Chicago Build 2025 Expo

October 29 - 30, 2025

Chicago Build 2025 Expo

October 29 - 30, 2025

The Chicago Build 2025 Expo was held October 29 - 30, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Powering Chicago was a sponsor for this event. We thank Jerry McGlynn, ECA Safety Committee Chair, McWilliams Electric Company, Inc. (rightside of photo), who participated as a panelist on October 30, 2025. The session was called, "Putting on your Hard Hat: Enhancing Safety Culture in Construction." The Expo had 400+ speakers across 13+ conference tracks & AIA workshops including Future of Construction, Architecture, Real Estate, AI & Digital Construction, Sustainability, and much more. Thanks, again, Jerry!

Don't Miss Your "Power of Better" Opportunity 
- A message from Powering Chicago -

Powering Chicago was built on partnership, and that includes you. As a signatory contractor, you’re part of a network that’s setting the standard for better construction across Chicago and Cook County. We’re continuing to spotlight the people and companies behind that standard through blogs, videos, social media, and the "The Power of Better" video series.

This is your opportunity to take full advantage of being part of Powering Chicago by promoting your work, your team, and the projects that make you stand out.


Here’s how it benefits you:

• Professional Credibility
• Reach future clients online
• Marketing content you can share
• Build trust with real examples

Your story has the power to inspire trust, attract new opportunities, and strengthen the entire Powering Chicago network.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.


Learn more about showcasing your work.

EVENTS

ECA President's Party & Holiday Celebration 
(ECA Holiday Party)

Saturday, December 6, 2025

ECA Holiday Party
Saturday, December 6, 2025

6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Morgan Manufacturing

401 N. Morgan Street

Chicago, IL

(312) 763-3317

Complimentary Parking is Available

The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) is proud to announce that the ECA President's Party & Holiday Celebration (ECA Holiday Party) is scheduled for Saturday, December 6, 2025 at Morgan Manufacturing in Chicago.

This event includes an optional complimentary overnight stay at the Emily Hotel –

Arrival on Saturday, December 6 with Departure on Sunday, December 7.

(Final day to secure a room is November 12 or earlier depending if room block is full).

Cocktail Attire is recommended for the event. We hope you enjoy great company, good food and dancing to the Maggie Speaks Band. When registering, please indicate if you are going to use a room at the Emily Hotel. ECA is to cover the Parking Fee and room cost. Incidentals are covered by the member.

Emily Hotel

311 N. Morgan Street

Chicago, IL

(312) 764-1919

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION!

Again, don't forget to indicate if you're going to stay at the Emily Hotel.

Also, for the event, you will also be asked to list your guest name, if applicable, as well as any dietary restrictions.

We look forward to seeing you at the event!

ECA Membership Meeting

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Please join us for the ECA Regular Membership Meeting.

This BREAKFAST event is scheduled as follows:

ECA Membership Meeting

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Gibsons Steakhouse

2105 Spring Road

Oak Brook, IL 60523

(630) 954-0000

8:00 am: Registration / Networking

8:30 am: Breakfast / Business Session / Guest Speaker

10:00 am: Event Concludes

This program will feature industry updates and a guest presentation by Shane Yount, President and CEO of Competitive Solutions, Inc. (CSI). 

Shane Yount is a leading expert in business transformation, executive coaching, and leadership development with nearly three decades of experience. As the President and CEO of Competitive Solutions, Inc. (CSI), Shane has pioneered innovative approaches to organizational effectiveness and process-based leadership. He looks forward to presenting, “Beyond IQ and EQ – Discovering the Superpower of PQ (Process Intelligence) in High Functioning Leaders.”

We do hope that you'll join us for this opportunity to meet and network with your peers in the industry!

CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION.

2025 Electric Association Awards

Thursday, November 6, 2025

 The Carlisle Banquets

435 E. Butterfield Road, Lombard, IL 60148


Cocktails: 5:30pm, Dinner 6:30pm

Awards Ceremony to follow

Dress is Business Attire.

Please join us to celebrate the

Electric Association Award Recipients...

Gold Medal Award Winner: 
David Rosenstein, Connexion

Hall of Fame Inductions: 
Frank Gurtz, Gurtz Electric Co.

 Michael Mahoney, Chicago Sales Agency

 Andrew F. Ondik, Steiner Electric

The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) would like to congratulate all of the awardees, especially, Frank Gurtz, Gurtz Electric Co., as he is to be inducted into the Electric Association "Hall of Fame!" Congratulations, Frank!

If you have not already done so, CLICK HERE TO RSVP by October 28, 2025

If you need to register for this event or cancel for any reason, please do so by October 28. Space is not guaranteed and no refunds will be given after October 28.

Complete tables purchased by a company will have their Company's name displayed on the table. Tables 10, 11, and 12 Seats can be accommodated. Seats of less than 10 will be open seating.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

Electric Association Women's Division Holiday Party

5:30 pm, Thursday, November 20, 2025 

Venuti's Banquets, 2251 W Lake St, Addison, IL 60101

Register by October 20 for Early Bird Discount!



Enjoy a fun sit down dinner with fellow women of the electrical industry of Chicago! This holiday event will include three hours of hosted bar, dinner, and raffle tickets.

Early Bird Registration through October 15:

$135.00 per person for Women's Division Members

$145.00 for Women's Division Non-members

Registration will increase by $10 per person after October 20!

Forward this email to spread the word to your female colleagues and industry contacts. Attendees will enjoy catching up with friends and meeting new ones as we continue to strengthen our industry!

If you want to process bulk registration, pay by check, or have any questions, please contact Ali Novinger at anovinger@eachicago.org.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

IBEW Local 134
Essentials for Homeless Soldiers

On November 6, 2025 at the Local 134 IBEW Union Meeting, a collection will be made for new (in packaging) mens white t-shirts and white underwear - all sizes needed, The collected items will be delivered to the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center on Saturday, November 8, 2025. For more information, please contact the following Business Agents: Jim Valleyfield (312) 505-4068; Marty McElligott (312) 909-3482; and Jack Campbell (312) 310-9913.

Midwestern Region Conference

March 10 - 13, 2026

Join us in paradise for NECA's Midwestern Region Conference at the Hilton Waikoloa Village in Hawaii on March 10 -13, 2026. This unforgettable event is your chance to network with industry leaders, learn from top experts, and gain insights from inspiring speakers—all while enjoying the beauty of Hawaii!

CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION.

EDUCATION

"Increasing Engagement, Retention, and Development for Employees"

Thursday, November 13, 2025

The ECA Research and Education Committee is proud to sponsor, this program, "Increasing Engagement, Retention, and Development for Employees" to be held as follows:

Thursday, November 13, 2025

Maggiano's Banquets - 240 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL

Barbarossa Room

8:00 am - 12:00 pm (Breakfast to be available at 7:45 am).

Stephane McShane, Maxim Consulting Group, will be the Facilitator.

Program description:

The workforce shortage is affecting both the revenue, and the margin, for the majority of contractors. The ability to hire, retain, engage, train, and develop employees increases the chances for them, and for the organization, to succeed. To accomplish this, specific processes and development paths must be created, implemented, and measured.

Following this course, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the need for roles and responsibilities definition
• Show the use of the role definition and time span needed to increase the percentage of “good” hires
• Describe the employee collaboration using skill set matrix information
• Outline the career path mapping process to create long term improvement and engagement
• Discuss the link between performance management and incentive compensation

THIS PROGRAM IS ONLY FOR ECA MEMBERS!

Fee for the sessions is $100.00 per ECA member.


CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

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

South Suburban Illinois IAEI Division 
Code Authority Community Opportunity - UL Solutions

The South Suburban Illinois IAEI Division wanted to share an opportunity that was recently passed along by Tom Lichtenstein of UL Solutions, who is also part of the Illinois IAEI State Chapter. He is reaching out to invite the South Suburban Illinois IAEI Division and more importantly, your members to join a growing network of professionals shaping the future of building safety, compliance and innovation: The Code Authority® community.

This initiative is designed to connect authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), inspectors, code officials, tradespeople, educators and industry professionals across the fire, electrical, security and building sectors with valuable resources, peer insights and continuing education opportunities. 

As a member of The Code Authority community, your audience will gain: 

✅ A monthly newsletter with articles, inspection guides, case studies and expert interviews 

✅ Invitations to exclusive webinars, workshops and live events focused on codes, compliance and emerging technologies 

✅ Opportunities for continuing education and professional development 

✅ A platform to share their voice in shaping the standards and practices that guide our industries 

✅ Access to our social communities for networking, collaboration and ongoing dialogue 

To join, simply click the link below for the brief newsletter subscription form. Links to our other platforms are also included on that page, but I’ve listed them individually below as well.

The Code Authority Community | UL Solutions

LinkedIn

Spotify

YouTube

If any questions, please contact Matthew Stolspart, IAEI South Suburban Division President at Email: stolspart@gmail.com.

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

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 17: CHEST Enhances Lung Health and Sustainability with Solar Energy

In Episode 17 of The Power of Better, Powering Chicago highlights the American College of Chest Physicians’ (CHEST) ambitious solar project in Glenview, Illinois.

Hardt Electric and IBEW Local 134 electricians installed 560 solar panels, overcoming roof load restrictions and integrating advanced solar technology. The system now powers one-third of the 48,000-square-foot facility and cuts energy costs by $40,000 annually.

Watch Now

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.