Thursday, January 27, 2022

January 12 was a momentous day for WECA! That morning, we held our Phoenix Golf Social at the picturesque Arizona Grand Golf Course and then segued into a long-awaited open house and ribbon-cutting celebrating the opening of our Phoenix training facility that afternoon.

At the golf social, WECA employees played golf with Darin Johnson (Vice President of Foreman Development for WECA Arizona founding Member Contractor Corbins Electric; Trustee on WECA's Apprenticeship Training Trust) and Tim Bosley (President of WECA Member Contractor Bosley Electric; Member of WECA's Board of Directors).

The open house, meanwhile, was attended by a mix of member contractors, Phoenix community members, apprentices, and nonmember contractors. Notable attendees included: Curt Moroney (Business Development Executive at the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce); Paul Sanders (Workforce Development Manager at the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce); Mark Cooper (President of WECA Member Contractor H&D Electric); John and Deanna Pavletich (CEO and Senior Vice President of WECA Member Contractor Pavletich Electric and Communications, respectively); Chad Rowley (President of WECA Member Contractor ExhibitOne Corporation); Dina Kimble (President and CEO of WECA Member Contractor Royal Electric Company); John Knapp (Senior Recruiting Manager at WECA Member Contractor Helix Electric); Leslie Schlaegel (Talent Development Director at WECA Member Contractor Royal Electric Company), and more!

"All attendees seemed very impressed with the Phoenix facility," said Don Black, WECA Director of Apprenticeship, IT, and Facilities. "The opening remarks made by Darin Johnson were impactful and a great way to open the event. There were also several tours of the facility and Keith Smart (Phoenix-based Apprenticeship Program Remote Manager) showed off his skills at the smart board."

Terry Seabury (Executive Director and CEO of WECA), concurred with Black, saying that "All attendees said the facility was extremely organized and impressive, and three nonmember contractors verbally committed to getting their employees into WECA."

Topping off an exciting open house for WECA's Phoenix training facility was a ribbon cutting ceremony presided over by Curt Moroney (Business Development Executive at the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce), who even brought his own giant ribbon-cutting scissors with him!

Thank you to all who attended, and to all who support WECA's mission of serving merit shop electrical contractors, their employees, and the industry suppliers that support them across the Western United States. We are grateful for your support and enthusiasm, and look forward to the continued success of WECA's Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program in Arizona!