Page 8 - IEC Insights Jan-Feb2020

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Reflecting & Making Plans

By Candy Branham

Happy New Year. I hope everyone’s had to the 2017 NEC” and “A Complete Guide
a successful and prosperous 2019. I’d to the 2020 NEC Code Changes.”
like to start by saying I’m honored and
humble to be given the opportunity to St. Louis was the place to be the first
serve as your 2020 IEC National President week in October, when IEC members
and look forward to seeing and meeting gathered for an exhilarating week of
many of your throughout the year. training, networking, new product
exploration and awards during our
As each year begins, I find myself drifting 2019 IEC Convention and Expo. This This conference offers our contractors an
back to high school lit and the words of convention, not only set attendance excellent opportunity to learn and network
with our industry’s top safety experts.
S.C. Lewis, “There are far better things records but, saw our association
ahead than any we leave behind.” With grow to 51 chapters strong with the April 26-30 has IEC members gathering
this thought in mind, I relish taking a induction of IEC of Middle Tennessee. in Washington DC for our annual
moment every January to review past Legislative Conference. This meeting
accomplishments before cannonballing As we begin 2020, my vision focuses on gives IEC committees extended meeting
into a New Year full of hopes and dreams. developing IEC’s Four Pillars: Educate, opportunities. More importantly, it offers
Grow, Advocate and Recognize. At
This New Year finds IEC reflecting on 62 our 2019 Convention, I challenged all every IEC member the chance to have our
years of growth and accomplishments. committees to establish their 2020 voices heard by our Federal legislators.
Thanks to the small group of Texas through 2022 strategic goals which will be July 23-25 find IEC Instructors,
contractors whose ambition and incorporated into IEC’s Vision 2025 during from across the country, meeting
foresight, not only united independent the 2020 Business Summit in Fort Worth. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for two
electrical contractors but, has days of extensive networking and
empowered many of our members to 2020 also sees the start of Phase I of IEC’s instructor development classes.
be leaders in our electrical industry. rebranding efforts. Phase I includes an
association wide messaging campaign 2020 IEC National Convention and
I’d also like to thank the presidents, focusing on member and apprenticeship Expo is in New Orleans, Louisiana the
board and committee members who’ve growth. This campaign includes the last week of October. This is the time
come before me. Your wisdom and development of print, social media, when IEC’s family comes together
devotion have made IEC the premiere video and radio messaging. Its goal to network with old friends, learn
association for merit shop electrical and is to create one IEC voice. Its design new ideas, explore new products and
systems contractors. Thanks to today’s will allow IEC chapters to utilize all see the best that IEC has to offer.
members. Your dedication is powering messages in their own membership drives
IEC into an exciting and strong future. and apprentice outreach campaigns. All in all, I think 2020 will be an exciting
Phase I also incorporates budgetary year for IEC. I look forward to sharing it
My last thanks goes to Gary Golka, allocations designed to assist our smaller with old friends and making new ones
IEC’s 2019 National President. Gary’s chapters in executing membership and along the way. I hope you’ll grab my
dedication to IEC’s world class training, apprenticeship growth via National hand, take a deep breath and join me
vision of transparency and unwavering funding and staff assistance opportunities. as we cannonball into making 2020 a
commitment to success has lead IEC successful and rewarding year for IEC.
through a busy and fruitful year. IEC 2020 events kick off with our Business
Summit, February 3-5, in Fort Worth,
In 2019, IEC chapters trained a record Texas. This event focuses on compelling Tim and Candy Branham own Branham
setting 13,000 apprentice equaling a ideas, real-world solutions and time- Electric based in St. Peters, Missouri.
77 percent growth over the last five tested strategies that empowers us to Branham Electric is a family owned business
years. We introduced a New Worker and take our business to the next level. servicing the St. Louis Metropolitan
Leadership programs along with three area for 29 years. Branham’s niche is
st
nd
revised Fire Alarm modules. IEC ventured April 21 and 22 sees IEC first Safety multi-family and custom residential new
into code with “A Comprehensive Guide Conference being held in Houston, Texas. construction, commercial and industrial
service and energy efficient lighting.

6 Insights Magazine | January/February 2020 | www.ieci.org