Thursday, April 30, 2026

Carson Cantu



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Macgregor Boyd



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Isiah Lerma



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Jeffery Lange



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Cole Bolton

This National Apprenticeship Week 2026, we’re spotlighting WECA Utah Commercial Electrical Apprentice Cole Bolton.

A year ago, Cole pivoted his career and life in a huge way—going from working in marketing to starting a Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program with WECA at our Salt Lake City region training facility.

“You know, a year ago, I was making a huge six-figure salary in marketing. People looked at me and thought I had it all. And maybe I did, on paper. But inside, I felt…boxed in. I wanted to make something I could touch, something I could see at the end of the day. The electrical trade called to me. It was hands-on. It was real. It was a place where I could learn and grow and actually build something that lasts. Walking away from the corporate world? Terrifying. But I’d rather take that leap than wonder, ‘what if?’ the rest of my life or worse…get replaced by a robot!” said Cole.

Understandably, making a drastic career change has not been without its challenges for Cole.

“Starting over is a beast,” said Cole. “I went from a comfy desk job to work that’s physically demanding, mentally exhausting, and humbling. You’ve gotta learn from scratch. Ask questions. Screw up. Show up again the next day. And slowly, you grow. You realize you’re stronger than you thought, smarter than you thought, and yeah…you can handle a lot more than you give yourself credit for.”

Cole reported that during his apprenticeship journey thus far, WECA has been good to him.

“The instructors? They care. They don’t just teach from a book. They teach what works in the field, what matters when you’re standing on a ladder, troubleshooting a problem, trying to get it right. It’s real-world learning, with people who want to see you succeed. That kind of support? Makes all the difference when you’re building a career from the ground up,” said Cole.

Additionally, Cole’s apprenticeship journey has been dynamic.

“In the service division, every day is its own adventure. Every day is a puzzle. Something’s not working, and it’s up to me and my journeyman to figure it out,” said Cole. “You follow the wires, trace the problem, think it through, and eventually—click—it works. That moment, when it all comes together, there’s nothing like it. You see the difference you make. And that feeling? That keeps you coming back.”

For prospective apprentices, Cole’s first piece of advice would be that “an apprenticeship just works.”

“You get paid while you learn. You build real skills. You avoid student debt,” said Cole. “And you learn from people who’ve been there, done that. People used to ask me, ‘If you could do it all again, what would you do?’ And I’d always say, ‘I’d go into the trades.’ Eventually, I realized, I should take my own advice. It’s not always easy. But it’s real, and it’s meaningful, and it sticks with you for life.”

Cole attributes his success in his apprenticeship program thus far to his journeyman, Eric Critchlow.

“He’s patient, he works hard, and he leads by example every single day. But more than that, he’s taught me the parts of this job that you don’t always see, like taking care of your team, building relationships with customers, and creating a place where people feel respected and appreciated. He’s made me a better electrician and a better person, and I’ll carry that lesson with me forever.”

Cole, we are so glad that you decided to take a leap of faith and transition to a career in the electrical trades. Thank you for being part of the WECA Utah family and for embodying excellence in the Utah electrical industry!