ECA Industry Update

NECA Safety Professionals Conference (NSPC)


The NECA Safety Professionals Conference (NSPC) is open to all NECA Members, IBEW, and the electrical training Alliance! The conference was held at the IOWA Events Center in Des Moines, IA. from May 19 – 21, 2025. Jerry McGlynn, ECA Safety Committee Chair, McWilliams Electric Company, Inc., with Jeremy Wheeler, Wheler Electric, Inc. had a presentation called, Safety is Everyone's Responsibility during the Conference on May 21, 2025.


CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.

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. 


CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Wage Rates & Allocations:

Principal, "B" Maintenance,

Communication, Residential Agreements,

and Trainee Information

Start Date: Monday, June 2, 2025


Please click on the links below for the Wage Rates & Allocations for the Principal, "B" Maintenance, Communication, Residential Agreements, as well the Trainee information starting Monday, June 2, 2025 through Sunday, May 31, 2026.

 

PRINCIPAL AGREEMENT INFORMATION

 

"B" MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT INFORMATION

 

COMMUNICATION AGREEMENT INFORMATION

 

RESIDENTIAL AGREEMENT INFORMATION

 

TRAINEE INFORMATION


Please contact the ECA at: (708) 531-0022 with any questions.

NECA Recognition of Achievement in Safety Excellence

Zero Injury / Small Contractor Safety Excellence

Congratulations to the 2025 NECA Safety Award Winners!


CLICK HERE for the Chapter winners.

CLICK HERE for the overall winners.

EVENTS

NECA Convention & Trade Show

September 12 - 15, 2025


The NECA Convention & Trade Show will soon be in Chicago!

Special Chapter activities are being planned!


CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION.

E2E Summit

June 16, 2025 – June 18, 2025, Indianapolis, IN


E2E Summit is a unique and intimate event that offers executive-to-executive meetings tailored to meet the specific needs of your company.


Learn More

NECA Project Excellence Awards Application Process


The 2025 NECA Project Excellence Awards applications are officially open! This is your chance to showcase the innovation, expertise, and dedication that went into your 2024 projects! Winning this prestigious award means national recognition, industry prestige, and the chance to inspire the next generation of electrical contractors!


APPLY NOW!

EDUCATION

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

Construction Safety Week

As part of Construction Safety Week 2025 and the OSHA National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction (May 5–9), the Safety Alliance—comprised of TAUC, SMACNA, MCAA, and NECA—has developed a new set of five safety videos.

 

NECA hopes these videos serve as a vital member resource during your own company's Construction Safety Week activities. These videos can be used by employers during various activities including toolbox talks, safety meetings, and stand-down events to reinforce critical safety practices on the jobsite.

 

Remember, safety is a shared responsibility! Every employer and employee in our industry shares the same goal: ensuring that everyone returns home safely to their families and loved ones at the end of each day. Stay Safe!

Access All Videos Here! 

NII 2025 Recruiting

The NECA Innovation Institute is actively building its 2024 – 2025 cohorts. Please refer to the attached information, program highlights, and interest form. We’re launching two cohorts in 2024 and would love to include your rising leaders in the mix.  

 

The program's annual cost is $6,000

 

Please reach out to innovation@necanet.org with any questions. 


CLICK HERE for Updated Innovation Institute Information (1/17/25).

 

NII Nomination Form and Brochure

New Publications in the NECA Store


NECA has collected, analyzed and interpreted hundreds of data points, so our members can use these crucial reports to develop strategies, optimize processes, and improve decision-making, leading to better outcomes and a competitive advantage in the market. 



CLICK HERE for the latest additions to thestore.

NECA This Week

NECA Business Development Information


NECA is updating its Business Development contact list for 2025! This list will be notified about Business Development resources, events and exclusive sessions. Please complete this short form and let NECA know the Business Development contact person(s) for your company. 


Complete Business Development Contact List Form >>

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 Webinar Details:

2nd Quarter Session

🗓 Thursday, May 29

🕒 3:00 PM Eastern


Topic: How to Redline

(Includes brainstorming with chat and using ELECTRI's Good/Medium/Deficient practices)


Link to be made available, soon

NECA Alert: (5/20/25)


NECA This Week (5/19/25)

NECA Government Affairs


Please click the link for a recent update from NECA Government Affairs. 


NECA Government Affairs 5/16/25 Update.

 

If you have any questions regarding the update, please reach out to NECA Government Affairs at: (202) 449-8418 

ELECTRI Updates

May Webinars:


ELECTRI’s next IT & Coffee will be held on May 27 at 11AM Eastern and the topic discussed will be AI Best Practices and IT Considerations. To make it easier for you and any of your staff to join each month’s IT & Coffee ore, we ask that you complete a one-time sign-up here.  If you have already signed up, you’re all set. If not, this is your chance. A calendar hold for this meeting will only be sent to those who have registered.


ELECTRI's May Council Room session will take place on May 28 at 4PM Eastern and will focus on "What is the Ideal Project Environment in 2025." The discussion will be led by Marc Tower with Citadel Electric, Joe Barnard with ArchKey Solutions, and Eric Carlson with 'Joe' Dickey Electric. The group will discuss the pros and cons of Lump Sum vs. Guaranteed Maximum/Minimum Price, working for the owner vs. the GC, and contract terms regarding managing labor and material risk. Join us for the discussion and share your expertise, as well as challenges, with the current project environment. Watch your email for the calendar invite coming soon.

ECIC Judges Needed:


Ten NECA Student Chapters are competing in ELECTRI’s 2025 Electrical Contracting Innovation Challenge (ECIC), and now it's time for our industry leaders to get involved. We’re looking for volunteers to serve on the ECIC jury — reviewing student proposals and helping select the top three teams who will present live at the NECA Convention in Chicago.


If your schedule doesn’t allow you to participate, feel free to share this opportunity with a colleague.


To learn more or volunteer, contact Laura Holmes at Laura.Holmes@electri.org

NECA/ELECTRI PM Apprenticeship Update:


The NECA/ELECTRI Project Management Apprenticeship is officially halfway through its first year—and we hosted a live webinar earlier this week to share what we’ve learned so far. This one-hour session gave a real look at how NECA members are training project managers from within. Be sure to watch the webinar to learn how you can take advantage of this program or click here to find out about the apprenticeship.

 

Project Manager Apprenticeship Update: Watch the recording here.

Big news! Registration is officially open for the ELECTRI Summer Council Meeting, happening July 14–16, 2025, at the iconic Fairmont Royal York in Toronto!

 

 

Event Details

Dates: July 14–16, 2025

Location: Fairmont Royal York, Toronto

Registration Fee: $250 per adult (including guests)

Registration Link:  Register here

 

 

Secure your spot now! Once registered, don’t forget to visit the "Complete Your Payment" tab to finalize your payment. Make sure you're logged into the website to complete the process!  You must register to receive the hotel reservation link.

 

Important Travel Reminders

 

🔹 Passports Required: All travelers to Canada must have a valid passport that does not expire within six months of your trip. If you need to apply for or renew your passport, you can do so here

 

🔹 Check Your Eligibility: Canada has specific entry requirements. Under Canada’simmigration law, if you have committed or been convicted of a crime (including some minor crimes such as DUI), you may not be allowed into Canada. Please review the official travel requirements here to ensure a smooth trip.

 

Toronto is calling, and this is one meeting you won’t want to miss! Get registered today and get ready for an unforgettable summer with ELECTRI!

April Recap

Read what you missed last month in our April recap. It is full of information on ELECTRI activities during April.


April Webinars: Best Accounting Practices -

In case you missed our April webinars here is your chance to watch them!

Council Room Session: Best Accounting Practices

It & Coffee: User Training and Support Strategies

We’re excited to share two newly released ELECTRI research publications, each designed to help electrical contractors address pressing challenges and plan for the future:

 

🔹 Understanding, Identifying, and Measuring Rework: Rework can be costly, time-consuming, and difficult to quantify. This new interactive report — led by ELECTRI Researcher Hala Nassereddine — helps contractors identify the root causes of rework, establish processes to measure its true impact, and implement practices to minimize it on future projects.


📘 Explore the full interactive report 


🔹 Artificial Intelligence Implementation Roadmap for Electrical Contractors:

AI is no longer a distant concept — it’s a practical tool ready to be integrated into construction workflows. This roadmap outlines a step-by-step strategy to evaluate, adopt, and scale AI technologies specific to electrical contracting.


📘 Read the full roadmap



Both studies are based on contractor interviews, real-world case studies, and practical tools to apply in your business today. We encourage you to review and share these resources with your teams.



IMPORTANT REMINDER:


ELECTRI International and American Apprenticeships Work have partnered to offer a national Project Management Apprenticeship program! The NECA/ELECTRI Project Management Apprenticeship provides aspiring electrical project managers with the technical expertise, leadership abilities, and business acumen needed to work on large-scale electrical projects successfully. Click Here for more information.


ELECTRI appreciates your assistance with this research. If you have any questions about the research, please contact Amanda Harbison, ELECTRI’s Director of Research, at Amanda@electri.org.


 

ELECTRI International Quick Links

 

ELECTRI Meetings         ELECTRI Research        Business Coaching       

Council Room Sessions        Research Engagement Hub       PM Apprenticeship Program  

ConTech & Coffee/IT & Coffee       Think Like A Leader     AI Toolkit

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.

SAVE THE DATES

June


June 4-5, 2025

ECA 53rd Annual Spring Conference

The Grand Geneva Resort & Spa - Lake Geneva, WI

Wednesday, June 4th to Thursday, June 5th

August


August 6, 2025

2025 ECA Summer Social

First Lady Tours - Chicago, IL

6 pm to 9:30 pm


Facebook        LinkedIn        YouTube