and effectiveness.

Cultures of Belonging—Leading Through Tough Times

A 4-part series that helps leaders build authentic connections and inclusive environments, even during tough times. 

Wellness--

Shift Happens

A 1-hour session on navigating change and building resilience.  

Zone In—Developing Body and Mind Awareness

A 1-hour session to help your teams understand stress and respond with intention. 

These specialized services are available at an additional investment beyond your EAP — and are designed to help teams reset, realign, and rebuild when it matters most. 

Ready to learn more? 

REQUEST A CONSULTATION

EP 16: Powering and Iconic Marina

In Episode 16 of The Power of Better, Powering Chicago takes you behind the scenes of one of the city’s most complex waterfront projects, Navy Pier Marina.

From underwater cable pulls to public safety systems, this episode showcases what happens when trusted expertise, union labor, and collaboration come together on one of Chicago’s most visible construction projects.

Watch Now

Please click the link above for the Summer 2025 Issue of SubStance Magazine, presented by the Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA).

This issue features a recap by IMSCA President, Karsten Pawlik, of IMSCA's successful Lobby Day event held in May. Additionally, IMSCA Special Counsel Jim Rohlfing provides detailed information on recently approved legislation that restricts the amount of retainage permissible on public construction projects. Furthermore, IMSCA Special Counsel Jim Rohlfing and his colleague, Attorney Matthew Bryant, have co-authored an article discussing the current administration’s tariff actions and the significant uncertainty this has introduced into the economy generally and the construction industry specifically.

If you have any questions or wish to contribute to a future issue, please contact IMSCA at:

Neil F. Flynn & Associates - Cell Phone: (217) 494-1968.

Suicide Rate Among Construction Workers Hits Crisis Levels

Kevin O’Shea, president of Shamrock Electric Co., Inc., has one vital message to construction workers who are struggling with their mental health: call him.

It's a message he shares as much as possible, given the growing number of suicides among workers in the industry. 

Click Here to Read the Full Article

Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention

It is an unfortunate fact that construction has the highest rate of suicide of any industry in America. We lose about 53 out of every 100,000 members of our industry EVERY YEAR to suicide. We are four times the average of other industries. We have a crisis in construction and we need to do something about it. You can visit the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention website and learn more. We urge all to take the pledge to STAND UP for suicide prevention and address it as a health and safety priority.

CLICK HERE FOR A "Stand Up for Suicide Prevention" Information Sheet.