NABTU Sues Over PLA Exemption North America’s Building Trades Unions filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia recently against two federal agencies and their chiefs for ignoring a still-in-effect executive order from former President Joe Biden requiring project labor agreements on some federal jobs. They asked the court to enjoin the Department of Defense and the General Services Administration from foregoing PLA use, as the Biden-era order remains on the books. Since Trump took office, he has enacted a flurry of executive orders undoing many Biden-era policies, and in January, a judge severely weakened the case for the federal government to use PLAs, but NABTU argues that the original order is still in effect. Story

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New Building for California Lawmakers Costing as Much as an NFL Stadium Leaders overseeing California's Capitol Annex project refuse to explain the cost of what will be one of the most expensive buildings in the United States. The $1.1 billion (and counting) Capitol Annex Project had an original cost estimate of $543.2 million in 2018. Within the next few years, the building will house offices for the state’s 120 lawmakers, the governor, lieutenant governor, and staff. It will also have committee hearing rooms where lawmakers debate and vote on various issues. The price tag is also expected to pay for a parking garage, but maybe not a new visitors' center on the west side of the historic state capitol building. Story

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When Headless PAGAs Attack! A split in authority has developed in the California Courts of Appeal regarding what to do when an employer moves to compel arbitration of a Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) that is “headless”—that is, a claim seeking penalties on behalf of all allegedly aggrieved employees except the named plaintiff. (This is the latest trick the plaintiff’s bar has come up with to thwart enforceable arbitration agreements, because if there’s one thing plaintiffs’ lawyers hate, it’s arbitration!)

In Leeper v. Shipt, Inc., the court held that a PAGA claim cannot be headless, so in this circumstance, the “individual” PAGA claim is implied and can be compelled to arbitration. On the other hand, Parra Rodriguez v. Packers Sanitation, Inc. held that a court must take the complaint as it finds it and cannot “imply” an individual PAGA claim that was not pled.

The California Supreme Court has granted review of Leeper to answer two questions:

1. Does every PAGA action necessarily include both individual and non-individual PAGA claims, regardless of whether the complaint specifically alleges individual claims?
2. Can a plaintiff choose to bring only a non-individual PAGA action?

Story

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Changes to WC Mandate? To address concerns that some construction contractor applicants or licensees were providing a certification of exemption even though they had employees, SB 216 (Dodd, Chapter 978, Statues of 2022) expanded the license classifications required to have a Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance on file with the CSLB to include the C-8 (Concrete), C-20 (HVAC), C-22 (Asbestos Abatement), and D-49 (Tree Service), regardless if the contractor has employees, effective January 1, 2023, and additionally required that all licensing classifications (regardless of employee status) obtain workers’ compensation beginning January 1, 2026. Before the passage of SB 216, only a C-39 (Roofing) contractor was required to have workers’ compensation insurance regardless of the number of employees.

The impetus for the CSLB’s sponsorship of SB 216 stemmed from enforcement-related work conducted by the CSLB. The CSLB reported that between January 2018 and March 2020, it issued 500 stop-work orders to licensed contractors on job sites for failure to secure workers’ compensation. It also took 342 legal actions against licensed contractors for workers’ compensation insurance violations. In addition, in 2017, CSLB conducted an audit of a sample of contractors in four classifications that perform outdoor construction likely to require multiple workers: C-8 (Concrete), C-12 (Earthwork/Paving), C-27 (Landscaping), and D-49 (Tree Trimming). The survey revealed that 59% of contractors audited had false workers’ compensation exemptions on file with the CSLB. Contractors who file a false workers’ compensation exemption are subject to disciplinary action and cancellation of the false exemption, which subjects the license to suspension.

SB 1455 and Sunset Review. The CSLB is subject to the joint sunset oversight review process. In December 2023, the CSLB submitted its required sunset review report to this committee and the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions. That report noted significant challenges stemming from the implementation of SB 216. The report highlighted concerns that the implementation of SB 216 would have had a greater impact on CSLB’s workload than anticipated and could potentially increase license processing times. At that time, in early 2024, the CSLB reported the following concerning the issue of implementing the requirement for workers’ compensation coverage:

“If the 2026 mandate in SB 216 took effect today, approximately 115,000 contractors would currently need a policy. CSLB may expect 10 percent of licensees to stop paying to maintain a license, resulting in a possible loss of $8 million to CSLB’s fund that may impact enforcement operations. Staff also anticipates a significant increase in document processing with an increase in certificates and possibly applications to inactivate or cancel licenses. Staff will need to explore an entirely online certificate process or pursue a partnership with the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau to assist with the tracking and registering of certificates…

…As to workforce issues, contractors have expressed concern about being forced to pay for a policy that does not benefit them. There has always been a concern with any requirement of this nature that a percentage of licentiate will “go underground” instead of paying for workers’ compensation insurance.”

As a result of the concern raised concerning those potential licensees who may qualify for an exemption and to address the administrative workload impacts from the CSLB, SB 1455 (Ashby, Chapter 485, Statutes of 2024) paused the requirement for all licensees to have workers’ compensation coverage, regardless of employee status by January 1, 2026, and instead delayed implementation of the requirement until January 1, 2028, and additionally required the CSLB to establish a process, no later than January 1, 2027, to verify through and audit or other means that a contractor applicant or licensee may not have employees.

Although SB 1455 provided the CSLB with additional time to implement the requirement that all licensees obtain workers’ compensation as part of the licensure or renewal process and further required the CSLB to establish a process to verify that an applicant or licensee may legitimately not have employees, the CSLB has instead sponsored this bill as a means to achieve the legislative directive in SB 1455.

Instead of mandating workers’ compensation coverage for all licensees, as required by SB 216, SB 291 (Grayson) would instead exempt a licensee who self-certifies that they have no employees and whose work includes labor and materials, which are no more than $2,000, from the requirement to have workers’ compensation coverage. SB 291 specifies that a $2,000 contract cannot be split into more than one contract for the project to avoid the coverage requirements. This bill would remove the previous mandate for a C-8 (Concrete), D-49 (Tree Service), and C-20 (Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning) licensee to have workers’ compensation, regardless of employee status, and allow these licensees to self-certify that they do not have employees. This bill will now require only a C-39 (roofing contractor) to obtain workers’ compensation insurance regardless of employee status.

To address the Legislature’s mandate that the CSLB establish a process to verify that a licensee or applicant who states that they do not have any employees, SB 291 would require the CSLB to establish as part of the application and renewal process, an open book examination, which will require applicants and licensees to answer questions correctly regarding workers’ compensation laws.

Under current law, BPC § 7126 explicitly states that any licensee or agent who violates the workers’ compensation requirements under existing law is guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill adds new civil penalties for violating the requirement to have workers’ compensation insurance for those applicants and licensees who have employees, in addition to the current misdemeanor penalties. The civil penalties range between $10,000 and $30,000, depending on the license type and the number of violations received.

Policy Issues Raised by Committee The Senate Business, Professions, and Economic Development Committee raised several points about this proposed retreat when it heard the bill on April 21.

Is an open-book examination sufficient? Will an open-book examination aid the CSLB in evaluating whether or not a licensee truly has no employees? The exam may be duplicative, as the content should be included in the Law and Business exam, which is already a requirement for licensure. The examination adds another step in the licensure and renewal process, which could increase application and renewal processing timeframes, costs for printing and mailing the exam, and may not ensure the applicant or licensee has a sufficient understanding of the law.

Rolling back previous workers’ compensation requirements for higher risk classifications. SB 216 required four different licensing classifications to obtain workers’ compensation insurance regardless of employee status. The classifications include asbestos abatement contractors, concrete contractors, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractors, and tree service contractors. As currently drafted, this bill would roll back the requirement for these licensing classifications to be mandated to have workers’ compensation insurance, regardless of employees, and allow them to file an exemption if they contract for less than $2,000. This rollback does not take into account prior research conducted by the CSLB. Could this bill place those licensees or employees at risk? The CSLB may need to complete an updated industry study on those licensing classifications that may be able to operate without employees.

Are there potential workarounds for the $2,000 contract threshold? This bill would allow a licensee to self-certify that they have no employees if they contract for a project (labor and materials) less than $2,000 and specifies that the contract cannot be broken into multiple contracts to avoid the $2,000 threshold. Unfortunately, this exemption could potentially be circumvented. The $2,000 threshold appears to be arbitrary and does not reflect any study conducted by the CSLB finding that only contracts offered at $2,000 or less ensures that a licensee would be eligible for an exemption, or that any contract higher would require employees.

Does this bill satisfy the legislative mandate for an audit or other proof to verify an applicant or licensee’s eligibility for a workers’ compensation exemption? The CSLB is required to establish a process and procedure that may include an audit, proof, or other means to verify that an applicant or licensee is eligible for an exemption from the requirement to obtain workers’ compensation insurance by January 1, 2027 (BPC § 7125.7). It’s unclear if the provisions of this bill satisfy the legislative mandate for the CSLB to establish a process to verify if a licensee may not have any employees and would be eligible for an exemption. The proposed increased civil penalty and open book examination are not comparable to an audit or providing proof that an applicant or licensee does not have employees.

To address the concerns raised above, the author agreed to amend the bill to strike the current contents of this bill, except the increased penalties for violating the current workers’ compensation coverage requirements and the inclusion of disciplinary actions related to workers’ compensation violations in the report the CSLB submits annually to the Legislature, to provide greater insight into the current number of violations for workers compensation exemptions. In addition, to reinforce that the Legislature already provided time for the CSLB to address the issue of verifying employee status, this bill should clarify that the CSLB must provide a mechanism no later than January 1, 2027, to effectively determine whether a licensee has no employees and qualifies for an exemption to the workers compensation coverage requirements and report back to the Legislature.

With those amendments, the Committee approved the bill 11-0.

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Trump Orders Federal Procurement Overhaul President Trump ordered federal agencies to overhaul their procurement systems and regulations. According to Federal News Network, this is the biggest effort to modernize how federal agencies buy products and services since Congress passed the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act and the Federal Acquisition Reform Act into law in the ’90s.

Trump’s April 15 executive order said the FAR had evolved “into an excessive and overcomplicated regulatory framework.” He called for it to include only those “provisions required by statute or essential to sound procurement,” and said any provisions that do not advance these objectives should be removed.

In a second order on April 16, Trump also directed agencies to purchase only commercially available products and services, rather than unique government systems or custom solutions, unless they are given a waiver from the agency’s approval authority. Story

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Former Edison Executive Calderon, Now A Lawmaker, Seeks to Cut Rooftop Solar Credits Nearly 2 million California rooftop solar owners could lose the energy credits that help them cover what they spent to install the expensive, climate-friendly systems under a proposed bill. The bill’s author, Assemblymember Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier), is a former executive at Southern California Edison and its parent company, Edison International. She says the credits that rooftop solar owners receive when they send unused electricity to the grid raise the bills of customers who don’t own the panels. Assembly Bill 942 would limit the program’s benefits to 10 years, half the 20-year period the state had told the rooftop owners they would receive. The bill would also cancel the solar contracts if the home were sold. Story

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Steve Hilton, Former Fox News Host, Is Running for California Governor Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host who has also worked in conservative politics in Britain, announced on Monday that he was running to become California’s next governor. Mr. Hilton is the second prominent Republican to enter the 2026 race, but he faces difficult odds. California voters have not elected a Republican to statewide office since they re-elected Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006. Story

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Here's Where Your Tax Dollars Are Going Individual income taxes are the largest source of tax revenues and half of total annual receipts. Here's what they support in the federal budget. More



From Hostile to Union Leaders to Vacationing with Them Leaders at the Chula Vista Elementary School District once had an adversarial relationship with the teachers’ union. That’s changed in the years since Francisco Tamayo, a former union leader in the Sweetwater Union High School District, joined the Chula Vista school board. With Tamayo on the Chula Vista Elementary District Board, Voice of San Diego reports, the district’s teachers’ union has gotten pay raises five of the last eight years and won concessions from district leaders – even as the district faces a $15 million budget deficit this year. Tamayo’s partnership with union president Rosi Martinez has made those gains possible. Martinez and Tamayo both say their relationship is professional. But their close ties have provoked questions about accountability. Story

Checking in on Commercial Electrical Apprentices in Sacramento and Riverside

First Year, Second Semester Commercial Electrical Apprentices in Sacramento













Third Year, Second Semester Commercial Electrical Apprentices in Riverside

Join WECA at an Apprenticeship Programs Open House in Sacramento in Celebration of National Apprenticeship Day 2025!

Already an Apprentice? Share This Opportunity with Someone You Know!


 

What to expect at the WECA Apprenticeship Programs Open House, a video preview:

This April 30th, WECA is celebrating National Apprenticeship Day 2025 with an Open House event from 2:30 to 4:30 PM at our Sacramento Apprenticeship Training Facility! Please join us for this fun and informative April event that just might be your first step into your future career!

At this WECA Apprenticeship Program Open House, you'll:

• Learn more about WECA's three state and federally-approved Electrical (Commercial Electrical and Residential Electrical) and Low Voltage (Sound and Communications Installer-Voice Data Video and Fire Life Safety) Apprenticeship programs
• Tour the facility
• See lab demos
• Meet WECA instructors and staff
• Get your individual questions answered
• Learn about the application process
• And more!

We encourage you to pre-register for the event ahead of time to secure your spot, but will also accept walk-ins on the day of the event if space allows. Pre-registration will allow you to receive event reminders and updated event information.

Apprenticeship means you get paid to learn. It's a path to a great, skilled career, without having to take on any college debt.

Please RSVP here for the WECA Sacramento Open House!

Spread the word! Download a flyer:

WECA is excited to announce a new self-paced online course offering for Journeyworkers and advanced Electrician Trainees: Residential Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)!

This self-paced intermediate residential electrical course will help you comprehensively understand a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), including installation and commissioning. While there are many Energy Storage Systems (ESS), this course will focus on rechargeable batteries, specifically Lithium-Ion.

Learning Objectives for this course:

• You will be able to identify the required equipment for a residential BESS.
• You will be able to explain National Electrical Code requirements applicable to a BESS.
• You will simulate a residential BESS's correct equipment layout and conduit sizing requirements.
• You will be able to identify safety procedures and required steps applicable to installing and commissioning a BESS.

Total class hours available: 16
Standard tuition fee: $199

Enroll in Self-Paced Residential Battery Energy Storage Systems today!

 

For WECA and our longtime Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship instructor Zach Wallace, it’s not only a heartfelt goodbye and thank you—but also a “see you soon”!

Zach Wallace clocked out from teaching WECA Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship full-time on March 31st, after 19 total years with WECA (with two years first spent teaching for the Electrician Trainee Program and then seventeen years spent teaching for the Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program). However, Zach will continue to teach part-time for WECA's GetWired program, so luckily for all of us and our students, we haven't seen or heard the last of him!

During his tenure with WECA, Zach has been a devoted and popular instructor and an instrumental part of the WECA family. The mark he has left on WECA is indelible—but it seems that WECA left a positive lasting mark on him, too.

“While working at WECA, I learned how to overcome my fear of public speaking,” Zach recalled. “Not only that, but WECA taught me how to have a career and not just a job. I can honestly say I’ve lived a dream.”

Zach’s favorite aspects of his career were the countless opportunities to train and educate the future electrical workforce and being part of the WECA team.

“The service that we provide is awesome. But for me, helping students get something that is important to them and seeing them start out untrained and five years later noticing the growth that has taken place in them—and for me to have been a small piece of that—is really satisfying.”

“The staff,” Zach continued, “is like family. People here are so supportive and genuinely care to help in any way they can. I would not have had the success that I’ve had if it wasn’t for all of you.”

With tenure and retirement comes wisdom—which Zach has in spades.

“I would like to say to my colleagues, laugh, have fun, and learn as you go. Even from the students. Everyone has something to offer in this educational system,” Zach said.

“My parting advice for apprentices is, you are our future electricians. Never forget when you started and what that felt like. You will become the trainers and leaders in this industry. Treat your apprentices the way you would want to be treated,” Zach advised.

For Zach, “retirement” is a hard word to grasp. “Let’s call it the next chapter,” Zach says instead. “I want to say I am turning the page. I am planning on doing a little electrical work for myself. Thinking about getting a real estate license. Just to name a few. But I don’t really know yet. I want to restore an old car or maybe just sit on the porch and drink lemonade all day…not! Maybe some hunting and fishing. (Zach is moving to Alabama.) The list goes on and on…”

Zach, your next chapter sounds incredible, and we are confident that you will nail it! We thank you for all of your hard work, dedication, and contributions to the WECA family over the years, and are glad that current and future classes of GetWired program students will get to enjoy having you as their instructor for a bit longer. 

------------------------------------------

We celebrated Zach and his contributions to WECA at a semi-retirement gathering at WECA's Sacramento Training Facility on March 31st!

During the gathering, onsite and remote colleagues alike feted Zach with a retrospective slideshow and delicious cake!

 

WECA recently attended the SkillsUSA California State Leadership and Skills Conference at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, CA, to lead the judging of the electrical construction wiring competition.

SkillsUSA plays a vital role in bridging the skills gap by preparing students for successful careers in essential trades and technical fields. This competition event helps students hone their skills and abilities and provides a platform for them to demonstrate their abilities.

WECA Apprenticeship Curriculum Developer and Instructor Neil Pesarillo served as the head judge of the electrical wiring competition, while WECA Director of Apprenticeship Training and Facilities John Berkhoel and WECA Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship instructor Sebastian Caparelli were also on hand to support and judge the Electrical Station.

"The event was high-energy and impressive, as competitors demonstrated their knowledge and skills in electrical construction wiring," said John.

WECA's always thrilled to help out at the SkillsUSA California State Leadership and support youth workforce development at every opportunity!

Enroll in Our Newly-Updated, Self-Paced Online Fire Life Safety Exam Preparation and Code Refresher Course

WECA's Fire Life Safety Exam Preparation and Code Refresher Course has received an update to its coverage of the NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.

This self-paced online course is for students who want to study for the California Fire Life Safety Technician certification exam at their own pace.

Informative presentations help guide students through the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) as well as the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (NFPA 72). It is meant for individuals almost ready to take the exam.

It is also suitable as journeyman electrician continuing education for those looking to further their knowledge in the area of Fire/Life Safety.

Much of the class is dedicated to sample testing similar to state exams. It focuses on practical research by the students to find the answers to code questions rather than instruction by lecture.

Learning how to effectively subject index exam questions, whether located in the NFPA 70 or the NFPA 72, will help students to:

• Effectively find the answers to any exam question
• Improve exam-taking speed
• Gain a greater understanding of their field

Course Lessons Include:

• Subject Indexing In the NFPA 70
• Review of Several Key NEC Articles
• Subject Indexing In the NFPA 72
• Review of NFASC Articles
• Review of the CAL/OSHA Pocket Guide for the Construction Industry
• Ohms Law Review
• Kirchhoff's Law Review
• Review of Symbols and Diagrams
• Photovoltaic Systems with Backup Power

Total class hours available: 32
Standard Tuition Fee: $279

Enroll in the recently-updated Fire Life Safety Exam Preparation and Code Refresher course!

Announcement for WECA Electrician Trainees and Journey Worker Continuing Education Students: Our Summer 2025 (Jul - Sep) course catalog is now available on our website, and GetWired instructor-led classes always fill quickly. Be sure to enroll ASAP to get your spot!

View the Electrician Trainee course catalog

Jump to the Continuing Education course catalog

You can also enroll over the phone at (877) 444-9322, in person at our Rancho Cordova training facility, or by email at info@goweca.com.

Don't wait to secure your seat in instructor-led classes!

Prefer self-paced? Enroll anytime

WECA loves seeing our alumni in the news! Phoenix radio station KJZZ 91.5 highlighted the Arizona Department of Economic Security's first registered Apprenticeship Summit, which featured a speech from recent WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship graduate Shannon Denetsosie.

"The entire time I was in that apprenticeship, it boosted my confidence. So now I'm at a position to where I provide for my own family, even as a single mom. While you're in school, you're paid while you're in school. So nothing to worry about," said Shannon.

Shannon also shared that graduating from WECA has given her the opportunity to pursue promotions that she would not have considered applying for before.

Thank you, Shannon, for representing WECA excellence and championing the merits of the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program!

Read KJZZ 91.5's coverage of the event.

May's Theme: Money and Mental Health

Not Yet Signed Up for SmartDollar? Get Started Below



 

Content courtesy of SmartDollar

May is Mental Health Awareness Month--a reminder that our mental and financial well-being are deeply connected. Money stress can impact sleep, relationships, and overall peace of mind, making it harder to manage day-to-day finances. Taking small steps like creating a budget, building an emergency fund, or simply talking to a coach about money can make a big difference. Take a moment to check out SmartDollar--because taking care of your mind and your money go hand in hand.

---------------------------------

Not yet signed up for SmartDollar? No worries -- getting started is easy! Learn how below.

SmartDollar is a financial wellness benefit for WECA apprentices. We announced our partnership with the Dave Ramsey-founded online financial wellness platform in January, 2021 to provide our apprentices with a sound foundation in personal finance management. This benefit is available to all WECA apprentices free of charge. Not yet signed up for SmartDollar? No worries -- scroll to the bottom of this article for instructions!

What is SmartDollar? SmartDollar is a step-by-step approach to handling money with the number-one authority in personal finance, Dave Ramsey. More than 4.5 million people have started on Dave's plan and taken control of their money, and you can too! SmartDollar will equip you to get out of debt, on a budget, and on your way to a strong financial foundation.

The average person pays off $9,405 of debt and saves $6,127 in the first twelve months, and you can too!

"This program is powerful yet simple to understand. The Baby Steps make understanding how to win with money easy! Dave's lessons are fun, informative, and incredibly encouraging. It really doesn't feel like I'm taking a financial course. It's more like learning finances from a good friend...or a financially savvy stand-up comedian! The online tools are fantastic as well, and I love being able to 'ASK DAVE' any question and do my budget online. Love it all!" - Recent participant

With SmartDollar, you'll learn how to...

• Jump-start your money
• Knock out debt
• Secure your dream home
• Retire in style
• Demystify your credit score

How does SmartDollar work? With so many ways to engage in SmartDollar activities and content, SmartDollar Points have been designed to encourage users to establish true behavior change. (Check out the graph below for a quick rundown). The greater the importance and required time of each activity, the greater the amount of points that can be earned. For example, each Core Lesson video completed is worth 250 points. Completing a shorter Deep Dive video is worth 50 points. Tracking a transaction in EveryDollar is only worth 20 points, but users are encouraged to track all their financial transactions with no points limitations. These example activities are key for building the confidence you need to reach your financial goals.







 

Taking advantage of your free financial wellness benefit, SmartDollar, is easy!

To set up your account after accessing your dashboard, click either of the links shown as highlighted in the screenshot to the right of this paragraph. You'll be taken to a page with a SmartDollar enrollment link, where you will be able to set up immediate access to this important benefit.

Ready to get started?

Login to your GOWECA dashboard

 

WECA Instructors and Leadership Help Judge Electrical Construction Wiring Competition at SkillsUSA California State Leadership and Skills Conference






 

This past weekend, WECA attended the SkillsUSA California State Leadership and Skills Conference at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, CA, to lead the judging of the electrical construction wiring competition.

SkillsUSA plays a vital role in bridging the skills gap by preparing students for successful careers in essential trades and technical fields. This competition event helps students hone their skills and abilities and provides a platform for them to demonstrate their abilities.

WECA Apprenticeship Curriculum Developer and Instructor Neil Pesarillo served as the head judge of the electrical wiring competition, while WECA Director of Apprenticeship Training and Facilities John Berkhoel and WECA Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship instructor Sebastian Caparelli were also on hand to support and judge the Electrical Station.

"The event was high-energy and impressive, as competitors demonstrated their knowledge and skills in electrical construction wiring," said John.

WECA's always thrilled to help out at the SkillsUSA California State Leadership and support youth workforce development at every opportunity!

Also Highlights WECA's Gratitude for Member Contractor Support and Hopes for Future of Arizona's Commercial Electrical Workforce


 

WECA thanks journalist Al Petrillo of The Electric Times for profiling WECA Arizona's Women in Construction Week 2025 Open House--which included a panel of women working in Arizona's commercial electrical industry, comprised of current WECA Arizona apprentice Solei Donahue, recent WECA Arizona apprenticeship graduate Shannon Denetsosie, and two employees of WECA Arizona member contractors (Arlev Oquendo-Boscan of Corbins and Ashley Whelihan of K2 Electric)--in their April 2025 issue. 

In the article, Heath Anderson, WECA Arizona's Outreach and Workforce Development Specialist, is quoted as saying "The support of our partners is just as important as the efforts of our members in providing a quality view of the opportunity that awaits women who would like to become tomorrow's electricians. We deeply appreciate Corbins, K2 Electric, and PCL Construction for having staff on hand to speak to our guests about working in our trade. Several guests have already put in applications for apprenticeship with a few of our members. Hopefully, the coming years will see a greater number of women helping build the Arizona we want."

Read the full article

WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Grad Shannon Denetsosie Champions Program at Arizona Department of Economic Security's First Apprenticeship Summit


 

WECA loves seeing our alumni in the news! Phoenix radio station KJZZ 91.5 highlighted the Arizona Department of Economic Security's first registered Apprenticeship Summit, which featured a speech from recent WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship graduate Shannon Denetsosie.

"The entire time I was in that apprenticeship, it boosted my confidence. So now I'm at a position to where I provide for my own family, even as a single mom. While you're in school, you're paid while you're in school. So nothing to worry about," said Shannon.

Shannon also shared that graduating from WECA has given her the opportunity to pursue promotions that she would not have considered applying for before.

Thank you, Shannon, for representing WECA excellence and championing the merits of the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program!

Read KJZZ 91.5's coverage of the event.

Encourage Them to Enroll in Our Newly-Updated, Self-Paced Online Fire Life Safety Exam Preparation and Code Refresher Course

WECA's Fire Life Safety Exam Preparation and Code Refresher Course has received an update to its coverage of the NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.


 

This self-paced online course is for students who want to study for the California Fire Life Safety Technician certification exam at their own pace.

?Informative presentations help guide students through the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) as well as the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (NFPA 72). It is meant for individuals almost ready to take the exam.

It is also suitable as journeyman electrician continuing education for those looking to further their knowledge in the area of Fire/Life Safety.

Much of the class is dedicated to sample testing similar to state exams. It focuses on practical research by the students to find the answers to code questions rather than instruction by lecture.

Learning how to effectively subject index exam questions, whether located in the NFPA 70 or the NFPA 72, will help students to:

• Effectively find the answers to any exam question
• Improve exam-taking speed
• Gain a greater understanding of their field

Course Lessons Include:

• Subject Indexing In the NFPA 70
• Review of Several Key NEC Articles
• Subject Indexing In the NFPA 72
• Review of NFASC Articles
• Review of the CAL/OSHA Pocket Guide for the Construction Industry
• Ohms Law Review
• Kirchhoff's Law Review
• Review of Symbols and Diagrams
• Photovoltaic Systems with Backup Power

Total class hours available: 32

Standard Tuition Fee: $279

Encourage your employees to enroll in the recently-updated Fire Life Safety Exam Preparation and Code Refresher course!

 

This April 30th, WECA is celebrating National Apprenticeship Day 2025 with an Open House event from 2:30 to 4:30 PM at our Sacramento Apprenticeship Training Facility! Encourage your employees to join us for this fun and informative April event that just might be their first step into their future career!

At this WECA Apprenticeship Programs Open House, attendees will:

• Learn more about WECA's three state and federally-approved Electrical (Commercial Electrical and Residential Electrical) and Low Voltage (Sound and Communications Installer-Voice Data Video and Fire Life Safety) Apprenticeship programs
• Tour the facility
• See lab demos
• Meet WECA instructors and staff
• Get their individual questions answered
• Learn about the application process
• And more!

Please encourage your employees to pre-register for the event ahead of time to secure their spot, but let them know that we will also accept walk-ins on the day of the event if space allows. Pre-registration will allow them to receive event reminders and updated event information.

Apprenticeship means they get paid to learn. It's a path to a great, skilled career, without having to take on any college debt.

Encourage your employees to RSVP for the open house here

Spread the word--download this flyer to share with your employees




 

Clashing Compromises Chavez’ Celebration Assemblymember Corey Jackson recently confronted Assemblymember Carl DeMaio on the body’s floor over remarks about a resolution celebrating labor leader Cesar Chavez ahead of the state-observed holiday Cesar Chavez Day. Chavez’s views on undocumented immigrants were complicated and related to their role as strikebreakers when he was organizing the United Farm Workers union in the 1960s and 1970s.

DeMaio, a San Diego Republican known for needling Democrats, drew attention to this with his floor speech. “During his life, Cesar Chavez spoke out against illegal immigration while affirming legal immigration,” DeMaio said. “He was a strong voice for the Latino community and Latino workers in our country while also holding concerns and opposing illegal immigration.”

Jackson, a Riverside-area Democrat, took issue with this frame, calling it “very disrespectful to the heroes of our communities” and leaving his seat to chastise DeMaio at his desk. “You should be disgusted [with] yourself,” he yelled. “Grow a soul for a change. That’s a piece of crap move.”

DeMaio remained seated at his desk during the interaction while Assemblymember Tina McKinnor and Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry stood in front of Jackson, and Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal tugged at his arm and guided him away.

DeMaio later claimed in an X post Jackson “physically lunged” at him. However, the video that accompanied the post also appeared to show DeMaio smiling during the face-off. The incident was reminiscent of a similar exchange that took place last year, when Jackson and Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli got into a dispute during a tense floor debate over a bill banning school districts from outing transgender students. [Politico]

And in related news, Former Assemblymember Bill Essayli is wasting no time jumping into his new job as U.S. attorney. Essayli announced a federal task force to investigate “fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption involving funds allocated toward the eradication of homelessness” in the state’s Central District. He threatened arrests if the task force finds federal violations. “California has spent more than $24 billion over the past five years to address homelessness,” Essayli said in a statement. “But officials have been unable to account for all the expenditures and outcomes, and the homeless crisis has only gotten worse. Taxpayers deserve answers for where and how their hard-earned money has been spent.”

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Copper Caper Clampdown The Fresno City Council will take a swing at fighting copper theft with an ordinance that could mean jail time for having more than 10 pounds without a legitimate purpose. The Fresno County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a similar ordinance recently. It was introduced by Supervisors Garry Bredefeld and Nathan Magsig. The county ordinance prohibits receiving, possessing and transporting more than 10 pounds of commercial grade wire stripped of its protective sheathing, except by a licensed business.

An afternoon news conference after the supervisors’ vote brought out business, farming and elected officials from the county and city of Fresno. The action represents a collaborative effort to fight copper theft, which causes tens of thousands of dollars in damages to water pumps and machinery for something worth about $3.25 a pound from a recycler.

At the Fresno City Council’s meeting on Thursday, April 10, members will consider an ordinance that goes even further with penalties in city limits. It was introduced by Council President Mike Karbassi and Councilmembers Annalisa Perea and Tyler Maxwell.

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Utah’s Mike Lee won the energy gavel. Now what? It's been more than three months since Mike Lee took control of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and colleagues and advocates are still wondering how the Utah Republican will use his perch, writes Kelsey Brugger. Lee, who has a deeply conservative voting record, has been pushing politically difficult ideas like selling public lands and retooling environmental laws. But he is not known for being a schmoozer or dealmaker. [Politico]

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DA to Diversion The California State Bar is sending San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins to a diversion program after a series of ethics complaints against her. Story

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Commissioner Compromises Career With less than two years left in his final term, Insurance Commissioner (you know we have one, right?) Ricardo Lara has been using what appears to be a shell campaign committee to pay for nearly $30,000 in meals and drinks at some of the country’s fanciest restaurants and bars, according to an investigation by The Standard. Almost a third of these charges were listed as campaign meetings, and it’s unclear who Lara has been wining and dining during meals costing hundreds or, in at least one case, more than $1,000. Story

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WECA’s Government Relations Surveys Legislation At its April meeting, WECA’s Government Relations Committee adopted the following positions:

AB 76 (Alvarez - D) Existing law sets rules for how local agencies dispose of surplus land, which is land declared unnecessary for their use through formal action. "Exempt surplus land" is land meeting criteria like having at least 25% of units for lower-income households and a minimum average density of 10 units per acre. This bill proposes changing these requirements so that 25% of units, excluding those for academic institution students, faculty, or staff, must be for lower-income households. The density requirement remains 10 units per acre, calculated over the entire area, including housing for students, faculty, and staff. WECA Position: SIA (Support if Amended)

AB 231 (Ta - R) Would allow up to a $5,000 tax credit for employers with five or fewer employees equal to 40% of the qualified wages paid to an individual that, among other things, has been convicted of a felony, as provided, and has a hiring date not more than one year after the date the individual was convicted or was released from prison WECA Position: Support

AB 296 (Davies - R) This bill would require school districts and schools to host at least one apprenticeship fair event during each school year. WECA Position: Support

AB 303 (Addis - D) Restricts new installations of utility size BESS WECA Position: Oppose

AB 305 (Arambula - D) This bill would exempt small modular reactors from existing law prohibiting new nuclear power plant construction until it’s too late. WECA Position: Support

AB 306 (Schultz - D) It proposes a moratorium on adopting or modifying new state and local building standards affecting residential units from June 1, 2025, to June 1, 2031, with limited exceptions. WECA Position: Support

AB 345 (Jackson - D) Implements a deadline by which the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) must render a decision on an application for a new apprenticeship program outside of the building and construction trades and firefighting programs and provides for conditional approval if certain conditions are met. WECA Position: Watch

AB 485 (Ortega - D) Supported by unions, AB 485 requires state license agencies like CSLB to deny an application or renewal to an employer with any unsatisfied final judgment for nonpayment of wages. Only opponent is the hospital association. WECA Position: Support

AB 521 (Carrillo - D) Provides that the Contractors State License Board is not liable for legal fees or costs related to actions against a contractor when the contractor has a deposit filed with the Board in lieu of a bond. Specifically, this bill provides that the Contractors State License Board is not liable for any legal fees or costs in any action, as specified, against any deposit filed with the Board, regardless of when it was filed with the registrar. WECA Position: Support

AB 538 (Berman - D) Section 1776 already requires the production of CPRs within 10 days of receipt of a request, and AB 538 doesn't change that. Instead, the bill's intent appears to address situations where a request for CPRs is made through the awarding body, but the awarding body doesn't have the records in its possession. These amendments require the awarding body to obtain the documents from the "relevant contractor." If the contractor doesn't comply, the awarding body must notify DLSE, who can seek penalties. WECA Position: Watch

AB 559 (Berman - D) This bill expands "home improvement" to include construction related to ADUs on residential properties. It imposes penalties for licensees or unlicensed individuals who take excessive down payments or progress payments that cause financial loss to consumers, with license revocation and a minimum $10,000 civil penalty for violators. WECA Position: Watch

AB 667 (Solache - D) Requires CSLB to provide examination interpreters WECA Position: Watch

AB 742 (Elhawary - D) Requires CSLB to prioritize license applications from contractors who are descendants of American slaves WECA Position: Watch

AB 765 (Flora - R) Sponsored by Coalition for ETP and Jobs, this bill would prohibit money in the Employment Training Fund from being diverted, transferred, or otherwise used to pay the interest charged on federal loans to the Unemployment Fund or related liabilities without the approval of the Legislature by statute and a public report justifying the necessity for the diversion, transfer, or use. The bill would also make related findings and declarations. WECA Position: Support

AB 862 (Castillo - R) It requires the collection and reporting through the California School Dashboard (Dashboard) and Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) of the percentage of students who intend to enroll in college or specified careers. WECA Position: Support

AB 963 (Petrie-Norris - D) Requires owners and developers undertaking any public works project to make specified records available to the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), multi-employer Taft-Hartley trust funds, and to joint labor-management committees (JLMCs). Supported by unions, opposed by developers and contractors. Opposed by California Housing Consortium, California Housing Partnership Corporation, Housing California WECA Position: Watch

AB 1002 (Gabriel - D) AB 1002 will allow the DOJ to bring a civil action that would revoke or suspend an existing contractor license, or bar the licensure or deny the re-licensure of a contractor previously found to be illegally withholding wages. CEA thinks they'll be okay so long as jurisdictional issues can’t be included in the process. The bill was triggered by West Coast Drywall, which was a pretty bad actor. WECA Position: Watch

AB 1104 (Pellerin - D) The bill proposes that nonresidential photovoltaic facilities producing less than one megawatt can qualify for NEM tariffs, even if contractor compliance issues exist. Such contractors are granted 90 days to rectify unintentional violations, avoiding penalties if promptly addressed and proven corrected. WECA Position: Support

AB 1198 (Haney - D) Requires contractors to pay the new prevailing wage whenever DIR changes them. WECA Position: Oppose

AB 1221 (Bryan - D) This bill requires employers to notify workers 30 days before introducing any workplace surveillance tools. The notification must detail the data collected, its purpose, and the necessity of the surveillance. It prohibits the use of surveillance technologies that incorporate facial, gait, or emotion recognition. The Labor Commissioner is responsible for enforcing the bill, employees can take civil action for violations, and public prosecutors can also enforce the provisions. Employers violating the bill face a $500 civil penalty for each infraction. WECA Position: Oppose

AB 1234 (Ortega - D) AB 1234 (Ortega) penalizes defendants for exercising their right to a hearing on the merits. It creates a new, automatic thirty percent penalty that would apply regardless of whether the defendant acted in good faith. WECA Position: Oppose

AB 1235 (Rogers - D) Prohibits a contractor from being prequalified for, shortlisted for, or awarded a design-build contract with the Trustees of the California State University unless the contractor provides an enforceable commitment to the trustees that the contractor and its subcontractors at every tier will use a skilled and trained workforce to perform all work on the project or contract WECA Position: Watch

AB 1327 (Aguiar-Curry - D) This author sponsored bill would enable consumers to cancel home solicitation contracts, home improvement contracts, and seminar sales contracts via email WECA Position: Watch

AB 1331 (Elhawary - D) AB 1331 functionally prohibits the use of surveillance in every California workplace because of its overbroad language and, in doing so, undermines workplace safety. WECA Position: Oppose

AB 1371 (Sharp-Collins - D) This bill would revise and recast existing law to, among other things, allow an employee to refuse to perform a task assigned by an employer if the employee has an apprehension that the performance of the assigned task would result in injury or illness to the employee or other employees. WECA Position: Oppose

SB 61 (Cortese - D) Limits the retention payment amount for a private work of improvement from exceeding five percent, subject to certain exceptions. WECA Position: Support

SB 75 (Smallwood-Cuevas - D) Creates a Reentry Pilot Project in the counties of Alameda, Los Angeles, and San Diego to provide workforce training and transitional support to formerly incarcerated individuals committed to careers in the skilled trades. WECA Position: Support

SB 84 (Niello - R) SB 84 would prohibit construction-related accessibility claims under the ADA and the Unruh Civil Rights Act from being initiated until a small business defendant has been served with a demand letter specifying each alleged violation and given 120 days to correct them. WECA Position: Support

SB 261 (Wahab - D) This bill attempts to recover unpaid wages owed to workers by: 1) requiring the Labor Commissioner (LC) to post a copy of an order, decision, or award (ODA) on a claim for unpaid wages on the division’s internet website; 2) prescribing when a posting can be removed; 3) requiring notification by certified mail to employers before the posting of an ODA; 4) subjecting, for final judgments unsatisfied after 180 days, the employer to a civil penalty not to exceed three times the outstanding judgment amount; and 5) authorizing the LC to adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedures to enforce these provisions. Posting every single ODA online effectively creates a shopping list for trial attorneys WECA Position: Oppose

SB 272 (Becker - D) SB 272 authorizes the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) to enter into job order contracts (JOCs). Requires JOCs to be subject to the project labor agreement (PLA) between SamTrans and the San Mateo Building Trades Council or an amendment or extension of that agreement. WECA Position: SIA (Support if Amended)

SB 291 (Grayson - D) Repeals the requirement that all contractors must have a workers' compensation policy, except for roofers. WECA Position: Oppose

SB 310 (Wiener - D) Violates last year’s amendments to PAGA by permitting W&H penalties to be recovered through an independent civil action under PAGA. WECA Position: Oppose

SB 464 (Smallwood-Cuevas - D) SB 464 would encourage new, costly litigation against employers based on the publication of broad, unreliable data collected by the state. WECA Position: Oppose

SB 573 (Smallwood-Cuevas - D) SB 573 would replace the state’s existing corporate tax rate with a tiered tax rate based on the difference between the median employee pay and the pay of the highest-paid executive. The rates would become active on January 1, 2026, ranging from 7 percent to 13 percent, depending on the pay ratio. The rate would increase by 50 percent if a company reduces employees in the United States by 10 percent or more and increases foreign contracted employees. WECA Position: Oppose

SB 682 (Allen - D) This bill prohibits a person from distributing, selling, or offering for sale covered products that contain intentionally added PFAS beginning January 1, 2027. Prohibits certain specified products that contain intentionally added PFAS unless the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) made a determination that the use of PFAS in the product is a currently unavoidable use. By banning essential materials—from heat pumps to electrical cabling—SB 682 would drive up housing costs, jeopardize safety, and further exacerbate the state’s housing crisis. WECA Position: Oppose

SCR 55 (Niello - R) Would declare the week of April 27, 2025, to May 3, 2025, inclusive, as “Apprenticeship Week” in the State of California and would request that the Governor issue a proclamation calling on the people of the great State of California to observe the week with appropriate programs and educational activities. WECA Position: Support

WECA is excited to announce a new self-paced online course offering for Journeyworkers and advanced Electrician Trainees: Residential Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)!

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This self-paced intermediate residential electrical course will help your team members to comprehensively understand a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), including installation and commissioning. While there are many Energy Storage Systems (ESS), this course will focus on rechargeable batteries, specifically Lithium-Ion.

Course Outcomes Include:

• Students will be able to identify the required equipment for a residential BESS.
• Students will be able to explain National Electrical Code requirements applicable to a BESS.
• Students will simulate a residential BESS's correct equipment layout and conduit sizing requirements.
• Students will be able to identify safety procedures and required steps applicable to installing and commissioning a BESS.

Total class hours available: 16

Standard tuition fee: $199

WECA Member Contractor discounts apply! (Call us at 1-877-444-9322 if you'd like to learn more about that.) Or, if you're already set up:

Enroll your team in Self-Paced Residential Battery Energy Storage Systems today!

And watch for Commercial BESS, coming soon!

Encourage Your Employees to Join WECA at an Apprenticeship Programs Open House in Sacramento in Celebration of National Apprenticeship Day 2025 on April 30th!



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This April 30th, WECA is celebrating National Apprenticeship Day 2025 with an Open House event from 2:30 to 4:30 PM at our Sacramento Apprenticeship Training Facility! Please encourage your employees to join us for this fun and informative April event that just might be their first step into their future career!

At this WECA Apprenticeship Program Open House, your employees will:

• Learn more about WECA's three state and federally-approved Electrical (Commercial Electrical and Residential Electrical) and Low Voltage (Sound and Communications Installer-Voice Data Video and Fire Life Safety) Apprenticeship programs
• Tour the facility
• See lab demos
• Meet WECA instructors and staff
• Get their individual questions answered
• Learn about the application process
• And more!

Please encourage your employees to pre-register for the event ahead of time to secure their spot, but we will also accept walk-ins on the day of the event if space allows. Pre-registration will allow them to receive event reminders and updated event information.

Apprenticeship means they get paid to learn. It's a path to a great, skilled career, without having to take on any college debt.

Please encourage your employees to RSVP here for the WECA Sacramento Open House!

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Spread the word! Download a flyer to share with your employees!

 

Thank You to Member Contractor K S Telecom for Joining Our Efforts!








 

March was a busy but productive month for Brandon Drew, WECA's Apprenticeship Workforce Development Recruiter and Outreach Specialist!

Brandon conducted outreach with high school students at the following Sacramento-area high schools: Marysville High School in Marysville, Natomas High School in Sacramento, and Twelve Bridges High School in Lincoln. Also joining Brandon at Twelve Bridges' third-annual High School and College Career Fair was WECA Member Contractor K S Telecom!

We can't wait to see where Brandon goes in April!

Heath Anderson, who handles our outreach efforts in Arizona, has some upcoming events on the docket as well!

 

For WECA and our longtime Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship instructor Zach Wallace, it’s not only a heartfelt goodbye and thank you—but also a “see you soon”!

Zach Wallace clocked out from teaching WECA Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship full-time on March 31st, after 19 total years with WECA (with two years first spent teaching for the Electrician Trainee Program and then seventeen years spent teaching for the Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program). However, Zach will continue to teach part-time for WECA's GetWired program, so luckily for all of us and our students, we haven't seen or heard the last of him!

During his tenure with WECA, Zach has been a devoted and popular instructor and an instrumental part of the WECA family. The mark he has left on WECA is indelible—but it seems that WECA left a positive lasting mark on him, too.

“While working at WECA, I learned how to overcome my fear of public speaking,” Zach recalled. “Not only that, but WECA taught me how to have a career and not just a job. I can honestly say I’ve lived a dream.”

Zach’s favorite aspects of his career were the countless opportunities to train and educate the future electrical workforce and being part of the WECA team.

“The service that we provide is awesome. But for me, helping students get something that is important to them and seeing them start out untrained and five years later noticing the growth that has taken place in them—and for me to have been a small piece of that—is really satisfying.”

“The staff,” Zach continued, “is like family. People here are so supportive and genuinely care to help in any way they can. I would not have had the success that I’ve had if it wasn’t for all of you.”

With tenure and retirement comes wisdom—which Zach has in spades.

“I would like to say to my colleagues, laugh, have fun, and learn as you go. Even from the students. Everyone has something to offer in this educational system,” Zach said.

“My parting advice for apprentices is, you are our future electricians. Never forget when you started and what that felt like. You will become the trainers and leaders in this industry. Treat your apprentices the way you would want to be treated,” Zach advised.

For Zach, “retirement” is a hard word to grasp. “Let’s call it the next chapter,” Zach says instead. “I want to say I am turning the page. I am planning on doing a little electrical work for myself. Thinking about getting a real estate license. Just to name a few. But I don’t really know yet. I want to restore an old car or maybe just sit on the porch and drink lemonade all day…not! Maybe some hunting and fishing. (Zach is moving to Alabama.) The list goes on and on…”

Zach, your next chapter sounds incredible, and we are confident that you will nail it! We thank you for all of your hard work, dedication, and contributions to the WECA family over the years, and are glad that current and future classes of GetWired program students will get to enjoy having you as their instructor for a bit longer. 

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We celebrated Zach and his contributions to WECA at a semi-retirement gathering at WECA's Sacramento Training Facility on March 31st!

During the gathering, onsite and remote colleagues alike feted Zach with a retrospective slideshow and delicious cake!

 

WECA's Summer 2025 (Jul-Sep) course catalog is now available on our website for your Electrician Trainees and Journeypersons to enroll in.

Encourage your employees to enroll as soon as they can--instructor-led classes always fill quickly! (And as always, there are plenty of self-paced online options, too.)

Share the Electrician Trainee course catalog

Share the Continuing Education course catalog

Your employees can also enroll over the phone at (877) 444-9322, in person at our Sacramento-area Training Facility, or by email at info@goweca.com.

Schedule Your Tour of a WECA Training Facility and See Why Our Programs and Member Benefits and Services Have Been Called "the Best in the West"


 

We've got an open invitation to electrical contractors to come tour a WECA Training Facility and see firsthand why WECA's apprenticeship and training programs and contractor member benefits and services have been called the "best in the West"!

Arrange your tour today

 

WECA is pleased to congratulate WECA Arizona Member Contractors Corbins, K2 Electric, and SECON for making the Phoenix Business Journal's Largest Phoenix-Area Electrical Contractors list!

Congratulations, everyone, on this achievement!

See the full list here.

Go Behind the Scenes at Our Open Houses

Video: Women in Construction Week 2025 Open House at WECA's Sacramento Region Office and Training Center?



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Women in Construction Week 2025 Open House at WECA's Phoenix Training Center/Arizona Headquarters

WECA Arizona hosted a Women in Construction Week 2025 open house in support of Women in Construction Week 2025 at our Phoenix Training Center/Arizona Headquarters on March 6.

The open house, which celebrated women in construction and educated attendees on the merits of WECA Arizona's Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program, hosted attendees including secondary and post-secondary students, individuals pursuing career transitions, Phoenix-area electrical contractors and Phoenix-area community partners, educational partners and policy makers.

The highlight of the open house was a panel comprised of women from the apprenticeship and administrative sides of Phoenix's electrical industry. Participating in the panel were Shannon Denetsosie, WECA Arizona's first woman Commercial Electrical apprentice graduate and employee of WECA Arizona member contractor Corbins; Solei Donahue, a first-year WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical apprentice who works for Corbins; Arlev Oquendo-Boscan, a Quality Assurance Quality Control Inspector for Corbins and Ashley Whelihan, who works in Business Development for WECA Arizona Member Contractor K2 Electric.

The panel members provided insight into their reasons for working in the electrical industry and the rewards and challenges of doing so, and shared advice with attendees considering pursuing careers in the electrical industry.

Shelly Seitz, a program manager for Grand Canyon University's Center for Workforce Development, and Kate Glantz, the co-founder of Move Over Bob, a tradeswoman-led media and lifestyle brand, also attended the open house.

"The support of our partners is just as important as the efforts of our members in providing a quality view of the opportunity that awaits the women who would like to become tomorrow's electricians," said Heath Anderson, WECA Arizona's Outreach and Workforce Development Specialist. "We deeply appreciate Corbins, K2, and PCL for having staff on hand to speak to our guests about working in our trade. Several guests have already put in applications [for apprenticeship] with a few of our members. Hopefully, the coming years will see a greater number of women helping build the Arizona we want."







K2 Electric employees there in support included (from left to right): Michelle Cameron, HR Recruiting; Stephanie Misplay, Workforce Planning Specialist; Amber Todd, HR Supervisor; Ashley Whelihan, Business Development, and Robyn Rosenboom, Director of Workforce Development



Corbins panel participants (from left to right): Solei Donahue; Shannon Denetsosie, and Arlev Oquendo-Boscan



Speaking panel of Corbins and K2 Electric employees included (from left to right): Shannon Denetsosie of Corbins; Arlev Oquendo-Boscan of Corbins; Ashley Whelihan of K2 Electric, and Solei Donahue of Corbins

 

WECA is excited to announce an update to our original WECA-developed virtual reality (VR) app for apprenticeship: BESS 2.0, the second iteration of WECA’s VR gaming app focused on Commercial Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)!

Fourth-year Commercial Electrical apprentices studying Commercial BESS have been practicing hands-on skills on a real-world project complete with interactive jobsite simulations in VR since the app’s introduction in our curriculum in Fall 2023.

During gameplay in the BESS VR app, apprentices reference plans; see the actual scale and layout of BESS containers; and explore and interact with PV inverters, transformers, and switchboards. Apprentices also use maps and checklists to walk through the jobsite and inspect equipment, connections, signage and more—everything needed for pre-commissioning approval. Along the way, they're quizzed with questions related to Code articles and site-specific requirements, and presented with problems and opportunities to fix them to pass inspection.

BESS 2.0 adds solar panels, enhanced accuracy in replicating real-world jobsites to prepare apprentices for the evolving demands of the industry, an expanded range of learner interactions such as new tools and tasks that help apprentices verify that clearances meet code requirements and reinforce critical safety and compliance standards, and advanced assessment and feedback features that offer detailed performance insights to help apprentices improve their skills.

“Our newly enhanced in-house BESS VR simulation offers a cutting-edge training experience with a streamlined inspection process, allowing users to efficiently navigate job site evaluation for pre-commissioning,” says Maris Kaplan, WECA’s Curriculum Development Manager. “These enhancements were driven by extensive testing conducted by our curriculum team, who observed apprentices in real training sessions and gathered instructor feedback. This iterative process revealed opportunities to improve engagement and clarity, leading to key upgrades such as the introduction of Ollie, our virtual site supervisor. Ollie provides real-time guidance and hints, ensuring a smoother learning curve. Additionally, we condensed the original three-part inspection into one, prioritizing key takeaways and increasing immersion.”

BESS 2.0 is already rolling out in a fourth-year WECA commercial apprenticeship classroom near you. We’re pleased to continue our apprentices’ journey of immersive discovery and for WECA to continue to pave the way for implementing state-of-the-art learning technologies in industry-leading apprenticeship curriculum. 

Content Courtesy of Construction Dive
 

As spending, interest and education around artificial intelligence increases, pressure grows for contractors to either adapt or get left by the wayside.

By: Matthew Thibault • Published Jan. 8, 2025

In an era of rapid technological advancement for the construction industry, one piece of technology looms above the rest in status and notoriety — artificial intelligence.

Its omnipresence in the larger business conversation has not escaped construction. While industry pros took a cautious stance toward the tech after its widespread release in late 2022, contractors are now increasingly turning to AI in order to solve business problems, largely via chat-like interfaces that serve up hard-to-find project specs with just a few keystrokes.

For example, London-based Balfour Beatty is in the process of developing StoaOne, a large language model generative AI assistant that will help employees mine what Kasey Bevans, Balfour Beatty US chief information officer, calls “untold billions of data points.”

“To our teammates, it will feel like StoaOne is talking to them, providing instant insights and project information as they procure, plan and execute their projects,” Bevans said in an email to Construction Dive.

Swedish contractor Skanska is also working on its own AI helper — Sidekick, a generative AI chatbot built on the same technology as ChatGPT, which will help employees at the company plumb the firm’s collective expertise on projects and problems. The company told Construction Dive that Sidekick had seen over 2,500 interactions during the 30 days prior to Dec. 16, when Skanska pulled the data.

Using AI in this way addresses one of construction’s oldest and most fundamental challenges – namely, culling together and making sense of information from hundreds and even thousands of stakeholders on a project in an industry that is more fragmented than unified. The result has been an AI arms race among contractors to develop tools — or bolt them together off the shelf — to make sense of myriad data sources in seconds. 

“Data is everywhere, and it’s unstructured, and the challenge that I’ve had over the last four or five years is coming up with the right meta tagging schemes or structures to make them universally useful to everyone,” said Mike Zeppieri, vice president of emerging technology at Skanska USA. “What AI has allowed us to do is not have to worry about that as much, as long as we build it into a data model.”

Top down and bottom up

However, as AI democratizes access to project information and the knowledge gap levels out, contractors are also feeling heat to adopt it faster, and better, than their peers.

While most see it as a tool to aid their business, contractors are also experiencing a subtle, underlying pressure to adapt or get left behind — whether from higher ups at the home office or teams’ telegraphed sense of urgency in the field. 

In particular, small contractors have reached a critical point in their businesses, where it’s important to keep up with tech adoption.

“It’s time to get big or strongly consider an exit very shortly,” said Chad Prinkey, the CEO of Baltimore-based Well Built Construction Consulting, a strategic consulting firm. Prinkey added that for a business to make those leaps, it needs financial strength.

“If you’d rather spare yourself the hassle of growth, consider selling as close to now as possible. Prices for small firms will diminish as the gap in sophistication between them and their acquirers grows,” Prinkey said.

In that sense, technology leaders may get squeezed from the top down, but also from the bottom up, where if they don’t implement AI as a business, their boots on the ground may go out and acquire it themselves. For example, while Gilbane prides itself as a tech-forward contractor, its field personnel have been clamoring for even faster uptake.

“We [started] to hear a lot of feedback and a lot of noise from our field teams, saying, ‘Why are we not doing this?’” said Rawle Sawh, Providence, Rhode Island-based Gilbane Building Co.’s director of operations technology. “‘A competitor of ours is doing this. Why are we not doing it?’”

More tech, more money

Contractors across the globe are already experimenting with AI as a means to enhance their businesses via outside companies.

Gilbane, for example, used New York City-based Trunk Tools’ chat-like offering to track nearly 21,000 documents on its $456 million joint venture renovation of the Baird Center, a Milwaukee convention venue. 

“How important is AI to the business as we move forward?” mused Lindsay Marshall, Gilbane’s director of data and analytics. “We recognize the power and the criticality of staying on top of the value that AI can offer.”

As AI’s value grows, so does the cash spend on the part of contractors looking to leverage it better, faster and smarter.

Jim Barrett, chief innovation officer for New York City-based Turner Construction, said that the company has at least tripled or quadrupled its investment in AI over the past couple years. 

Barrett said that while the firm already has in-house AI staff, the next steps would be to implement other large language models, like Google Gemini or Anthropic’s Claude, another conversational LLM backed by Google and Amazon, and integrate them into the company’s in-house systems.

“We’re moving very quickly, and the challenge is keeping up with the rate of improvement in the AI solutions,” Barrett said.

Gilbane’s philosophy on AI usage is similar. Sawh said that if teams can demonstrate a need for a solution as well as a return on investment for the builder, Gilbane will likely spring for it.

“Let’s just say, where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Sawh said.

No risk, no opportunity

While contractors say AI provides a host of benefits, the advancement brings an implied problem — builders who fall behind in adopting the tech also risk losing a competitive edge in the marketplace, experts say.

Turner’s Barrett echoed a popular refrain — that AI won’t take a worker’s job, but the person who uses AI will. The same, he said, is true of companies, in that a builder that uses AI will disrupt the business of a builder that doesn’t.

“What I see in our industry and other industries is caution, almost fear, imagining all these scenarios of things that could go wrong,” Barrett said. “If you want zero risk, you also have zero opportunity.”

Balfour Beatty’s Bevans agreed.

“We also know that adopting new technologies and implementing them in our operations differentiates ourselves so we can significantly change the construction industry,” Bevans said.

Gilbane’s Sawh takes a more measured approach. Despite the company’s ongoing adoption of AI, the tech’s status as make-or-break tool is still undecided, in his view.

“I don’t necessarily know if it would sink the ship,” he said about not adopting AI generally across the business to maintain a competitive position in the market. At the same time, he also aims to give his field teams the tools they need to do the job.

“We want to be able to support them, and this is the only way we can do it, by staying ahead of it,” Sawh said.

 

WECA is excited to announce an update to our original WECA-developed virtual reality (VR) app for apprenticeship: BESS 2.0, the second iteration of WECA’s VR gaming app focused on Commercial Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)!

Fourth-year Commercial Electrical apprentices studying Commercial BESS have been practicing hands-on skills on a real-world project complete with interactive jobsite simulations in VR since the app’s introduction in our curriculum in Fall 2023.

During gameplay in the BESS VR app, apprentices reference plans; see the actual scale and layout of BESS containers; and explore and interact with PV inverters, transformers, and switchboards. Apprentices also use maps and checklists to walk through the jobsite and inspect equipment, connections, signage and more—everything needed for pre-commissioning approval. Along the way, they're quizzed with questions related to Code articles and site-specific requirements, and presented with problems and opportunities to fix them to pass inspection.

BESS 2.0 adds solar panels, enhanced accuracy in replicating real-world jobsites to prepare apprentices for the evolving demands of the industry, an expanded range of learner interactions such as new tools and tasks that help apprentices verify that clearances meet code requirements and reinforce critical safety and compliance standards, and advanced assessment and feedback features that offer detailed performance insights to help apprentices improve their skills.

“Our newly enhanced in-house BESS VR simulation offers a cutting-edge training experience with a streamlined inspection process, allowing users to efficiently navigate job site evaluation for pre-commissioning,” says Maris Kaplan, WECA’s Curriculum Development Manager. “These enhancements were driven by extensive testing conducted by our curriculum team, who observed apprentices in real training sessions and gathered instructor feedback. This iterative process revealed opportunities to improve engagement and clarity, leading to key upgrades such as the introduction of Ollie, our virtual site supervisor. Ollie provides real-time guidance and hints, ensuring a smoother learning curve. Additionally, we condensed the original three-part inspection into one, prioritizing key takeaways and increasing immersion.”

BESS 2.0 is already rolling out in a fourth-year WECA commercial apprenticeship classroom near you. We’re pleased to continue our apprentices’ journey of immersive discovery and for WECA to continue to pave the way for implementing state-of-the-art learning technologies in industry-leading apprenticeship curriculum. 

Meet Some of the Inspiring Women in Our Programs and Go Behind the Scenes at Our Open Houses

Mariah Catuiza, WECA Fresno Commercial Electrical Apprentice

Mariah Catuiza, who works for WECA Member Contractor Westech Systems and is a Commercial Electrical Apprentice at our Fresno Training Facility, explains the benefits of WECA's apprenticeship training program, tying it to her own career progression, and encouraging other women to consider the electrician career path:



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Amanda Young, WECA Sacramento Low Voltage Apprentice

Amanda Young, Low Voltage Apprentice at our Sacramento Training Facility who works for WECA Member Contractor Intelecom Data and Fiber, discusses how fun and rewarding the work can be that she gets to undertake in WECA's apprenticeship training program. She talks about how the Low Voltage field covers a variety of technologies, and how she enjoys that she and other members of her cohort all get to work on different facets of the industry and share that knowledge with each other when they meet up in class. She strongly encourages other women to consider this career:



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Shannon Denetsosie, WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprentice Graduate

Shannon Denetsosie, WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprentice Graduate employed with WECA Member Contractor Corbins, discusses her sense of accomplishment in completing the four-year program, and talks positively about how at first it was a little intimidating being on a worksite that was mostly men, but she quickly found that everyone helps each other out and "It's like you're getting more brothers in your family." Shannon says that she's loving what she does, and she encourages other women to go for it and explore electrical apprenticeship with WECA and this career!



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In Her Own Words: Shannon Denetsosie, WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprentice Graduate

Content courtesy of Shannon Denetsosie

"Construction work was not new to me. Growing up on the Navajo reservation, I watched my grandfather work in mines and heard the stories of how he built the home that I was raised in with no training or schooling of any kind. Seeing what my grandfather built and later the buildings that my dad worked in as a welder, I was always so proud to know that my family had a hand in building things.

I went into construction at the age of 18 and worked as a laborer or welder's helper for a few years, until I became a mother at 20 years old. I became a stay-at-home mom for a year, then started working as a production worker, a picker, then one day I was given an opportunity to work as a Quality Control Inspector for a roofing company that produced roofing insulation. After that, I went on to work in quality positions in plastics and food companies.

During my last job before entering into electrical, I worked as a Production/Shipping/Quality Control Supervisor for a gelato company. As I worked, I attended Pima Medical Institute in Veterinary Technology. I graduated 9 years ago with an Associate degree. However, getting a job in that field is a lot harder than I expected and life sometimes does not allow you to continue what you aspired to do.

Going into the electrical trade was something that just happened after trying to make ends meet with just a warehouse position and crazy hours sometimes, but with very little pay to make ends up. To go into a specific trade, I had my fears and uncertainties of what I would have to deal with.

My first job as an electrical worker was with Delta Diversified at Desert Diamond Casino, where I learned how to terminate transformers, panels, dimmer panels, and all things electrical. I realized that I was good at what I was doing and became more interested in how everything worked.

I had planned to get into their apprenticeship program. However, their program did not fit my life. Then COVID hit and I was let go. I wanted to continue my journey in electrical, so through temp agencies I took jobs for electrical work or even QC work and put in applications with electrical companies.

After many interviews and no luck on anything, I decided to try getting back into veterinary.

Then I got an interview with Corbins and was hired that day in December 2020. Since that day, I went from being an electrical worker to an apprentice who is near the end of completing the program. (Editor's note: In the time since this was written, Shannon successfully completed and celebrated her graduation from WECA's Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship in Arizona.)

I honestly did not think that I would be able to come this far. However, with Corbins' partnership with WECA, it has made it possible for me to work and be in school, and get tons of on-the-job training, especially with being a single mother of two.

The apprenticeship program fits my life as a single mother and I love to learn new things and how things work. Throughout all these events leading up to where I am now, being in the construction trade has helped me build confidence in myself as well as enable me to provide for my kids.

I am now in the QA/QC department and am still looking to progress and learn more skills in this trade.

As a mother and woman in the electrical trade, I have set an example for my kids that if mom can do this, they can do it and accomplish their dreams.

Now my son is currently working for Delta Diversified at the second Desert Diamond Casino being built. He plans to enroll in their apprenticeship program at their next session.

Now with my daughter in her senior year of high school, her goals are to be a veterinarian, a welder, a mechanic, and an electrician.

It fills me with pride as a mother and woman, that I could set an example for my kids that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.

All thanks to Corbins and their partnership with WECA. I continue to learn and have had more doors open up to learning more in this trade." 

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Solei Donahue, WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprentice

This Women in Construction Week 2025, WECA is pleased to reintroduce Solei Donahue, a WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprentice.

WECA previously spotlighted Solei’s accomplishments in June 2024, following her inspiring speech during the 2024 State Workforce Summit in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Solei, who is a Native American woman from the Gila River Indian Community in Sacaton, Arizona, joined the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program through WECA and her employer’s (WECA Arizona Founding Member Contractor Corbins) partnership with Grand Canyon University’s pre-apprenticeship program.

“I joined Corbins through a fifteen-week internship program at Grand Canyon University,” Solei said during her speech. “I decided it would be a good experience on my resume, and it would be useful for the future. But I knew once the second semester had started, that this was something I was interested in doing for the rest of my life.”

Solei also said during her speech that the pre-apprenticeship program “gave me confidence to keep pushing myself to stand for all the women in the workforce” and has aided her in “becoming a mature adult who is succeeding at life, in general…this program has given me all the tools and will continue to help me on my journey to becoming a future successful journeywoman.”

Looking back to when she started her official apprenticeship with WECA and Corbins, Solei reflects “I’ve always had an interest in doing the same things guys are doing, and when I found out they want women in construction, I was eager to join.”

Solei says that her first semester at WECA went by quickly but was motivating.

“It was a lot to learn, but I never got discouraged, because I was able to learn with my peers and the instructors are very helpful and encouraging,” Solei said. “I was able to gain new knowledge, and it has helped motivate me to keep furthering my education in the trade so I can help others who started out like me. It has allowed me to work independently in the field with the confidence in what I am doing every day.”

Solei’s positive experience with WECA and the industry leads her to believe that more women should pursue careers in the electrical industry because they will feel “empowered” and states her belief that women “often possess knowledge that others may not.”

Solei credits the powerful women who have “instilled confidence in her” with her success and determination.

“I’d like to thank Shelly Seitz for helping me be confident in my journey, and to the people who are more encouraging and accepting of women starting out in construction,” Solei said. “I’d also like to shout out my biggest supporter and the woman who made me who I am today—my mom, Janice. Without my mom, I wouldn’t be as strong as I am, or as passionate about speaking about my journey, no matter how hard it might have been. I have deep appreciation for everyone I’ve met on this journey and am very excited to see who I’ll meet in the future!”

Thank you for being part of the WECA family, and the growing cohort of women in the electrical industry, Solei! We are inspired by your dedication to encouraging women to join the electrical industry and your support for women already in the electrical industry. It is an honor to have you representing WECA (and women in the industry) in Arizona!

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Women in Construction Week 2025 Open House at WECA's Sacramento Region Office and Training Center



Women in Construction Week 2025 Open House at WECA's Phoenix Training Center/Arizona Headquarters

WECA Arizona hosted a Women in Construction Week 2025 open house in support of Women in Construction Week 2025 at our Phoenix Training Center/Arizona Headquarters on March 6.

The open house, which celebrated women in construction and educated attendees on the merits of WECA Arizona's Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program, hosted attendees including secondary and post-secondary students, individuals pursuing career transitions, Phoenix-area electrical contractors and Phoenix-area community partners, educational partners and policy makers.

The highlight of the open house was a panel comprised of women from the apprenticeship and administrative sides of Phoenix's electrical industry. Participating in the panel were Shannon Denetsosie, WECA Arizona's first woman Commercial Electrical apprentice graduate and employee of WECA Arizona member contractor Corbins; Solei Donahue, a first-year WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical apprentice who works for Corbins; Arlev Oquendo-Boscan, a Quality Assurance Quality Control Inspector for Corbins and Ashley Whelihan, who works in Business Development for WECA Arizona Member Contractor K2 Electric.

The panel members provided insight into their reasons for working in the electrical industry and the rewards and challenges of doing so, and shared advice with attendees considering pursuing careers in the electrical industry.

Shelly Seitz, a program manager for Grand Canyon University's Center for Workforce Development, and Kate Glantz, the co-founder of Move Over Bob, a tradeswoman-led media and lifestyle brand, also attended the open house.

"The support of our partners is just as important as the efforts of our members in providing a quality view of the opportunity that awaits the women who would like to become tomorrow's electricians," said Heath Anderson, WECA Arizona's Outreach and Workforce Development Specialist. "We deeply appreciate Corbins, K2, and PCL for having staff on hand to speak to our guests about working in our trade. Several guests have already put in applications [for apprenticeship] with a few of our members. Hopefully, the coming years will see a greater number of women helping build the Arizona we want." 

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K2 Electric employees there in support included (from left to right): Michelle Cameron, HR Recruiting; Stephanie Misplay, Workforce Planning Specialist; Amber Todd, HR Supervisor; Ashley Whelihan, Business Development, and Robyn Rosenboom, Director of Workforce Development



Corbins panel participants (from left to right): Solei Donahue; Shannon Denetsosie, and Arlev Oquendo-Boscan



Speaking panel of Corbins and K2 Electric employees included (from left to right): Shannon Denetsosie of Corbins; Arlev Oquendo-Boscan of Corbins; Ashley Whelihan of K2 Electric, and Solei Donahue of Corbins


 

 

Attention Commercial Electrical, Residential Electrical, and Low Voltage Electrical Apprenticeship Grads in California, Arizona, and Utah:

Did You Know That You Can Seek College Credits for Program Completion?


 

WECA's California Commercial and Residential Electrical Apprenticeship programs received college credit recommendations from the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) in 2018, and the California Low Voltage Electrical Apprenticeship program received the college credit recommendation in 2021. WECA's Arizona and Utah Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship programs also received recommendations from NCCRS in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

This benefit provides WECA Commercial, Residential, and Low Voltage Electrical apprentice graduates the ability to gain access to college credits for completion of any of these programs by using credit recommendations set forth by NCCRS. While admissions and acceptance of transfer credit isn't guaranteed, more than 1,400 colleges and universities nationwide currently consider awarding credit based on NCCRS recommendations.

Using This Benefit: a Guide for Our Apprentices and Graduates

Q: Who is eligible?
A: Any graduates of WECA's Low Voltage Electrical Apprenticeship program in the class of 2021, or beyond. (Any graduates of WECA's Commercial or Residential Electrical Apprenticeships since September of 2013 are eligible for those programs.

Q: So WECA apprentice grads automatically have college credits?
A: No. NCCRS makes college credit recommendations. (From NCCRS: A college credit recommendation is an academic advisement about the comparability of a learning experience to college-level instruction, such as undergraduate or graduate course work, the amount of credit that may be awarded, and areas where credit could apply. The credit recommendations are intended to guide college officials as they consider awarding credit to persons who have successfully completed NCCRS evaluated learning experiences. College credit recommendations are not actual college credits because the New York State Board of Regents does not award college credit. Through the results of the NCCRS evaluations, however, the Board of Regents encourages colleges and universities to consider accepting the credit recommendations.)

Q: How does acceptance of college credit recommendations work?
A: It is up to the college or university to choose whether to grant college credits, how many, and in what subjects, for completion of a WECA program. NCCRS recommends specific credit amounts and subjects. College and university admissions departments should reference NCCRS' WECA listing here. NCCRS recommends up to 30 semester credit hours for completion of WECA's Low Voltage Electrical Apprenticeship program, up to 66 semester credit hours for completion of WECA's Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program, and up to 40 semester credit hours for completion of WECA's Residential Electrical Apprenticeship program.

Q: How do WECA Commercial and Residential Electrical Apprenticeship grads use this benefit?
A: Apprentice grads should:

• Identify the college or university they wish to ask to accept a credit recommendation from NCCRS for work completed at WECA. (A list of colleges and universities who have previously participated with NCCRS is here. Seeing a college or university on this list is a promising sign that they will consider NCCRS' recommendation, but is not a guarantee. Further, just because a college or university is not yet shown on the list, does not mean the apprentice grad shouldn't request that they consider the credit recommendation.
• Work with their admissions advisor at their college or university of choice to learn the process for seeking college credits for their WECA Commercial, Residential, or Low Voltage Electrical Apprenticeship program completion. The college or university may refer to this as their PLA (prior learning assessment) process or policy. The applicant should share NCCRS' WECA credit recommendation with the decision makers at their college or university.
• Request a transcript from WECA as requested by their college or university. Email apregistrar@goweca.com with transcript requests.
• If the applicant encounters problems with their transfer credit request, they can contact NCCRS to request that NCCRS advocate on the applicant's behalf.

Q: What about the Electrician Trainee Program?
A: WECA is currently evaluating demand for college credit recommendations for its Electrician Trainee Program.

Q: What if I still have questions?
A: Please call us at 877-444-9322 and we'll do our best to help you out.

Attention Electrician Trainees and Continuing Education Students: April-June Instructor-Led ET/CE Classes Have Seats Remaining; Secure Yours ASAP

Prefer to Learn on Your Own Time and at Your Own Pace? Check Out Our Self-Paced ET/CE Course Options


 

The next round of WECA's GetWired classes for Electrician Trainees and Continuing Education students starts in a week and a half!

If you haven't yet signed up for your desired instructor-led classes, we've got good news for you: there are still seats open in some of these classes (with both online and onsite lab choices)! Enroll ASAP to reserve your spot!

Self-paced more your speed? Prefer to learn on your own time and at your own pace? We've got you covered there, too: check out our self-paced course options.

Use SmartDollar's (Your FREE Apprenticeship Benefit) Resources to Help You Prep Your Tax Returns




 

Content courtesy of SmartDollar

2024 Tax Season Breakdown

Tax season can be overwhelming, but a simple breakdown can make all the difference. Download the flyer to understand how to maximize your refund, avoid mistakes, and feel confident about your finances.

2024 Tax Checklist

It's that time of year again. Everyone is federally mandated to think about their money. Set yourself up for success by making sure you have everything you need to file. Download the checklist.

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Not yet signed up for SmartDollar? No worries -- getting started is easy! Learn how below.

SmartDollar is a financial wellness benefit for WECA apprentices. We announced our partnership with the Dave Ramsey-founded online financial wellness platform in January, 2021 to provide our apprentices with a sound foundation in personal finance management. This benefit is available to all WECA apprentices free of charge. Not yet signed up for SmartDollar? No worries -- scroll to the bottom of this article for instructions!

What is SmartDollar? SmartDollar is a step-by-step approach to handling money with the number-one authority in personal finance, Dave Ramsey. More than 4.5 million people have started on Dave's plan and taken control of their money, and you can too! SmartDollar will equip you to get out of debt, on a budget, and on your way to a strong financial foundation.

The average person pays off $9,405 of debt and saves $6,127 in the first twelve months, and you can too!

"This program is powerful yet simple to understand. The Baby Steps make understanding how to win with money easy! Dave's lessons are fun, informative, and incredibly encouraging. It really doesn't feel like I'm taking a financial course. It's more like learning finances from a good friend...or a financially savvy stand-up comedian! The online tools are fantastic as well, and I love being able to 'ASK DAVE' any question and do my budget online. Love it all!" - Recent participant

With SmartDollar, you'll learn how to...

• Jump-start your money
• Knock out debt
• Secure your dream home
• Retire in style
• Demystify your credit score

How does SmartDollar work? With so many ways to engage in SmartDollar activities and content, SmartDollar Points have been designed to encourage users to establish true behavior change. (Check out the graph below for a quick rundown). The greater the importance and required time of each activity, the greater the amount of points that can be earned. For example, each Core Lesson video completed is worth 250 points. Completing a shorter Deep Dive video is worth 50 points. Tracking a transaction in EveryDollar is only worth 20 points, but users are encouraged to track all their financial transactions with no points limitations. These example activities are key for building the confidence you need to reach your financial goals.







 

Taking advantage of your free financial wellness benefit, SmartDollar, is easy!

To set up your account after accessing your dashboard, click either of the links shown as highlighted in the screenshot to the right of this paragraph. You'll be taken to a page with a SmartDollar enrollment link, where you will be able to set up immediate access to this important benefit.

Ready to get started?

Login to your GOWECA dashboard

Congressional Democrats Re-Introduce PRO Act Last Wednesday, House and Senate Democrats re-introduced the “Protecting the Right to Organize Act” (or PRO Act), a bill that would rewrite much of the country’s private-sector labor laws by banning Right-to-Work states, require federal government-appointed arbitrators to mandate first contracts, effectively outlaw independent contracting, among other dramatic changes. Although it may only be a political stunt, as Teamsters’ President Sean O’Brien indicated during his podcast interview with Marianne Williamson, the legislation is being led this year by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), reported HuffPost. O’Brien explains the “inside baseball” being played inside Washington, explaining to Williamson how the “PRO Act was going to be used as a political pawn” (by Democrats). O’Brien then explains how the Teamsters are working with Democrats and Republicans to enact a “version” of the PRO Act and how his union avoids using the NLRB. The bill has passed the House of Representatives twice in the past, however, it has never reached the Senate Floor for a vote.

This year, with both the House and the Senate under Republican control, it is uncertain whether the bill would even pass the House, let alone reach the Senate Floor. In the unlikely event it were to pass both chambers, though, it would likely face a presidential veto.

On Tuesday, though, a bipartisan Senate bill was introduced that, if passed, would implement a key component of the PRO Act called binding arbitration. Given its bipartisanship and presuming the PRO Act fails, it is possible that the bipartisan binding arbitration bill may get support from both sides of the political divide. If that were to happen and the Faster Labor Contracts Act were to pass, it is unclear whether President Trump would veto it.

Predictably, employer representatives, including Associated Builders and Contractors and the Associated General Contractors of America, have long opposed the PRO Act, declaring it anti-competitive and claiming it may force workers to join a union when they don’t wish to.

“While the PRO Act purports to help workers, it actually strips away many of their rights and privacies while expanding opportunities to coerce law-abiding employers, thereby hurting the economy and upsetting a delicate balance of rights and restrictions established by the National Labor Relations Board, the courts, and Congress,” Brian Turmail, AGC’s vice president of public affairs and workforce, told Construction Dive. “If enacted, this measure will harm workers, undermine the economy and end decades of labor stability.” In a statement, Kristen Swearingen, ABC’s Vice President of Legislative and Political Affairs, called the PRO Act and its provisions harmful. Story

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California Union Pushes Arizona Jobs Out For more than 30 years, Axon, a public safety technology company that makes Tasers and bodycams, has called Scottsdale, AZ home. Founded by Chaparral High School graduate Rick Smith, the company is planning a major expansion of its corporate headquarters as part of a development of 74 acres near Hayden and the 101. The new investment would be approximately $1.3 billion. But an out-of-state labor group, Worker Power, the political arm of the California-based UniteHere, was lurking, determined to disrupt the job-creation project. Story

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Study Shows Workers Want Better Communication, Psychological Safety

• While workplace safety remains a top priority for employees, significant gaps persist between employee expectations and employer efforts, according to a new study by risk management provider AlertMedia.
• The report surveyed more than 2,000 full-time U.S. employees to understand their perceptions of safety and to provide employers with data and insights into how they can better deliver against employees’ safety expectations.
• Among the key findings, while nearly all employees (96%) believe physical safety at work is essential, more than half (56%) do not feel completely safe at work.
• Nearly all (95%) consider mental health important, yet 15% believe their employer ignores it altogether.

Read More

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Legislation

Licensure

SB 291 – Grayson | The CSLB wants to reverse the industry-supported elimination of workers’ compensation exemptions for construction contractors.

SB 282 – Wiener | Requires the California Energy Commission, by 2027, to establish a statewide certification program for licensed contractors of residential heat pump water heaters and heat pump heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to obtain a heat pump installation certification, and would require the commission to create a state training program.

Apprenticeship:

AB 296 – Davies | Would require schools to hold at least one career fair every year, which would include information on apprenticeships.

Contracts:

AB 483 – Irwin | Would create new contact requirements for installment contracts that could make home improvement loans disappear.

AB 559 – Berman | Would clarify that ADU construction falls under HIC requirements, controlling progress payments. The bill is in reaction to recent cases in which consumers lost hundreds of thousands on ADUs that were never delivered.

AB 1327 – Aguiar-Curry | Would permit a notice of cancellation of a home improvement or home solicitation contract to be conveyed to the seller orally by telephone.

SB 61 – Cortese | Will limit retention on private construction projects to 5% of the contract value.

SB 517 – Niello | Will require a home improvement contract with a subcontractor performing more than 50% of the total estimated project cost to contain the subcontractor's name and contact information.

Public Works:

AB 963 – Petrie-Norris | Requires contractors and developers to give unions extensive documents about development projects, putting contractors and their employees at risk.

AB 1198 – Haney | Will require contractors to pay new prevailing wage rates whenever DIR changes them.

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Lori Chavez-DeRemer Confirmed as Labor Secretary Several unions welcomed news of Chavez-DeRemer’s confirmation on Monday evening. The Amalgamated Transit Union called the former congresswoman from Oregon “a strong advocate for working people and unions.” Sean O’Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said Chavez-DeRemer will do “an excellent job” and “protect the working class.” Story

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Solar-Utilities Reporting, Guidance, and Education (SURGE) provides some essential resources to help solar contractors better understand prevailing wage requirements as they submit copies of certified payroll records to the SURGE Compliance Portal per AB 2143 and PUC 769.2.

Prevailing Wage/Labor Compliance Training The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) has announced its series of upcoming trainings for 2025. These educational seminars across the state provide an overview of prevailing wage and apprenticeship standards compliance and public works enforcement. The first webinar event is on Thursday, March 13, 2025 from 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM. To explore all of these upcoming events, please visit the following link: DIR Upcoming Trainings

DIR Distribution List To stay current with the DIR prevailing wage training and other information and resources, you can sign up for email notices. Please use the following link to sign up on the DIR’s website. Sign Up for DIR Email Notices

SURGE Upcoming Events Additionally, SURGE has upcoming events for solar contractors to navigate the SURGE Compliance Portal. Visit the SURGE Happenings website for upcoming event information.

• March 25, 2025: CPUC SURGE Event: What is AB 2143/PUC 769.2? How to Stay in Compliance - Register Here
• April 16, 2025: SURGE & DIR Informational Webinar (registration coming soon)

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30 states have adopted English as an official language—11 through ballot measures—since 1920 On March 1, President Donald Trump (R) issued an executive order "[designating] English as the official language of the United States." While the federal government had never established an official national language before, 30 states have designated English as their official language. Three of the 30 states—Alaska, Hawaii, and South Dakota—also recognize some Indigenous languages as co-official languages. Nebraska was the first state to adopt an official language by ballot measure in 1920. Oklahoma is the most recent state to vote on a measure, with voters approving State Question 751 in 2010. Story

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District Supes Denounce Taxpayers Association School districts pushing bond measures have long coveted endorsements from the San Diego County Taxpayers Association. But district superintendents started getting sick of the process the Taxpayers Association demanded. They raised concerns to the media before Taxpayers Association CEO Haney Hong resigned late last week. Story

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Rivas Purges Members from Assembly Committee Posts A group of Republican lawmakers—and at least one Democrat—have touched a nerve with Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister). In a late Friday night announcement, Rivas booted five Republican lawmakers from key committee posts. Story

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Out Of Energy: California paused a $290 million home energy rebate program on Monday, citing the uncertainty created by President Donald Trump's decision to freeze funding for climate-related programs, reports POLITICO. The California Energy Commission said it will stop accepting applications for the program, which uses federal money to help homeowners replace broken or inefficient heating or cooling systems with more efficient heat pumps. However, the commission said it would continue to honor rebates for homeowners whose applications have already been approved. The commission said in a statement that the program will be paused "until the Trump Administration provides additional information on the funding for this program."

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Law On Legislators’ Sponsored Travel Falls Short Following a CalMatters investigation, California’s campaign finance watchdog agency concluded this month that a law — meant to make transparent who is paying for California legislators’ sponsored travel — is falling short. In 2023, CalMatters revealed that a 2015 law requiring trip organizers to annually disclose their major donors had been used only twice in seven years — despite interest groups paying for millions of dollars in travel for lawmakers during that time. The Fair Political Practices Commission’s audit, triggered by CalMatters’ reporting, recommends simplifying disclosure requirements to cover more interest groups that take lawmakers to policy conferences and on international study tours — a change that can only be made by those very same legislators.

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My View

WECA’s new Industry Partner, Boyett Petroleum, is a third-generation independent fuel supplier of branded and unbranded petroleum products—including wholesale gasoline and diesel fuel—for the Western and Central United States. Their wholesale fuel solutions serve a variety of industries, such as branded gas stations, unbranded gas stations, trucking companies, and the agricultural industry.

Boyett Petroleum also offers a CRUISE Americard fleet card designed to help manage and maintain companies’ fleet fuel needs. This universal fleet card is a great tool to help businesses manage one of their largest expenses—fuel for their vehicles—and it’s customizable to help businesses save money on fuel. Businesses can set restrictions on the card including time of day, transactions per day, dollar limits per day, dollar limits per month, and the blockage of expensive stations to save, on average, 20 cents per gallon.

Boyett Petroleum’s solutions can help WECA Member Contractors “know to the penny” what they are spending on fuel. The universal fleet card is versatile—it can be used for fuel, or it can be used at businesses such as Jiffy Lube for oil changes. The card’s versatility is up to the discretion of the business. Fraud protection is included free of charge, and Boyett Petroleum does not charge any fees, does not require a contract, and customers receive 10 cents off per gallon of fuel for the first three months of use.

WECA Member Contractors interested in working with Boyett Petroleum for their fueling or vehicle maintenance needs can contact:

Northern California and Utah: Ryan Ostorero, CRUISE Americard Business Development Representative, at ROstorero@Boyett.net

Southern California and Arizona: Erica Alvarez, CRUISE Americard Business Development Executive, at EAlvarez@Boyett.net





Download Boyett Petroleum's CRUISE Americard flyer here.

Meet Some of the Inspiring Women in Our Programs

Mariah Catuiza, WECA Fresno Commercial Electrical Apprentice

Mariah Catuiza, who works for WECA Member Contractor Westech Systems and is a Commercial Electrical Apprentice at our Fresno Training Facility, explains the benefits of WECA's apprenticeship training program, tying it to her own career progression, and encouraging other women to consider the electrician career path:



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Amanda Young, WECA Sacramento Low Voltage Apprentice

Amanda Young, Low Voltage Apprentice at our Sacramento Training Facility who works for WECA Member Contractor Intelecom Data and Fiber, discusses how fun and rewarding the work can be that she gets to undertake in WECA's apprenticeship training program. She talks about how the Low Voltage field covers a variety of technologies, and how she enjoys that she and other members of her cohort all get to work on different facets of the industry and share that knowledge with each other when they meet up in class. She strongly encourages other women to consider this career:



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Shannon Denetsosie, WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprentice Graduate

Shannon Denetsosie, WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprentice Graduate employed with WECA Member Contractor Corbins, discusses her sense of accomplishment in completing the four-year program, and talks positively about how at first it was a little intimidating being on a worksite that was mostly men, but she quickly found that everyone helps each other out and "It's like you're getting more brothers in your family." Shannon says that she's loving what she does, and she encourages other women to go for it and explore electrical apprenticeship with WECA and this career!



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In Her Own Words: Shannon Denetsosie, WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprentice Graduate

Content courtesy of Shannon Denetsosie

"Construction work was not new to me. Growing up on the Navajo reservation, I watched my grandfather work in mines and heard the stories of how he built the home that I was raised in with no training or schooling of any kind. Seeing what my grandfather built and later the buildings that my dad worked in as a welder, I was always so proud to know that my family had a hand in building things.

I went into construction at the age of 18 and worked as a laborer or welder's helper for a few years, until I became a mother at 20 years old. I became a stay-at-home mom for a year, then started working as a production worker, a picker, then one day I was given an opportunity to work as a Quality Control Inspector for a roofing company that produced roofing insulation. After that, I went on to work in quality positions in plastics and food companies.

During my last job before entering into electrical, I worked as a Production/Shipping/Quality Control Supervisor for a gelato company. As I worked, I attended Pima Medical Institute in Veterinary Technology. I graduated 9 years ago with an Associate degree. However, getting a job in that field is a lot harder than I expected and life sometimes does not allow you to continue what you aspired to do.

Going into the electrical trade was something that just happened after trying to make ends meet with just a warehouse position and crazy hours sometimes, but with very little pay to make ends up. To go into a specific trade, I had my fears and uncertainties of what I would have to deal with.

My first job as an electrical worker was with Delta Diversified at Desert Diamond Casino, where I learned how to terminate transformers, panels, dimmer panels, and all things electrical. I realized that I was good at what I was doing and became more interested in how everything worked.

I had planned to get into their apprenticeship program. However, their program did not fit my life. Then COVID hit and I was let go. I wanted to continue my journey in electrical, so through temp agencies I took jobs for electrical work or even QC work and put in applications with electrical companies.

After many interviews and no luck on anything, I decided to try getting back into veterinary.

Then I got an interview with Corbins and was hired that day in December 2020. Since that day, I went from being an electrical worker to an apprentice who is near the end of completing the program. (Editor's note: In the time since this was written, Shannon successfully completed and celebrated her graduation from WECA's Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship in Arizona.)

I honestly did not think that I would be able to come this far. However, with Corbins' partnership with WECA, it has made it possible for me to work and be in school, and get tons of on-the-job training, especially with being a single mother of two.

The apprenticeship program fits my life as a single mother and I love to learn new things and how things work. Throughout all these events leading up to where I am now, being in the construction trade has helped me build confidence in myself as well as enable me to provide for my kids.

I am now in the QA/QC department and am still looking to progress and learn more skills in this trade.

As a mother and woman in the electrical trade, I have set an example for my kids that if mom can do this, they can do it and accomplish their dreams.

Now my son is currently working for Delta Diversified at the second Desert Diamond Casino being built. He plans to enroll in their apprenticeship program at their next session.

Now with my daughter in her senior year of high school, her goals are to be a veterinarian, a welder, a mechanic, and an electrician.

It fills me with pride as a mother and woman, that I could set an example for my kids that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.

All thanks to Corbins and their partnership with WECA. I continue to learn and have had more doors open up to learning more in this trade." 

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Solei Donahue, WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprentice

This Women in Construction Week 2025, WECA is pleased to reintroduce Solei Donahue, a WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprentice.

WECA previously spotlighted Solei’s accomplishments in June 2024, following her inspiring speech during the 2024 State Workforce Summit in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Solei, who is a Native American woman from the Gila River Indian Community in Sacaton, Arizona, joined the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program through WECA and her employer’s (WECA Arizona Founding Member Contractor Corbins) partnership with Grand Canyon University’s pre-apprenticeship program.

“I joined Corbins through a fifteen-week internship program at Grand Canyon University,” Solei said during her speech. “I decided it would be a good experience on my resume, and it would be useful for the future. But I knew once the second semester had started, that this was something I was interested in doing for the rest of my life.”

Solei also said during her speech that the pre-apprenticeship program “gave me confidence to keep pushing myself to stand for all the women in the workforce” and has aided her in “becoming a mature adult who is succeeding at life, in general…this program has given me all the tools and will continue to help me on my journey to becoming a future successful journeywoman.”

Looking back to when she started her official apprenticeship with WECA and Corbins, Solei reflects “I’ve always had an interest in doing the same things guys are doing, and when I found out they want women in construction, I was eager to join.”

Solei says that her first semester at WECA went by quickly but was motivating.

“It was a lot to learn, but I never got discouraged, because I was able to learn with my peers and the instructors are very helpful and encouraging,” Solei said. “I was able to gain new knowledge, and it has helped motivate me to keep furthering my education in the trade so I can help others who started out like me. It has allowed me to work independently in the field with the confidence in what I am doing every day.”

Solei’s positive experience with WECA and the industry leads her to believe that more women should pursue careers in the electrical industry because they will feel “empowered” and states her belief that women “often possess knowledge that others may not.”

Solei credits the powerful women who have “instilled confidence in her” with her success and determination.

“I’d like to thank Shelly Seitz for helping me be confident in my journey, and to the people who are more encouraging and accepting of women starting out in construction,” Solei said. “I’d also like to shout out my biggest supporter and the woman who made me who I am today—my mom, Janice. Without my mom, I wouldn’t be as strong as I am, or as passionate about speaking about my journey, no matter how hard it might have been. I have deep appreciation for everyone I’ve met on this journey and am very excited to see who I’ll meet in the future!”

Thank you for being part of the WECA family, and the growing cohort of women in the electrical industry, Solei! We are inspired by your dedication to encouraging women to join the electrical industry and your support for women already in the electrical industry. It is an honor to have you representing WECA (and women in the industry) in Arizona!

 

WECA is pleased to introduce you to Brandon Drew, our Apprenticeship Workforce Development Recruiter and Outreach Specialist.

Brandon, who is based at WECA’s California headquarters in Sacramento/Rancho Cordova, is a Sacramento native and a graduate of Sacramento State. He previously worked as a regional recruiter in the security industry and was drawn to WECA because of the heavy emphasis on recruitment and outreach.

“I take pride in supporting the community, and this role allows me to connect with many people from different communities and backgrounds,” says Brandon.

Brandon’s role at WECA is multifaceted and dynamic. He is often out in the field, attending career fairs and speaking at schools to educate students on the benefits of WECA’s apprenticeship programs. When back in the office, Brandon proctors apprenticeship intake tests and hosts orientation sessions for accepted apprenticeship applicants.

“I like the work environment at WECA, visiting people in the community, and the support that I receive from WECA’s Workforce Development team. The confidence and support my team provide helps me daily and lets me know we are all working toward the same goal,” says Brandon.

When not hard at work reaching out to and educating future apprentices about WECA’s apprenticeship programs, Brandon’s mantra is “soccer is my life”.

Aside from watching games “religiously”, Brandon enjoys watching his daughter play competitively for Placer United. And, when his daughter is not playing, Brandon plays soccer on Sundays in an adult league.

Brandon is a great asset to WECA’s Workforce Development team. His enthusiasm for performing outreach and championing WECA’s apprenticeship programs shines through in everything he does. We look forward to seeing him continue to excel in his role! 

 

WECA is happy to announce the launch of the new and improved WECA Gear Store--now offering many items, with offerings slated to grow over time. 

Additionally, the WECA Gear Store is now entirely self-service for online fulfillment. 

Check it out here. Happy shopping! 

Content Courtesy of CPUC


 

Content courtesy of CPUC

We’re pleased to invite you to an upcoming webinar hosted by the Solar-Utilities Reporting, Guidance, and Education (SURGE) initiative on Tuesday, March 25th, 2025, from 12:30-1:30 pm via Microsoft Teams.

This webinar will provide valuable information on the SURGE initiative, designed to streamline the reporting process for solar contractors who need to comply with AB 2143/PUC 769.2. During the webinar, we’ll cover topics on prevailing wages and how to ensure compliance with AB 2143. Whether you’re a prime contractor, subcontractor, or industry professional, this webinar will help you understand and prepare to meet AB 2143 requirements.

Register here

Please visit our website for more information and resources for contractors. 

And the Sponsors and Gift Donors Who Helped Make Their Graduation Celebration Memorable

Watch highlights from the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2024 Graduation:



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Please join us in congratulating the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2024 on their graduation!

WECA celebrated our graduates' hard work and accomplishments with a graduation ceremony on February 8th at the Doubletree Suites by Hilton Hotel in Phoenix.

The graduation was emceed by WECA Arizona Apprenticeship Manager and Lead Instructor Keith Smart, who ensured the evening proceeded seamlessly. WECA was also pleased to have Don Black (CEO), John Berkhoel (Director of Apprenticeship Training and Facilities), Wendy Flanagan (Director of Apprenticeship Operations), Bob Bartlett (Regional Manager of Business Development, Outreach, and Arizona Operations), and LaKeal Morris (Sacramento-based WECA Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship instructor) on hand to help hand out diplomas, grad gifts, and celebrate.

Relive the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2024 graduation celebration through some recollections below:

Don Black: “It is always inspiring and a pleasure to attend a WECA graduation. Arizona’s graduation was especially wonderful, as many of the graduates spoke during the ceremony. It is rewarding to hear how wonderful their experience was and how grateful they are to have been a part of WECA and the gratitude they show towards their sponsoring employer.”

Keith Smart: “It was an amazing night in seeing the progression from apprentice to journeyman. It was an emotional night filled with the excitement and anticipation of the next step in each new journeyman’s life and career. It is an honor to be part of their lives, even if only for a short time.”

Wendy Flanagan: “It was great to see so many of the grads and their loved ones and the contractors that sponsored them at the event. Everyone was excited, and you could feel the energy in the room. Many of the grads chose to say a few words and hearing them thank their contractors, families, WECA, and Keith especially, was quite moving.”

Bob Bartlett: “The graduation was a resounding success, with a jubilant atmosphere among graduates and their families and friends. Many graduates shared their personal achievements and reflections upon receiving their certificates. Notably, those who had transferred from other programs highlighted the superior quality of WECA’s training compared to our competitors. One graduate remarked that the differences between WECA and the other training organization were substantial—like comparing day and night.”

Congratulations to the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2024! Thank you for being part of the WECA family and exemplifying WECA excellence in Arizona. We are proud of your hard work and dedication and look forward to seeing the collective impact you will continue to have on Arizona’s commercial electrical industry. 

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Some snaps from the evening:

























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Thank you to the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2024 Sponsors and Gift Donors for their generosity and support:


 

Our sponsors and gift donors helped make the graduation a night to remember for our graduates and their families!

Volts Level Sponsors

Corbins

K2 Electric

Amps Level Sponsor

Fluor

Watts Level Sponsors

PCL Construction

Switchgear Solutions Inc.

 

Gift Donors

Milwaukee Tool

Klein Tools

IDEAL Industries

 

Valedictorian Logan Lambert

Prior to becoming a Commercial Electrical apprentice, WECA Arizona Class of 2024 Valedictorian Logan Lambert, an employee of WECA Arizona founding Member Contractor Corbins, learned the value of hard work and using his hands to get the job done by working on various construction projects with his uncle.

Logan, however, credits WECA and WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship instructor Keith Smart with giving him the additional knowledge, skills, and tools needed to thrive in Arizona’s commercial electrical industry.

“WECA was informative and constructive for us students, and was a lot of fun,” says Logan. “WECA prepared me for my career by teaching electrical theory through presentations, book work, and navigating the National Electrical Code book and tests. Having hands-on labs also helped test our knowledge and understanding of the subjects taught. And Keith’s extensive knowledge in the field and ability to teach and guide us clearly was crucial.”

Logan’s on-the-job experience with Corbins was also instrumental in his success.

“Corbins helped me apply theory and skills learned from WECA lessons and labs to my tasks at work. The many journeymen and foremen who passed on their knowledge and skills to me was also a huge help on-the-job. I’m thankful for the many mentors I have had through the four years I have worked at Corbins, who believed in me and gave me chances to grow and learn,” says Logan.

Current and future apprentices who would like to emulate Logan’s success would do well to heed his simple advice: “Apply yourself, both on-the-job and at school. Take it seriously, because four years flies by like nothing. You don’t want to miss anything or look back regretting that you didn’t try your hardest in the beginning, during the most critical learning years of your career.”

Moving forward, Logan plans to continue to work for his current employer, Corbins.

“They have treated me well and invested in me, so I plan to invest in them,” says Logan.

And last, but not least, Logan attributes his success and Valedictorian achievement to his mom, who taught him the importance of education and applying himself; his wife Elena, for supporting him throughout his apprenticeship, and Corbins employee and WECA Arizona Class of 2023 Valedictorian Logan Stroop, who has served as a great mentor, boss, and most importantly, good friend.

Congratulations, Logan! We are proud of your hard work and dedication to your craft, and for continuing to foster a culture of camaraderie and excellence within Corbins and the Arizona commercial electrical industry.

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Salutatorian Cody Cole

WECA Arizona Class of 2024 Salutatorian Cody Cole, who works for WECA Arizona founding Member Contractor Corbins, says that the WECA Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program helped him “build a good foundation with proper skills and knowledge to continue to add onto. During my time at WECA, I was able to apply the knowledge I was learning to on-the-job tasks, which helped me better understand the curriculum being taught.”

Outside of the classroom, Cody says that working in Corbins’ service department helped him be comfortable with many aspects of the electrical industry.

Ultimately, Cody credits his success to multiple factors.

“The largest factors that led to my success within WECA and Corbins was the support and guidance I was given throughout my apprenticeship, and my wife’s support,” says Cody. 

One thing that Cody learned during his apprenticeship that he would like to impart upon fellow apprentices is the importance of navigating the Code, because it will be the most helpful aspect in their careers.

Now that he has graduated, Cody plans to continue working towards his goals and continually improve his knowledge in the electrical field.

Congratulations, Cody, on your graduation and on excelling as the WECA Arizona Class of 2024 Salutatorian! We are excited to see how you continue to build upon the foundation of success and excellence you started here at WECA as you continue to navigate Arizona’s commercial electrical industry!

Sebastian Is Based at Our San Diego Training Facility


 

WECA is lucky to have such a well-rounded and diverse cohort of apprenticeship instructors—and Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Instructor Sebastian Caparelli, who is based at our San Diego Training Facility, is a fine addition to the team!

Sebastian’s journey in the electrical industry, which began in the early 1990s, has been multifaceted and purposeful. In addition to working in the industry, Sebastian also worked as a contract firefighter, pursued degrees in English and journalism, obtained his C-10 license, and acquired computer and networking certifications to further specialize in subspecialties such as smart home automation.

While working in the field, Sebastian enjoyed “moments where I had to think outside of the box” and found excitement in his success. However, Sebastian found out that he loved teaching during his twenty-year CPR teaching stint with the American Red Cross, and additionally during his time teaching English in Beijing, China.

“I love teaching. I never realized how rewarding it would be. When I started teaching electrical, it’s been one of the most rewarding careers I’ve ever had,” says Sebastian.

With that in mind, Sebastian specifically joined WECA because “WECA has always had a very good reputation, and I wanted to be a part of the gold standard for this industry.”

Now that he is teaching at WECA, Sebastian aims to continue familiarizing himself with the WECA team and the apprenticeship curriculum, and to impart wisdom on his students such as leaving their ego at the door, especially on-the-job.

Outside of work, Sebastian enjoys working on his psychological thriller novel, playing keyboard and guitar, and riding motorcycles.

You're Invited to WECA's Open Houses in Celebration of Women in Construction Week 2025

Phoenix: March 6th at 3:30 PM

Sacramento: March 4th at 3 PM

Please Join Us or Share This Invitation with Someone Who Should Attend







 

Next week, WECA is celebrating Women in Construction Week 2025 with Open House events at our Phoenix Training Center in Phoenix and our Sacramento Region Office and Training Center in Rancho Cordova.

We invite anyone considering careers as electricians or low voltage technicians, as well as community and education partners, to join us to learn how to get involved in WECA's electrical apprenticeship and training programs, get a tour of WECA's training facility and labs while meeting the WECA team and networking with women in the field, and to celebrate women in the electrical workforce.

We encourage you to pre-register for the event to secure your spot, though we will accept walk-ins on the day of the event. However, pre-registration will allow you to receive event reminders and updated event information.

RSVP for the Women in Construction Week 2025 Open House in Phoenix

RSVP for the Women in Construction Week 2025 Open House in Sacramento

Not for you? Please share this invitation with someone you know!



Download a Women in Construction Week 2025 Open House flyer for Phoenix



Download a Women in Construction Week 2025 Open House flyer for Sacramento

 

WECA is happy to announce the launch of the new and improved WECA Gear Store--now offering many items, with offerings slated to grow over time. 

Additionally, the WECA Gear Store is now entirely self-service for online fulfillment. 

Check it out here. Happy shopping! 

Know Someone Looking for a Rewarding and Lucrative Career? Share This Stat with Them


 

If you're reading this, you likely already know that training to be an electrician or low voltage technician is a path to a lucrative career, and that the need for these skilled professionals is just going to continue to grow. But if you know someone else who is looking for a career in a thriving industry, that would like to help build and maintain the United States' infrastructure, share this with them--it may just be the final push they need to get started on their electrical industry journey!

In the next decade, the employment of electricians will grow over twice as fast as all other occupations in the United States due to increasing demand for construction, the modernization or replacement of aging infrastructure, and electricians aging out of the workforce.

With WECA, there are multiple ways to pursue the electrician or low voltage technician career path. If you become an apprentice, your education will be paid for by your employing contractor. If you choose the independent electrician trainee path, your tuition will be affordable--comparable to community college tuition.

Explore WECA's Apprenticeship Programs in California, Arizona, and Utah and WECA's Electrician Trainee Program in California.

Journeyperson Electricians in the Sacramento and San Diego Areas

Get 16 Hours of Continuing Education

Basic Motor Controls, Part 2 on March 8th and March 15th in Sacramento and San Diego


 

Calling all journeyperson electricians in the Sacramento and San Diego areas looking for 16 more hours of continuing education!

Here's your chance to shore up your motor controls knowledge and have fun doing it: WECA is offering Basic Motor Controls, Part 2 on March 8th and March 15th at our Sacramento Region Training Center and San Diego Training Center!

Classes are starting soon--enroll ASAP to get your spot!

Plus, There Are a Few More Days Left to Participate in the February Cash Giveaway




 

Content courtesy of Ramsey SmartDollar and Ramsey SmartTax

Tax season is still upon us, but it doesn't have to be confusing or stressful. Ramsey SmartTax can guide you through it and give you what you need to e-file your federal and state tax returns for FREE. All the major federal forms and deductions are included.

Don't forget--there are only a few days left for the SmartDollar February Giveaway (with a chance to win a $5,000 cash grand prize), so make sure you're signing in to receive your entries for a chance to win the prize!

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Not yet signed up for SmartDollar? No worries -- getting started is easy! Learn how below.

SmartDollar is a financial wellness benefit for WECA apprentices. We announced our partnership with the Dave Ramsey-founded online financial wellness platform in January, 2021 to provide our apprentices with a sound foundation in personal finance management. This benefit is available to all WECA apprentices free of charge. Not yet signed up for SmartDollar? No worries -- scroll to the bottom of this article for instructions!

What is SmartDollar? SmartDollar is a step-by-step approach to handling money with the number-one authority in personal finance, Dave Ramsey. More than 4.5 million people have started on Dave's plan and taken control of their money, and you can too! SmartDollar will equip you to get out of debt, on a budget, and on your way to a strong financial foundation.

The average person pays off $9,405 of debt and saves $6,127 in the first twelve months, and you can too!

"This program is powerful yet simple to understand. The Baby Steps make understanding how to win with money easy! Dave's lessons are fun, informative, and incredibly encouraging. It really doesn't feel like I'm taking a financial course. It's more like learning finances from a good friend...or a financially savvy stand-up comedian! The online tools are fantastic as well, and I love being able to 'ASK DAVE' any question and do my budget online. Love it all!" - Recent participant

With SmartDollar, you'll learn how to...

• Jump-start your money
• Knock out debt
• Secure your dream home
• Retire in style
• Demystify your credit score

How does SmartDollar work? With so many ways to engage in SmartDollar activities and content, SmartDollar Points have been designed to encourage users to establish true behavior change. (Check out the graph below for a quick rundown). The greater the importance and required time of each activity, the greater the amount of points that can be earned. For example, each Core Lesson video completed is worth 250 points. Completing a shorter Deep Dive video is worth 50 points. Tracking a transaction in EveryDollar is only worth 20 points, but users are encouraged to track all their financial transactions with no points limitations. These example activities are key for building the confidence you need to reach your financial goals.

Taking advantage of your free financial wellness benefit, SmartDollar, is easy!

To set up your account after accessing your dashboard, click either of the links shown as highlighted in the screenshot to the right of this paragraph. You'll be taken to a page with a SmartDollar enrollment link, where you will be able to set up immediate access to this important benefit.

Ready to get started?

Login to your GOWECA dashboard

Huntington Beach Councilman Tony Strickland Leads in Special Election for State Senate On Tuesday, Feb. 25, voters in California’s 36th State Senate District special election and an early tally of ballots in Orange and Los Angeles counties showed Republican Tony Strickland with a strong lead. As of the latest tally, Strickland maintained an early 51% lead over Democrat Jimmy Pham. Pham is an attorney and serves on Westminster’s traffic commission. Strickland, a Huntington Beach councilmember and former mayor, is eyeing a return to the California Legislature, where he has already served for a decade — first as an Assembly member from 1998 to 2004, then as a state senator from 2008 to 2012 — representing parts of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

“Tony Strickland has always been a great supporter of free enterprise and open competition,” said WECA’s Southern California Government Affairs Representative Dave Everett (pictured with Strickland). “Whether it is in the California Legislature or at the local level in Huntington Beach, merit shop contractors know they can count on Tony Strickland.” The special election was triggered after former State Senator Janet Nguyen vacated the seat to join the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Nguyen endorsed Strickland to succeed her in the Senate. The race for the 36th State Senate District, which includes communities in Los Angeles and Orange counties, could be decided outright if a candidate secures more than 50% of the vote in the primary, meaning the runoff election scheduled for April would be canceled.

Despite Strickland’s strong early lead, Orange County Democratic Party Chair Florice Hoffman said she is encouraged by the initial results. “It looks like Jimmy Pham will be in a runoff in this Republican district,” she said. Pham ran for the 70th Assembly District seat in 2024 but was defeated by Republican Assemblymember Tri Ta.  The 36th Senate District stretches from Seal Beach to San Clemente along the Orange County coast to a small portion of Los Angeles County. It includes portions of Buena Park, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Stanton, and Westminster in Orange County and Artesia, Cerritos, and Hawaiian Gardens in Los Angeles County. Republicans make up the district's most significant share of registered voters at 37.11%. Democrats follow with 33.93%, while 22.61% of voters are registered with no party preference. Whoever is elected in Tuesday’s primary or the general election in April will serve a term that runs through Dec. 7, 2026.



Huntington Beach Councilman Tony Strickland (left) and WECA Southern California Government Affairs Representative Dave Everett (right)

Stan Ellis (R) Wins Special Election for Assembly District 32 In a decisive victory, Bakersfield-area businessman Stan Ellis (whom WECA supported) has won the special election for California's 32nd Assembly District. Ellis, a Republican, secured 64% of the vote, avoiding a runoff and succeeding Vince Fong, who vacated the seat after winning a congressional election last year. Stan Ellis is a farmer, local businessman, and community member with deep roots in the Central Valley. Ellis's campaign focused on common-sense leadership, advocating for less regulation, safer communities, and economic opportunities. "This victory is a clear message that our communities want leadership that puts working families and our future first," Ellis stated in his victory email.

The district, which includes parts of Visalia and Bakersfield, has been without representation since June 2024. Ellis's win brings a renewed focus on addressing the critical needs of the Central Valley, and he expressed eagerness to begin his work in Sacramento.

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AZ’s Ciscomani Expresses Reservations Over House Republican Budget Resolution Southern Arizona U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R) is expressing reservations over a Republican budget blueprint that could result in significant cost shifts from the federal government to Arizona and negatively affect the state’s Medicaid program, known as AHCCCS, or the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. Story.

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Plaintiffs Are Responsible for Commencing Court-Ordered Arbitration The California Court of Appeal held that after the employer-defendant successfully moved to compel arbitration of the plaintiffs’ employment-related claims, the employer-defendant did not waive its right to arbitration by failing to commence arbitration. The fact that the employer was the only party that “wanted” arbitration was irrelevant. The arbitration agreement required the plaintiffs to initiate arbitration, which they failed to do. Michelle Arzate, et al. v. ACE American Insurance Company, Case No. B336829. Story

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Big day for crypto: The US Senate’s first subcommittee on digital asset policy convened this week. Punchbowl got a sneak peek at the opening remarks from the panel’s top Democrat Sen. Ruben Gallego (Ariz.). The Arizona Democrat, whose election bid was backed by the crypto super PAC network Fairshake, will say crypto “presents both extraordinary opportunities and significant challenges.” Gallego will also stress the need for “robust oversight,” including a call to ensure crypto is “not used to circumvent existing laws on money laundering, tax evasion, or illicit financing.” Gallego also wants to focus on “encouraging productive and useful innovation to everyday Americans. The growth of things like ‘meme coins’ on everything from Trump to DOGE to Peanut the Squirrel are about flashy headlines and trending on social media, not about helping traditionally un- and under-banked communities gain access to the financial system.” [Punchbowl]

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Labor Nominee Gets a Boost Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan will vote to advance Lori Chavez-DeRemer through the Senate HELP Committee on Thursday, significantly boosting the chances that Trump’s Labor secretary nominee will get confirmed. Hassan is the first Democrat on the HELP Committee to say she will vote for Chavez-DeRemer, making up for potential opposition from panel member Rand Paul. [Politico]

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What is Happening on the Labor Front in DC? Kristen Swearingen Explains. A lot is going on in Washington, DC, these days. In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Kristen Swearingen, Vice President, Legislative & Political Affairs at the Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. and spokesperson for the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, joins host Peter List to discuss some of the issues, including the re-introduction of the PRO Act, Sen. Josh Hawley’s “PRO Act-Lite” framework, as well as President Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Listen

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Bill Introductions in the California Legislature Over the past decade, the California Legislature and its 120 legislators have introduced between 1,900 and 2,600 bills per year, each year of the 2-year legislative session, by the February introduction deadline. Fewer than 50 additional bills get introduced after the deadline (e.g., due to a rule waiver or a bill introduced by a committee, which are not subject to the introduction deadline). The 2023 California Legislative Session saw more introductions than usual, the highest number in over a decade. The 2024 Session returned those introduction numbers to more normal levels. Story

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Guess Who Stymies Housing Construction A passel of recent California laws was supposed to supercharge the construction of desperately needed housing. According to YIMBY Law, they haven’t even come close. One California law was supposed to flip defunct strip malls across California into apartment-lined corridors.

Another was designed to turn under-used church parking lots into fonts of new affordable housing.

A third would, according to supporters and opponents alike, “end single-family zoning as we know it.” Fast-forward to 2025 and this spate of recent California laws, and others like it intended to supercharge the construction of desperately needed housing, have had “limited to no impact on the state’s housing supply.”

That damning conclusion comes from a surprising source: A new report by YIMBY Law, a pro-development nonprofit that would very much like to see these laws work.

“It’s grim,” said Sonja Trauss, executive director of YIMBY Law. Though she acknowledged some of the laws are still new, she blamed their early ineffectiveness on the legislative process which saddled these bills with unworkable requirements and glaring loopholes.

“Everybody wants a piece,” she said. “The pieces taken out during the process wind up derailing the initial concept.”

What are these requirements and loopholes that have prevented these laws from succeeding? Maybe not surprisingly, they are the frequent objects of critique by YIMBY Law and the Yes in My Backyard movement more generally.

One is the inclusion of requirements that developers only hire union-affiliated workers or pay their workers higher wages. Story

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Acting NLRB General Counsel Rescinds Controversial Memoranda On February 14, 2025, National Labor Relations Board Acting General Counsel William Cowen issued Memorandum 25-05, rescinding more than a dozen policy memos issued by his predecessor. Cowen cited an unsustainable backlog of cases as the primary motivation for the rescission. Cowen also signaled that he plans to publish new guidance to replace some of the rescinded memos. Others may be abandoned altogether. Learn More

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CSLB Newsletter Please enjoy the Winter 2025 edition of the California Licensed Contractor Newsletter – a quarterly newsletter from the Contractors State License Board.

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Santa Barbara County Supervisors Are Planning to Give Themselves a 48% Raise On February 25, 2025, the Santa Barbara County Supervisors are planning to give themselves a 48% raise. You read that right. According to Andy Caldwell, Executive Director of the government watchdog COLAB (Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business), that means they will be making $171, 309 per year for a part-time job. They are currently paid $115,000. Story

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Hawley Sells Moreno on Government Control of Private Contracts Punchbowl News has reported that Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) is cosponsoring one of the bills based on Senator Josh Hawley’s (R-MO) recently released legislative framework implementing a “new direction” for Republican labor policy, which ironically appears to consist entirely of provisions stolen from Senator Bernie Sanders’ (D-VT) Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (S 567, HR 20, 118th Congress) and Senator Markey’s bill that brings the warehouse sector under government control and creates a new subagency at the Department of Labor (Warehouse Worker Protection Act, S 5208, 118th Congress). The framework is expected to be broken down into five pieces, and Moreno is reportedly cosponsoring the legislation that would implement government control over management-union contract negotiations.

The legislation, the Faster Labor Contracts Act, requires employers and unions to begin negotiating collective bargaining agreements within 10 days after a union wins a representation election and execute their agreement within months. Consequences for failing to meet this arbitrary timeline is mandatory arbitration, where government-appointed arbitrators set terms for the first contract. [Employment Policy Network]

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Electricity Causes 150 Workplace Deaths Each Year Electricity continues to be one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities and injuries in the U.S., according to new workplace safety statistics from ESFI.

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Mayor and San Diego Supervisor Candidate John McCann Visits WECA San Diego With less than 6 weeks until the April 8, 2025, special election for San Diego County Supervisor, WECA was proud to host Chula Vista Mayor John McCann for a tour and a discussion about workforce development this week at WECA’s San Diego Training Center. Joined by WECA Board President and CDM Electric Vice President Dru Wells, Bill Baber, and Dave Everett from WECA’s Government Affairs team, Mayor McCann sat down with WECA to discuss workforce development, public works projects, and apprenticeship opportunities.

Mayor John McCann is running for the open San Diego County Supervisor seat for District 1. With two Democrats and two Republicans on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, this election will decide which party sets the agenda for the county’s budget and services. A special election will occur on April 8th, with a possible runoff in July if no candidate wins 50% +1 votes. Three Democrats — San Diego City Councilmember Vivian Moreno, Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, and Chula Vista Councilmember Carolina Chavez — and one Republican, Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, have confirmed they are running. Vivian Moreno voted for a discriminatory PLA on all City of San Diego construction, as did Carolina Chavez for the City of Chula Vista. And while the Laborers Union has endorsed Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, she has not yet imposed a PLA on Imperial Beach. Mayor John McCann, of course, voted against the PLA in the City of Chula Vista.

On the tour of our San Diego facility this week with Mayor McCann, WECA highlighted how apprenticeship presents great opportunities for students, and how beneficial it is for young adults to begin adulthood debt-free. We also discussed some of the discrimination and cost increases involved with PLAs. Thank you, Mayor McCann, for taking time out of your busy schedule to learn more about our members and students. It was a critical discussion on the region’s workforce development needs as well as some of the challenges facing the construction industry in California.

And the Sponsors and Gift Donors Who Helped Make Their Graduation Celebration Memorable

Watch highlights from the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2024 Graduation:



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Please join us in congratulating the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2024 on their graduation!

WECA celebrated our graduates' hard work and accomplishments with a graduation ceremony on February 8th at the Doubletree Suites by Hilton Hotel in Phoenix.

The graduation was emceed by WECA Arizona Apprenticeship Manager and Lead Instructor Keith Smart, who ensured the evening proceeded seamlessly. WECA was also pleased to have Don Black (CEO), John Berkhoel (Director of Apprenticeship Training and Facilities), Wendy Flanagan (Director of Apprenticeship Operations), Bob Bartlett (Regional Manager of Business Development, Outreach, and Arizona Operations), and LaKeal Morris (Sacramento-based WECA Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship instructor) on hand to help hand out diplomas, grad gifts, and celebrate.

Relive the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2024 graduation celebration through some recollections below:

Don Black: “It is always inspiring and a pleasure to attend a WECA graduation. Arizona’s graduation was especially wonderful, as many of the graduates spoke during the ceremony. It is rewarding to hear how wonderful their experience was and how grateful they are to have been a part of WECA and the gratitude they show towards their sponsoring employer.”

Keith Smart: “It was an amazing night in seeing the progression from apprentice to journeyman. It was an emotional night filled with the excitement and anticipation of the next step in each new journeyman’s life and career. It is an honor to be part of their lives, even if only for a short time.”

Wendy Flanagan: “It was great to see so many of the grads and their loved ones and the contractors that sponsored them at the event. Everyone was excited, and you could feel the energy in the room. Many of the grads chose to say a few words and hearing them thank their contractors, families, WECA, and Keith especially, was quite moving.”

Bob Bartlett: “The graduation was a resounding success, with a jubilant atmosphere among graduates and their families and friends. Many graduates shared their personal achievements and reflections upon receiving their certificates. Notably, those who had transferred from other programs highlighted the superior quality of WECA’s training compared to our competitors. One graduate remarked that the differences between WECA and the other training organization were substantial—like comparing day and night.”

Congratulations to the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2024! Thank you for being part of the WECA family and exemplifying WECA excellence in Arizona. We are proud of your hard work and dedication and look forward to seeing the collective impact you will continue to have on Arizona’s commercial electrical industry. 

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Some snaps from the evening:

























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Thank you to the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2024 Sponsors and Gift Donors for their generosity and support:



Our sponsors and gift donors helped make the graduation a night to remember for our graduates and their families!
 

Volts Level Sponsors

Corbins

K2 Electric

 

Amps Level Sponsor

Fluor

 

Watts Level Sponsors

PCL Construction

Switchgear Solutions Inc.
 

Gift Donors

Milwaukee Tool

Klein Tools

IDEAL Industries

 

Women in Construction Week 2025 is March 2nd-8th!

You're Invited to WECA's Phoenix and Sacramento Open Houses in Celebration of Women in Construction Week 2025

Please Join Us or Share This Invite with Someone Who Should Attend

When: March 6th from 3:30 to 5:30 PM

Where: 2750 South 18th Place, Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85034

RSVP for the Women in Construction Week 2025 Phoenix Open House



Download a WECA Arizona WIC Week 2025 Open House flyer

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When: March 4th from 3:00 to 4:30 PM

Where: 3695 Bleckely Street, Rancho Cordova, CA 95655

RSVP for the Women in Construction Week 2025 Sacramento Open House



Download a WECA CA WIC Week 2025 Open House flyer

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This March, WECA is celebrating Women in Construction Week 2025 with open houses at our Phoenix training facility and Arizona HQ and our Sacramento-area training facility and California HQ.

Join us at these open houses to learn how to get involved in WECA's electrical apprenticeship and training programs, get tours of WECA's training facilities and labs while meeting the WECA team and networking with women in the field, and celebrating women in the electrical workforce.

We encourage you to pre-register for the events to secure your spot, though we will accept walk-ins on the day of the event. However, pre-registration will allow you to receive event reminders and updated event information.

Not for you? Please share this invitation with someone you know!

 

Foundation for Fair Contracting Offering Prevailing Wage and Labor Compliance Conferences and Webinars in 2025


 

Content courtesy of the Foundation for Fair Contracting

If you are interested in improving your success when working on public works construction projects, make a plan to attend one of the Foundation for Fair Contracting's upcoming prevailing wage and labor compliance conferences and/or webinars.

Please save the following dates on your calendar. All conferences and webinars will be co-hosted with the California State Labor Commissioner's Office.

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Prevailing Wage/Labor Compliance Webinar
 

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Prevailing Wage/Labor Compliance Conference (Live Event)
 

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Prevailing Wage/Labor Compliance Webinar
 

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Prevailing Wage/Labor Compliance Webinar
 

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Prevailing Wage/Labor Compliance Conference (Live Event)
 

Register to attend the conference or webinar of your choice

Learn Strategies to Tackle Tariffs and Price Increases at Associated General Contractor (AGC)'s Feb. 27 Webinar "The Art of Dealing with Tariffs"


 

Content courtesy of AGC

AGC Member Price: $79 | Non-Member Price: $129

Join us Thursday, February 27th at 3PM ET to proactively minimize your risks related to tariffs, price increases, and supply chain disruptions. Tariffs jeopardize your business, register now to proactively protect your bottom line.

The Trump Administration has issued three executive orders to impose new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China. Additional tariffs are expected in the coming weeks; just the threat of tariffs can significantly impact costs and supply-chain availability. Donald Trump wrote the book on the "Art of the Deal." This webinar will write your playbook on how to equip your company with tactics to mitigate the cost and disruption impacts caused by new tariffs.

Our expert speaker panel will provide strategies and specific tactics to protect your business and understand the big picture. You will learn how to address tariffs in your existing contracts and how to bid and negotiate contracts on future work. Significantly, this webinar will explain in detail how a well-drafted price escalation clause is the best approach to address this uncertain situation. The presentation will also evaluate other contract avenues, including choice of law and force majeure provisions. You will learn how to fairly allocate these risks among owners, general contractors, trade contractors, and suppliers. By registering for this webinar, you will be in a better position to utilize contractual best practices to safeguard your projects against new tariffs.

Register today

Do Voters Want OSHA to Go Away? Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., last month proposed the Nullify Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act, which would abolish the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 that created OSHA. Biggs introduced similar legislation in 2021, which stalled out after it was referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. “OSHA’s existence is yet another example of the federal government creating agencies to address issues that are more appropriately handled by state governments and private employers,” Biggs said in a statement in 2021. Perhaps someone should remind Biggs that only 22 states (including Arizona) have OSHA-approved state plans. I guess workers in those 28 other States are SOL. Story

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Trump's Labor Secretary Pick Is a Union Favorite—And a Threat to Right-to-Work Laws Given the salacious allegations against some of President Donald Trump's cabinet nominations, it is understandable how Secretary of Labor nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer has mostly flown under the radar. But from a policy perspective, Chavez-DeRemer's voting record is concerning—especially for those who value federalism and coercion-free workplaces. For most of her political career, Chavez-DeRemer, who lost her Oregon congressional seat in November, has been a polarizing figure. The daughter of a Teamster, her soft spot for unions puts her at odds with her Republican colleagues and right-of-center groups. In a letter to the Senate, National Right to Work Committee president Mark Mix wrote that Chavez-DeRemer's judgment is "clearly compromised" and that she "must be rejected as the Secretary of Labor."

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DOD Halts Plans on Construction Projects The Department of Defense has ordered its contracting officers to halt the use of project labor agreements on “large-scale construction projects,” according to a memo published by Construction Dive. The notice, dated Feb. 7, says contracting officers shall remove PLA requirements created by former President Joe Biden that apply to projects receiving $35 million or more in federal funds. As part of the memo—signed by John M. Tenaglia, principal director of defense pricing, contracting and acquisition policy for the DOD—contracting officers were ordered to amend solicitations for federal contracts to remove PLA requirements.

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California’s First-in-Nation COVID-19 Regulation Finally Rides Off Into the Sunset (Mostly…) Nearly all the substantive provisions of Cal/OSHA’s non-emergency COVID-19 regulation expired on Monday, February 3, 2025. The event marked a significant end point to the regulatory journey that began on November 19, 2020, when California became the first jurisdiction to enact general workplace regulations specifically addressing COVID-19. California’s detailed COVID-19 requirements remained in effect much longer than those of any other jurisdiction, most of which already expired more than a year ago. Despite the expiration of nearly all the COVID-19 non-emergency regulations, employers should remain attentive to their ongoing workplace safety duties. More

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Legislation

AB 76 Alvarez (D) Current law prescribes requirements for the disposal of surplus land by a local agency. Current law defines terms for these purposes. Current law defines “exempt surplus land” to mean, among other things, land that is subject to a sectional planning area, as described, and meets specified requirements, including that at least 25% of the units are dedicated to lower income households, as specified, and that is developed at an average density of at least 10 units per acre, calculated with respect to the entire sectional planning area. This bill would change those requirements so that at least 25% of units that are not designated for students, faculty, or staff of an academic institution must be dedicated to lower income households, as specified, and that the land must be developed at an average density of at least 10 units per acre, calculated with respect to the entire sectional planning area and inclusive of housing designated for students, faculty, and staff of an academic institution. WECA Position: SIA (Support if Amended)

AB 231 Ta (R) Would, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2031, allow a credit against the Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law taxes to a qualified taxpayer in an amount equal to 40% of the qualified wages paid or incurred to a qualified employee employed during the taxable year. The bill would define a qualified employee for this purpose to mean an individual that, among other things, has been convicted of a felony, as provided, and has a hiring date not more than one year after the date the individual was convicted or was released from prison. WECA Position: Support

AB 296 Davies (R) Current law provides for the establishment of apprenticeship programs in various trades, to be approved by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards within the Department of Industrial Relations in any trade in the state or in a city or trade area whenever the apprentice training needs justify the establishment. Current law requires a school district or school to notify each apprenticeship program in the same county as the school district or school of a career or college fair it is planning to hold, as specified. Current law provides that the Legislature encourages school districts and schools to host apprenticeship fair events, as provided. This bill would delete the above-specified provision regarding the Legislature’s encouragement to school districts and schools and would, instead, require school districts and schools to host at least one apprenticeship fair event during each school year, as specified. WECA Position: Support

AB 303 Addis (D) Current law, until June 30, 2029, authorizes a person proposing an eligible facility, including an energy storage system capable of storing 200 megawatthours or more of energy, to submit an application for certification with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission of the site and related facility. Current law specifies that the issuance by the commission of the certificate is in lieu of any permit, certificate, or similar document required by any state, local, or regional agency, or federal agency to the extent permitted by federal law, except as provided. Existing law establishes the procedures by which the commission is to review the application. This bill would specify that energy storage systems do not include battery energy storage systems for the above-described purposes. WECA Position: Oppose

AB 305 Arambula (D) Current law prohibits the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission from certifying a nuclear fission thermal powerplant, except for specified powerplants, and provides that a nuclear fission thermal powerplant, except those specified powerplants, is not a permitted land use in California unless certain conditions are met regarding the existence of technology for the construction and operation of nuclear fuel rod processing plants and of demonstrated technology or means for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste, as specified. This bill would exempt small modular reactors, as defined, from those provisions. WECA Position: Support

AB 345 Jackson (D) Current law provides for apprenticeship programs within the Division of Apprenticeship Standards within the Department of Industrial Relations, sponsored by specific entities and employers, and requires the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards to perform various functions with respect to apprenticeship programs and the welfare of apprentices, including the approval of new apprenticeship programs. Current law makes any person who willfully discriminates in any recruitment or apprenticeship program, as specified, guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill would require the Division of Apprenticeship Standards to confirm the completeness of an application for a new apprenticeship program within 30 days of receiving the application. The bill would provide that, where the chief has not made a final determination on a completed application for a new program within 6 months of receiving the application, the program shall have conditional approval to operate if it satisfies specified conditions, including approval by the United States Department of Labor. The bill would require the chief to make a final determination on an application for a new apprenticeship program within one year of receiving a completed application. The bill would provide its provisions do not apply to apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades or to firefighter programs. WECA Position: SIA

ACR 28 Ortega (D) Would proclaim the week of March 2, 2025, to March 8, 2025, inclusive, as Women in Construction Week. WECA Position: Support

SB 61 Cortese (D) Current law generally governs retention payments withheld with respect to a contract for a private work of improvement, including by requiring an owner that withholds a retention from a direct contractor to, within 45 days after completion of the work of improvement, pay the retention to the contractor. This bill would limit the amount of a retention payment with respect to a contract for a private work of improvement by, among other things, prohibiting a retention payment withheld from a payment by an owner from the direct contractor, by the direct contractor from any subcontractor, and by a subcontractor from any subcontractor thereunder, for a private work of improvement, from exceeding 5% of the payment. WECA Position: Support

SB 75 Smallwood-Cuevas (D) Current law establishes the Pre-Release Construction Trades Certificate Program within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to increase employment opportunities in the construction trades for incarcerated persons upon release. Current law requires the department to establish a joint advisory committee, composed of representatives from specified organizations and state agencies, for the purpose of implementation of the program and specifies the duties of the committee with respect to the program. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to postrelease apprenticeship programs. WECA Position: Support

SB 84 Niello (R) Would prohibit a construction-related accessibility claim for statutory damages from being initiated in a legal proceeding against a defendant who employs 50 or fewer individuals, as specified, unless the defendant has been served with a letter specifying each alleged violation, and the alleged violations have not been corrected within 120 days of service of the letter. The bill would provide that a defendant is not liable for statutory damages, plaintiff’s attorney’s fees, or costs for an alleged violation that is corrected within 120 days of service of a letter alleging the violation. The bill would also prohibit a plaintiff from avoiding the notice and opportunity to correct provisions and the liability limitations by claiming they are seeking general discrimination damages based on a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 if the underlying claim is based on a defendant’s failure to comply with physical accessibility standards under California law. WECA Position: Support

SB 272 Becker (D) The Local Agency Public Construction Act sets forth procedures that a local agency is required to follow when procuring certain services or work. The act also sets forth specific public contracting requirements for certain transit districts, including the San Mateo County Transit District, for construction work contracts. The act authorizes certain local agencies, including school districts and community college districts, to engage in job order contracting, as prescribed. This bill would establish a pilot program to authorize the San Mateo County Transit District to use job order contracting as a procurement method. The bill would impose a $5,000,000 cap on awards under a single job order contract and a $1,000,000 cap on any single job order. The bill would limit the term of an initial contract to a maximum of 12 months, with extensions as prescribed. The bill would establish various procedures and requirements for the use of job order contracting under the pilot program. WECA Position: SIA

SB 291 Grayson (D) Current law generally requires, as a condition precedent to the issuance, reinstatement, reactivation, renewal, or continued maintenance of a contractor license, a licensed contractor or applicant for licensure to have on file at all times with the Contractors State License Board a current and valid Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance or Certification of Self-Insurance in the applicant’s or licensee’s business name, as specified. Current law generally makes a violation of these provisions a misdemeanor. Current law exempts from this requirement an applicant or licensee who has no employees, provided that they file a statement with the board before the issuance, reinstatement, reactivation, or continued maintenance of a license certifying that they do not employ any person, as specified, and who does not hold a specified license issued by the board, including a C-8 license, as defined. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2028. This bill would instead repeal the above-described provisions on January 1, 2027. WECA Position: Oppose

WECA is pleased to announce our new Industry Partnership with HazTek, the largest construction safety consulting firm in the United States, and our continued working relationship with HazTek Account Executive Samantha Miller.

HazTek provides on-site safety professionals and tailored safety solutions to contractors across the country. For electrical contractors, HazTek offers flexible, reliable safety support that helps meet compliance requirements, reduce incidents, and keep projects on schedule.

Miller recommends that WECA Member Contractors utilize HazTek’s solutions if they are looking for the following:

• On-Site Safety Support When You Need It
  • Electrical contractors often face fluctuating project demands, making it difficult to maintain full-time safety staff without adding unnecessary overhead. HazTek provides on-site safety professionals—such as safety managers, coordinators, and technicians—who integrate with your team and support your projects for as long as you need them. Whether you require short-term coverage for a specific job or long-term safety management across multiple sites, HazTek can supply experienced professionals to meet your needs.
• Expertise in Electrical Safety Compliance
  • HazTek’s team is experienced in critical areas of electrical safety, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures, NFPA 70E compliance, and arc flash safety. We help ensure that electrical contractors meet OSHA standards and project-specific safety requirements, reducing the risk of costly incidents and compliance issues. Our professionals also conduct site audits, hazard assessments, and incident investigations to maintain safety standards throughout your projects.
• Flexible and Cost-Effective Solutions
  • By offering project-based safety support, HazTek helps electrical contractors control costs while maintaining high safety standards. You can scale safety resources based on project demands without the financial burden of hiring and laying off full-time staff. If a project ends early or safety needs change, we adjust accordingly, providing flexibility that aligns with your operations.
• Training and Compliance Assistance
  • In addition to on-site safety management, HazTek offers a range of safety training programs, including OSHA 10/30, NFPA 70E, and custom courses tailored to your team’s needs. We assist with compliance reporting, job hazard analysis, and safety program development, ensuring your company stays ahead of regulatory requirements and maintains a strong safety culture.
• Why Choose HazTek?
  • HazTek helps electrical contractors maintain safety compliance without disrupting project timelines. Haztek professionals integrate with your team to support your existing safety culture and processes, offering flexible solutions that adapt to your business needs.

If HazTek’s solutions sound like a good fit for your company, please reach out to Samantha Miller, Account Executive, by email at smiller@haztekinc.com or via phone at (480) 280-9899.
 

Here Were Some of Your Apprentices in Action

First year, second semester





















Second year, second semester

















Fourth year, first semester

 

A report from cybersecurity firm ReliaQuest found that spearphishing, an attack personalized to a victim, is an increasingly prominent threat for construction contractors.

By: Matthew Thibault

Dive Brief:

• The cyber threat contractors face shows no signs of waning as 481 construction organizations were listed on data-leaking websites used by ransomware attackers in 2024, a 41% increase year over year, according to a report from Tampa, Florida-based cybersecurity technology company ReliaQuest.
• The report noted that phishing continues to be a thorny problem for builders as well. Spearphishing, or a phishing attempt personalized to a victim, was the most prominent vector of attack and accounted for nearly one in five incidents, ReliaQuest said. Internal spearphishing was second, where a compromised account within the organization attacks other users in the enterprise.
• Credential exposure is also a primary threat for builders. According to data fromReliaQuest’s cybersecurity protection product, GreyMatter, credential exposure incidents now account for 75% of all construction alerts, per the report. The number is an 83% increase from the previous year.

Dive Insight:

In light of the research, ReliaQuest predicted that phishing attacks, cloud exploitation and attacks via infostealers — a type of malware designed to compromise user credentials — will rise in 2025. Once credentials are published and sold, threat actors can gain access to sensitive data or deploy additional malware.

“The construction sector’s susceptibility to cyber threats and its critical need to maintain operational continuity makes it a prime target for malicious actors,” John Dilgen, cyber threat intelligence analyst for ReliaQuest and the report’s author, wrote. “The diverse range of attacks targeting the sector underscores the urgent necessity for organizations to implement strict security measures and digital risk protection (DRP) strategies.”

To protect themselves, contractors need to be on alert. One of the metrics ReliaQuest used to measure performance is known as “mean time to contain a threat” or MTTC. On average, companies in the construction industry contain a threat within about five hours. However, companies that used automation and artificial intelligence had times closer to five minutes.

According to the report, builders should also:

• Audit cloud accounts and resources rigorously.
• Pay close attention to cloud permission levels that could grant extensive access.
• Enforce the principle of least privilege for all third parties and contractors.
• Enable multifactor authentication for accounts.
• Implement a digital risk protection strategy to continuously monitor for exposed credentials.

Read the full Construction Dive bulletin here (registration may be required).

Judge Rules Against Biden PLA Mandate A U.S. Federal Claims judge has ruled in favor of a group of construction companies that filed protests against the implementation of former President Joe Biden’s December 2023 executive order that mandated project labor agreements on federal contracts over $35 million. In a briefing earlier this month, Judge Ryan Holte of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims said the implementation of the mandate on seven contract procedures last year ignored federal agencies’ own research indicating PLAs would be anti-competitive and relied on “arbitrary and capricious” presidential policy. The Jan. 21 ruling only impacts those specific bid protests filed in 2024, but construction employer groups touted it as a win for the entire industry. It opens the door for more challenges and puts the future of the rule in question, said Dirk Haire, Washington, D.C.-based partner at Philadelphia-headquartered law firm Fox Rothschild, which represented some of the plaintiffs. Story

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Changes to Retention Proposed Senator Dave Cortese is author of Senate Bill 61, which applies the limits on retention on public works to private work. Existing law mandates that an owner must pay retention withheld from a direct contractor for private work within 45 days after completion. SB 61 introduces a limit on retention payments for such contracts. It prohibits the retention held by an owner from the direct contractor, by the direct contractor from any subcontractor, and by a subcontractor from another subcontractor, from exceeding 5% of the payment for the private work. Let WECA know if this is a good idea.

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Apprenticeship for Teachers? Assembly Member Mike Gipson introduced Assembly Bill 291. Current law mandates the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to set standards for issuing and renewing teaching credentials, certificates, and permits. This bill expresses the Legislature's intention to develop future legislation focused on establishing requirements for apprenticeships for credentialed educators. Gipson may not be aware that college graduates can quickly become credentialed teachers through a network of private and public training programs.

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Let’s Go to the Fair! Assembly Member Laurie Davies wants to change existing law that requires school districts to inform local apprenticeship programs about their career or college fairs and encourages them to host apprenticeship events. Assembly Bill 296 changes the encouragement into a requirement for schools to host at least one apprenticeship fair annually, creating a state-mandated local program. Additionally, if a school district requires community service for high school graduation, the bill mandates that students receive credit for attending fairs.

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No More Battery Fires Assembly Member Dawn Addis thinks burning lithium batteries are a bad idea. Less than two weeks after the huge fire at one of the world’s largest battery storage plants in Moss Landing, scientists affiliated with San Jose State University have discovered unusually high levels of toxic metals in soils at Elkhorn Slough, roughly a mile away. Her answer? No more battery energy storage systems! Her Assembly Bill 303 requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to reject pending battery-related applications. Furthermore, it prohibits development projects with such systems within 3,200 feet of sensitive receptors or on environmentally sensitive sites. This applies statewide, even to charter cities, and is an urgency statute, which would take immediate effect.

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Nuc, Baby, Nuc! California may ban battery energy storage systems, but Assembly Member Juan Arambula wants more nuclear reactors in California. Sure to be a popular bill among the never-nucs. Current law in California restricts the certification and land use of nuclear fission thermal power plants, except for certain specified facilities, unless specific technological conditions for nuclear fuel processing and waste disposal are met. Assembly Bill 305 proposes to exempt small modular reactors from these restrictions. In addition, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulates electrical and gas corporations, and the state's existing policy aims for 100% of electricity retail sales and procurement for state agencies to come from renewable and zero-carbon sources by 2045. The bill also mandates that by January 1, 2028, the PUC must develop a plan to increase electricity generation from nuclear facilities while phasing out reliance on natural gas power. Why, you ask? Artificial intelligence is an energy hog, and every query to ChatGPT is like running a lightbulb for 20 minutes, a research scientist recently told NPR. More

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Workforce Development Assembly Member José Luis Solache wants more jobs in the fire zones. The California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act establishes the California Workforce Development Board to assist the Governor in improving and aligning California's workforce and education systems with modern economic needs. His Assembly Bill 338 proposes to allocate $50 million from the General Fund to this board, specifically for the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative. The funds aim to train and retrain individuals who are underemployed or unemployed, focusing on rebuilding areas in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties affected by the 2025 wildfires. This initiative targets employment in fields like construction, firefighting, healthcare, and other emergency response sectors. Participants are promised expedited licensing and certification. The bill emphasizes the need for immediate implementation due to the urgency of recovery efforts in these counties.

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In related legislation to Speed Apprenticeship Program Approvals, Assembly Member Corey Jackson is the author of Assembly Bill 345, which mandates the Division of Apprenticeship Standards within the Department of Industrial Relations to verify the completeness of new apprenticeship program applications within 30 days of receipt! If the Chief doesn't make a final decision on a completed application within six months, the program can operate conditionally if it meets specific criteria, including U.S. Department of Labor approval. The Chief must make a final decision within a year. Oh, and this bill excludes building, construction, and firefighter programs. Damn!

Next time, we will cover some new Senate bills.

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Last time we mentioned that Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) was circulating a framework for potential labor law reform legislation, which includes the laundry list of labor asks. WECA is a member of the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW), which is pushing back.

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NLRB General Counsel Abruzzo and NLRB Member Wilcox Fired On January 27, 2025, Jennifer Abruzzo was terminated from her role as National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel. While her term was not scheduled to end until July 2025, former President Biden set a precedent for terminating NLRB General Counsels of the opposing party in 2021 when he terminated then-General Counsel Peter Robb within hours of his inauguration. It is likely that most, if not all, of Abruzzo’s memos will be withdrawn in the coming months. Deputy General Counsel Jessica Rutter is now Acting General Counsel until a replacement is announced. In addition to terminating Jennifer Abruzzo, Trump also fired Democrat NLRB Member Gwynne Wilcox, despite a law that forbids the firing of NLRB members without evidence of neglect or malfeasance. This leaves three seats open on the NLRB and a lack of a quorum, leaving the Board unable to issue new decisions or regulations. President Trump is expected to fill at least two of the seats with Republican nominees.

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Senator Paul Signals Opposition to Chavez-DeRemer Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) told an NBC political reporter that he plans to vote against the confirmation of Department of Labor Secretary Nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer, citing her support of the PRO Act. According to the reporter’s post, Paul expects that DeRemer could lose the votes of around 15 more Republicans, but gain the support of some Democrats. DeRemer’s confirmation hearing is expected to take place in the next couple of weeks.

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94% of Incumbent State Legislators Won Re-Election State legislative sessions are in nearly full force - but Ballotpedia took a break to look back at the final figures for how incumbents performed in the 2024 election cycle. In total, 303 incumbents lost, representing about 6.2% of the 4,853 who ran. In other words, 94% of incumbents won re-election. This was the fewest incumbent defeats in any even year since 2012. 408 incumbents lost in 2022, and 382 lost in 2020. Between 2010 and 2022, the average number of overall incumbent defeats was about 445.

·        169 (or about 3.5%) of incumbents who ran in primaries were defeated

·        134 (2.9%) of those who ran in general elections were defeated

2024 was the third presidential election year since Ballotpedia started collecting this data. Over that time, the number of incumbent defeats in presidential election years has fallen.

 

GetWired students: We have great news for you -- we've added eight new how-to wiring videos to the WECA eCampus! They're available for viewing in any GetWired course you're enrolled in.
 

Residential 3 Gang Makeup Rough Wire

Residential Single Receptacle Makeup Rough Wire

Commercial 3 Gang Makeup Rough Wire

Commercial Single Receptacle Makeup Rough Wire

Commercial 3 Gang Trim

Commercial Single Receptacle Trim

Residential 3 Gang Trim

Residential Single Receptacle Trim

Log into class and check out the videos

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Then, Dive Deep into GetWired This February with Instructor-Led GetWired Courses with Online or Onsite Lab Options

These February, Instructor-Led GetWired classes (most of which offer a choice between an online lab or an onsite lab option) are still open for enrollment, with all late fees waived!

Choose from:

• GetWired 102 (Feb. 4)
• GetWired 103 (Feb. 3)
• GetWired 104 (Feb. 4)
• GetWired 201 (Feb. 10)
• GetWired 202 (Feb. 11)
• GetWired 203 (Feb. 10)
• GetWired 204 (Feb. 11)
• GetWired 301 (Feb. 10)
• GetWired 302 (Feb. 11)

Enroll here!

 

 

John Arias (far left), Randy Rivera (far right), and their class of third year, second semester Low Voltage apprentices smile for the camera as they celebrate their collective, timely successes with the California Voice Data Video and California Fire Life Safety Technician certification exams.

WECA kudos are in order for John Arias and Randy Rivera's current third year, second semester Low Voltage Apprenticeship class: this class enjoyed a timely 100% pass rate on their California Voice Data Video and/or California Fire Life Safety Technician certification exams!

WECA is immensely proud of the hard work and dedication of these Low Voltage apprentices.

Randy attributes the apprentices’ collective successes to many factors.

“I would say that the third year, first semester content does a great job of prepping students for the exam,” says Randy. “There are also many tips that I gave my students to be prepared, such as using the whole time allowed, triple-checking their answers in the NEC and OSHA books, and using the process of elimination in their answers.”

However, Randy also mentions that success was ultimately up to the apprentices themselves.

“You can have all the resources in the world, but you have to commit yourself and take the time to soak up all the knowledge you can get before you take the exam. The more you study, the easier the exam gets. All I ask of students is to put in the work,” says Randy.

Some apprentices—such as Jayden Tucker-Murphy and Burton Richards—concur but also were quick to assert that their success was due to a collective group effort to learn and succeed.

“As a class, we were all on the same page and we helped each other take studying seriously,” says Jayden.

Burton says, “The factor that contributed most to my success was communication with my classmates and Randy. I asked for help if I didn’t understand something, or asked Randy for stories of his experiences or details to help further explain difficult concepts.”

Beyond that, Jayden and Burton also offered up plenty of tips for other apprentices to emulate and achieve their success.

“My number one tip is to study and study hard, make sure you understand your book and how to navigate it,” says Jayden. “And practice, practice, practice—practice your test on a timer!”

Burton, meanwhile, says “My advice for students taking the exam is to spend time looking up a variety of topics in publications available to you during the exam such as the NEC, memorize the specific sections most pertinent to your exam topic, schedule the exam during your normal daily waking hours, get plenty of rest the night before, take as many practice exams as possible, drink plenty of water, and to answer the questions you’re most confident in first, then go back and answer the questions easily found in the books during the exam, then answer the most difficult questions, and then finally go back and answer any remaining questions left during the time you have remaining.”

Congratulations, everyone, on your achievement! Your work ethic has paid off and will continue to serve you well in your careers. We also appreciate Jayden and Burton for sharing their tips for success. 

 

WECA’s GetWired training and delivery teams kicked off the New Year in usual fashion with their semi-annual virtual Train the Trainer meeting on January 11^th.

During the meeting, the teams celebrated the arrival of new GetWired instructor Sergio Sanchez-Rangel, who also teaches as an Apprenticeship instructor at WECA’s Riverside training facility. He additionally joined our GetWired teaching team in 2024.

In addition to celebrating a new instructor, the teams also discussed new GetWired initiatives, such as the Ask an Instructor help button, the full availability of the entire GetWired Electrician Trainee Program certificate in a self-paced online format for trainees who prefer to complete the program on their own time and at their own pace, the update of the GetWired instructors’ handbook, the projected release of all courses on 2023 code beginning in January 2026 (always concurrent with California's rollover in certification exam code version), the recent addition of eight new how-to wiring videos for our GetWired students, and concluded the event with a freeform roundtable discussion. Our instructors always bring great ideas to the table!

Galen Eckert, the Electrician Trainee Program/Continuing Education Online Education Manager, says, “It was a fun time, as always, to catch up with everyone. We also talked about ways to get students interacting more throughout class, and touched on how important it is to tie our real-world experiences to the curriculum and share them with students. We also encouraged instructors to listen to recordings of other instructors so they can learn and find new teaching styles or stories for them to use in future classes.”

Content courtesy of Anthem

We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and well. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the devastating fires in Southern California. In these challenging times, the health and safety of our community is our utmost priority. We want to assure you that we are committed to providing the necessary support and resources to help navigate this state of emergency. Our team is working diligently to ensure that our members receive the assistance they need, and we stand ready to support you in any way we can.

For assistance during this emergency, please call Anthem at 833-285-4030

We are here to help make sure you have access to the healthcare you need. We can help with finding available doctors, refilling prescription drugs, and other health plan questions. We’re available by phone Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT.

Receiving care during the emergency

• You can receive care from any doctor or hospital, even if they are not in your plan’s network. We will cover the claims as if they are in your plan’s network.
• If your doctor’s office or healthcare facility is closed because of the emergency, or if you are unable to travel there, call us at 833-285-4030. We can help you find another doctor.
• If you’re in a care management program and need to reach them, the contact number is 833-285-4030.

Prescription drug refills

• If your Anthem plan covers your prescription medicines, you can receive up to a 30-day emergency refill at any pharmacy now, even if it’s not in your plan’s network. 
• If you use Anthem’s home delivery pharmacy and your address changed, call us at 833-285-4030 so we can make sure to send your medicine to the right place.

Medical equipment that is lost or damaged

• We can help you replace your equipment (also called durable medical equipment or DME). Call us at 833-285-4030.

Eyeglasses or contact lenses that are lost or damaged

• We can help you replace your eyeglasses or contact lenses. Call us at 833-285-4030.

Filing a claim

• You and your doctors have more time to file claims. Call us at 833-285-4030 if you need an extension.

Mental health support 

• Anthem’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers mental health support and resources to help with legal and financial concerns, dependent-care needs, and other life challenges. Call the 24/7 EAP crisis line at 877-208-8240. 
• Our Anthem website also offers resources for mental health support.
• Crisis support is available if you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or behavior, is experiencing emotional distress, or is behaving in a way that could harm others. Call 988 or go to 988lifeline.org to reach the confidential Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is available 24/7.

In addition to the above, we are taking the following steps on behalf of our members:

Activating business continuity procedures to ensure continued access to care for impacted members. Please refer to https://www.anthem.com/ca for more information on how we’re working to help our members. 

Identifying members who may be medically impacted by smoke and fire.

Coordinating with providers (e.g., hospitals and nursing homes) to assist in the event of site closures.

Finally, Anthem is also offering free access to its online health option, LiveHealth Online to anyone living in the impacted area. LiveHealth Online offers video visits with U.S.-based board-certified doctors on a mobile device or computer from anywhere for non-emergency health conditions. The free visit offer will be available through the end of the state of emergency. 

Important Notes:

• The timing and locations for these relaxed guidelines may change based on conditions. Please check https://www.anthem.com/ca for updates.
• These changes are for impacted members who reside in Los Angeles and Ventura counties in California and who have Anthem group health plans through their employers, or Anthem individual and family plans. They do not apply to Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans, or fully insured trust funds. These plans have their own guidelines.
• Anthem’s Specialty lines of business do not include any pharmacy coverage. Therefore, this specific requirement about a 30-day emergency prescription refill is not applicable. All other requirements will apply to Specialty.

 

Content courtesy of Ramsey SmartDollar and Ramsey SmartTax

We're already in the middle of January, which means it's time to look at what's on the horizon when it comes to SmartDollar and SmartTax.

WECA Apprentices can take advantage of Ramsey SmartTax, which lets them file their state and federal taxes for free, while preparing for the upcoming tax season.

Another great way to use your SmartDollar apprenticeship benefit during February is to participate in SmartDollar's February Cash Giveaway (with a chance to win a $5,000 cash grand prize)!

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Not yet signed up for SmartDollar? No worries -- getting started is easy! Learn how below.

SmartDollar is a financial wellness benefit for WECA apprentices. We announced our partnership with the Dave Ramsey-founded online financial wellness platform in January, 2021 to provide our apprentices with a sound foundation in personal finance management. This benefit is available to all WECA apprentices free of charge. Not yet signed up for SmartDollar? No worries -- scroll to the bottom of this article for instructions!

What is SmartDollar? SmartDollar is a step-by-step approach to handling money with the number-one authority in personal finance, Dave Ramsey. More than 4.5 million people have started on Dave's plan and taken control of their money, and you can too! SmartDollar will equip you to get out of debt, on a budget, and on your way to a strong financial foundation.

The average person pays off $9,405 of debt and saves $6,127 in the first twelve months, and you can too!

"This program is powerful yet simple to understand. The Baby Steps make understanding how to win with money easy! Dave's lessons are fun, informative, and incredibly encouraging. It really doesn't feel like I'm taking a financial course. It's more like learning finances from a good friend...or a financially savvy stand-up comedian! The online tools are fantastic as well, and I love being able to 'ASK DAVE' any question and do my budget online. Love it all!" - Recent participant

With SmartDollar, you'll learn how to...

• Jump-start your money
• Knock out debt
• Secure your dream home
• Retire in style
• Demystify your credit score

How does SmartDollar work? With so many ways to engage in SmartDollar activities and content, SmartDollar Points have been designed to encourage users to establish true behavior change. (Check out the graph below for a quick rundown). The greater the importance and required time of each activity, the greater the amount of points that can be earned. For example, each Core Lesson video completed is worth 250 points. Completing a shorter Deep Dive video is worth 50 points. Tracking a transaction in EveryDollar is only worth 20 points, but users are encouraged to track all their financial transactions with no points limitations. These example activities are key for building the confidence you need to reach your financial goals.







 

Taking advantage of your free financial wellness benefit, SmartDollar, is easy!

To set up your account after accessing your dashboard, click either of the links shown as highlighted in the screenshot to the right of this paragraph. You'll be taken to a page with a SmartDollar enrollment link, where you will be able to set up immediate access to this important benefit.

Ready to get started?

Login to your GOWECA dashboard