eNEWS | September 2020

During this year’s Summit Awards, a very special recognition was given to IECRM members who have done amazing work and made a positive impact in response to COVID-19. The electrical construction industry’s contributions – both large and small – were highlighted demonstrating the considerable strength of the collective above and beyond work and service performed by IECRM members.

From immediately donating ALL N95 medical masks in inventory, to making more than 400 gallons of hand sanitizer for job sites, to collectively sewing more than 1000 masks for employees, families and medical/first responders, and adding safety protocols, equipment and PPE to regular practices….and mostly for stepping up in however they could contribute, here are the members honored and awarded:

In a studio, six feet apart, hosting the 14th Annual Summit Awards, IECRM Board of Directors President Rob Watkins and IECRM CEO Marilyn Akers Stansbury gave an award-winning performance of their own as members watched and participated from their homes, offices, and even a mountaintop.

2020 called for an unprecedented approach to this Summit Awards Event. Fabulous and fun Home Depot “Watch Party Buckets” were hand-delivered to audience members’ homes and offices, filled with dinner certificates, beverages, snacks, desserts, party décor, and the hottest items of 2020: masks, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper! Guests were welcomed to a Virtual Networking Cocktail Hour, visiting “rooms” hosted by premier sponsor The Home Depot Pro, IEC National CEO Spenser Villwock, IECRM Board Members, and IECRM Staff. Then, the awards show began! With the aid of the “mission control room” in the studio, attendees were able to interact with the hosts and each other in real time throughout the program. The networking continued into the Virtual After Party where guests lingered and congratulated the winners.

The evening’s theme Essential and Excellent aptly described the tone for the event, sponsored by The Home Depot Pro, premier sponsor for the interactive virtual awards program. READ MORE

PREMIER SPONSOR – The Home Depot Pro

SAFETY AWARD SPONSOR – Pinnacol Assurance

VIDEO PRODUCTION SPONSOR – Matsuo Engineering LLC and Ludvik Electric

VIP GUEST SPONSOR – EMERGING LEADERS – Corey Electrical Engineering, Inc.

LIMITED EDITION GLASSWARE SPONSOR – Milwaukee Electric Tool

NETWORKING COCKTAIL HOUR SPONSOR – Eckstine Electric Company

INTERMISSION BREAK SPONSOR – CSU Global

AFTER PARTY SPONSOR – Courtesy Electric Company

SNACK SPONSOR – Rexel & Weifield Group Electrical Contracting

DESSERT SPONSOR – Rexel

TOILET PAPER SPONSOR – RK Electrical

HAND SANITIZER SPONSOR – Kenny Electric

DÉCOR SPONSOR – Rexel

At the August 13 IECRM Summit Awards Ceremony, Colorado State University Global (CSU Global) received the 2020 Executive Strategic Initiatives Award from IECRM. The award was given in recognition for their partnership and collaborative work on behalf of IECRM’s Electrical Apprenticeship Training Program and the offering of additional transferrable higher education credit hours to further the industry and professional development of IECRM’s alumni careers.  

IECRM graduates facilitated through Emily Griffith Technical College will have earned up to 53 college credits that may be applied to a CSU Global Bachelor’s degree of their choice. “Fifty-three credits is nearly half of the credits needed for a bachelor’s degree and amounts to cost savings of up to $20,000,” said Paul Lingo, IECRM Training Director. “Getting an apprenticeship itself is a great value and sets you up for a successful career. The opportunity with CSU Global takes that value even further.” Students can learn more about the partnership and benefits here.

“Getting a bachelor’s post-apprenticeship can go far toward maximizing the role a graduate plays, expands career horizons, opens doors for leadership, provides the skills to be your own boss, and drives your career to the next level,” continued Lingo. Also, IECRM graduates will receive a 10 percent discount on tuition at CSU Global through this partnership arrangement. “The credits and 10 percent discount off tuition are retroactive and up to 10-year alumni can qualify for this benefit,” he added... READ MORE

Late enrollment for IECRM’s 2020-2021 Apprenticeship Training Program will open on Monday, August 31 for 1st-Year Student Registration (Members only). The cornerstone of IECRM’s educational programs is the

4-Year Electrical Apprenticeship Program.

The final round of the 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco was held Sunday, August 9th and the sensational Collin Morikawa was crowned the 2020 PGA Champion. It was his maiden major win and he broke clear from the pack with a superb eagle at 16 to top the LeaderBoard – and stayed there.

The field comprised former major champions and rising stars all with a shot. Yet there’s only one winner. It was a who’s who of new names leading throughout the 3-day competition. But in the end, 23-year-old Morikawa won, stunning the golf world and joining some of golf’s best ever.

So we ask, “Who will the 2020 IECRM Golf Tournament Champion be?” Is your team ready to loom large on Thursday, September 3 at the beautiful Fox Hollow Golf Course? This year’s stunning victory could be yours! READ MORE

Each year, IECRM cultivates leaders-to-be from its member companies through its Emerging Leaders (EL) program. In its 9th year, the program is designed to tap into the desire to learn how to be enterprising, persistent, and bold. IECRM is now accepting nominations for the ‘20-’21 program.

“Cultivating talent is how our industry succeeds,” says Kori Hemans, Chief Financial Officer at IECRM. “Our organization supports our member companies by helping them identify employees who are passionately focused and interested in growth. Our job is to train these hand-selected individuals to understand what is important, and how to engage in the vision of their company and this industry in order to make the vision more meaningful and successful.”... READ MORE

Neal Woodcock arrived in Colorado in 1987. For several years, he worked in the restaurant industry around the area. When he turned 28, he got a job at Bryant Electric as an apprentice after responding to an ad in the paper to apply at IECRM.

With his employer’s support, Neal enrolled in IECRM’s apprenticeship training program. Eventually, he graduated from the 4-year program, is now a proud alumnus of the school, and has been in electrical contracting for 28 years. He sat for his journeyman’s license in 1996 and then went on to become a Master electrician. “My foreman at Bryant was the best one I have ever had, and I credit him for making me the electrician I am today,” says Neal.

About two years ago, Neal was working as a foreman for...READ MORE

After much deliberation and a thorough review of the current COVID-19 status in New Orleans, IEC has made the difficult decision to move to a virtual Convention & Expo in 2020. We are disappointed that we won’t be able to bring our amazing merit shop community together in The Big Easy, but feel that it’s the most prudent decision at this time.

IEC is working hard to ensure that The Virtual IEC Convention & Expo 2020, still scheduled for October 28-30, will be a dynamic, contemporary, and engaging event that you can’t afford to miss! More details will follow in the coming weeks, but here’s what we want you to know now…

The top-notch educational sessions originally scheduled will be offered virtually and we can’t wait to introduce you to a great line-up of world-class experts in the electrical industry. We’ll help power you forward with the knowledge you need to take your career to the next level from the comfort of home.

Our state-of-the-art virtual expo hall will introduce you to the most innovative products and services out there today. You’ll have direct access to reps from some of the biggest and best companies in the business through interactive chats, virtual presentations, videos, and product demos designed to make you feel like you’re there in person. REGISTER NOW!

Inspector Perspective: 

First it is important to note that the consensus reached, are only for those PV systems utilizing an interconnection method on the load-side of the service disconnecting means, as described in NEC 705.12, interconnection methods on the supply-side of the service disconnecting means shall continue to meet the requirements of 705.11. Consensus was reached, where knife blade type safety switches, as so often have been used to satisfy utility requirements where production metering is installed, can now be removed where they are redundant or in addition to other code compliant disconnecting means. Example: when PV interconnection is done in a readily accessible panel location, through use of a circuit breaker attached to the panel buss bar, 705.20(1)(a),690.13, as well as 690.15(C), would support the circuit breaker, is indeed a suitable photovoltaic system, and equipment disconnecting means. READ MORE

Attached are links to articles provided for you by Federated Insurance designed to be short awareness pieces for member education:

An “eye-popping” $2 trillion in cash has been stashed in deposit accounts at U.S. banks since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the country in January.1

This surge of money into banks has no precedent in history.

Several factors have contributed to the cash surge, including Read More

... we believe in this trade and we are committed to growing it by supporting the future tradesmen who will power our world. That’s why we created the IDEAL4Students program.

IDEAL4Students offers a variety of resources that supplement the training electrical students receive in classes and apprenticeships.

Get your duck in the race at: https://rotaryducks.org or https://rotaryducks.org/product/sponsorship-package/.

Learn about the changes made to the design, safe-use and training suite of standards for MEWPs/AWPs and how United Academy can help ensure you are in compliance.

Wipfli moves to #4 on Construction Executive’s list of Top 50 Construction Accounting Firms™

Wipfli, a national accounting and consulting firm, has been named #4 on the list of Top 50 Construction Accounting Firms™ by Construction Executive magazine. Last year, the firm ranked #5 on the list, which was the award’s inaugural year.

Brian Bohman, construction practice leader at Wipfli, said, “We’re proud to see Wipfli move up a spot in just the second year of this award. It’s a reflection of our firm’s commitment to serving our construction clients with critical solutions that meet the whole of their needs and position them for growth and continued success.”

For the first time EVER, the general public is invited to join Milwaukee Tool and sign up to gain access to a ‘members only’ private event series - the Milwaukee PIPELINE. Each episode in the series can be viewed at home, on the go, or wherever you may be. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this momentous, behind-the-scenes experience and learn about the dozens of Milwaukee products we have coming in 2020 and beyond! Milwaukee is excited to share exclusive details on the new products they will be bringing to many job-sites this year. READ MORE