Page 69 - IEC Insights Nov-Dec19

GROWING IEC

classrooms that we can meet at night. I think that with IEC and as I read the We knew that once we started the
We’ll be looking for more instructors. curriculum and looked at everything. apprenticeship program and knew we
Knowing they are getting hands- had it going, would have something of
As we do this, I want to do a membership on training and knowing that they real value to offer and that we weren’t
drive where we all go face-to-face with are supposed to wire a 3 and 4 way just eight guys sitting around the table
the contractors we know and put stuff switch coming out of the first year talking about what we wanted to do.
in front of them and let them know what and just looking at the different
we have going on. We have talked about ways that it teaches compared to Q: Anything else you’d like readers
getting more industry partners into our the other classes that I know of, I to know.
organization. We talked to different know we could do something with
people at Convention and got different this. It will elevate the profession. A: Teamwork made everything
ideas on that. We have some growing to possible. Everyone came together
do. We want to do it simple right now Q: Now that Middle Tennessee is a to make this happen and I couldn’t
with a low rate until we get bigger. It’s full IEC chapter, what do you hope to be prouder of the our board.
hard to sell them when we don’t have accomplish during the next year?
anything to offer. Sometimes, it felt like Q: How was your experience at
we were getting the cart before the A: Our goal is to get six new contractor your first IEC Convention?
horse. If we could pick up at least 6 more members by the end of spring. We also
members before next year, we could want to look at other offerings to add A: I thought it was awesome. I really
even have 100 students in the first year value to the membership. Recruiting did. Bonnie loved it. I loved it. I thought
and if we could retain 55 students, we industry partners is also on the list. The it was great. In fact, I wish I would have
know we would have two second-year other thing I’m going to push, although come earlier and stayed for the whole
classes and four first-year classes. I know we are not there yet, is to have thing. I really enjoyed going on the expo
ownership of a training facility with office floor, talking to people, looking at the
Q: How do you believe that IEC’s space. I know it’s down the road, but new technologies and having some of
apprenticeship training will leasing a place for four nights a week, four the industry partners like Schneider
impact the electrical contracting hours a night, just doesn’t seem practical. and Milwaukee come up and talk and
industry in your area? meet them. I know there were other
It’s also important to all of us to give things we could have done as far as
A: That’s pretty simple. I taught at a back to the community and to the whole the classes. Next year, I think we’ll have
school for four years and my wife was industry. In Nashville, our workforce even more Board members join us.
Assistant Director of Education there for is just not adequate. Well-trained
10 years and I have people who graduated electricians are in short supply, and I’m Luisa is the Chapter Development
there that can’t even wire a 4-way switch. sure there are several places around the Manager for IEC National.
country in that are in the same boat.

www.ieci.org | November/December 2019 | Insights Magazine 67