b'Safety) instructor with WECA in 2016 after serving in the learning will be greatly missed. Steve and our FLS/VDVUnited States Navy for 14 years and subsequently working for programs go hand in hand as he played a critical role invarious fire alarm and CCTV companies in the Bay Area. making the great programs they are today.Steve studied at American River College in Sacramento Steve was pre-deceased by his wife, Lisa, and is survived bybefore joining the Navy, where he specialized in the his two sons, Jason (and his wife Jenn) and Chris, and hismaintenance of submarine communications equipment. daughter, Abbie; and two grandchildren.During his time in the Navy, Steve also took advantage of firealarm systems training, which provided him with a wealth of BOB BARTLETT, MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR,technical knowledge to take into his next career. CELEBRATES 20 YEARS WITH WECA!Bob BartlettWECAs diligent and enthusiastic MembershipDirector, who celebrated his 20th working anniversary withWECA this Juneis a huge driver of WECAs continuedsuccess and expansion across the American West.When Bob joined the team in 2002, WECA was on theprecipice of change and contending with significantchallenges spurred by unions and the CaliforniaApprenticeship Council.Times were difficult and challenging for a span of abouteight years because the unions and the CaliforniaApprenticeship Council were collaborating to disenfranchiseWECAs ability to offer an apprenticeship program, says Bob.WECA rose to each challenge with a strong resistance andfought back legally, intelligently, and strategically to finallyprove that we do indeed deserve the right to offer anexceptional apprenticeship program.Prior to landing at WECA, Steve served as a service manager WECA persevered and emerged as the victor, thanks to thefor SimplexGrinnell in San Jose and worked on various low concerted efforts of WECAs Board of Directors andvoltage systems for the Napa Unified School District.leadership team. Bob, however, muses that WECA mightnever have built the world-class curriculum and programsSteve also held a C-10 Electrical Contractors license and being offered today had it not been for these challenges.was certified as a California Fire/Life Safety Technician; aNICET Level III, Senior Electronics Technician, and was The challenges have been plentybut Bob has risen to eachfactory-certified for multiple manufacturers fire alarm, of them with his cheerful tenacity.security, telephone, and CCTV systems over the course of hisaccomplished career. Initially, my primary role was strictly to build statewidemembership. As membership numbers grew throughout theWECA Apprenticeship Training and Facilities Director Don years, the boss [Terry Seabury, WECAs Executive DirectorBlack says Steves humor, kind heart, and passion for and CEO] enthusiastically found more and more'