“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle 

Daniel Coman, the WECA Southern California Electrician Trainee Program Class of 2026 Salutatorian, originally obtained a degree in photography. In his late 20s, however, he decided he needed a career change, and enrolled in WECA’s Electrician Trainee Program.  

“I come from a family of electricians, so it was on my radar,” said Daniel. “I had a year-plus of experience [already], so the trade wasn’t foreign to me. But it was a big change. I quickly became interested in electrical theory, but it took me a few years to pursue formal education [in the field].” 

Daniel characterized his WECA journey as challenging, but worth it, because he is now a state certified general electrician and feels like he is getting a good return on his investment. 

“I really like the flexibility [of the program],” said Daniel. “Taking classes online while working and having a choice of which classes to take and when was important to me. Initially, I planned on taking classes on target topics. But I quickly realized the benefit of getting a complete and well-rounded electrician education. So, I completed the whole curriculum and a number of the elective courses. The material can be challenging, but with some repetition and diligent study, it leads to competence. For instance, I feel really competent at sizing conductors and over-current protection in complex situations. Throughout the curriculum, the topics of de-rating and adjustment factors, continuous demand, and voltage drop, etc., come up. I also took Perfect Sizing, which focuses on the topic in details. I can definitely address some of the common scenarios off of the top of my head.” 

Though driven to level up and excel, Daniel attributes his success to his wife, Megan. 

“Taking classes after work as an adult isn’t trivial,” said Daniel. “It takes a lot of money, commitment, and time—and therefore sacrifice.” 

Congratulations on your graduation and Salutatorian accomplishment, Daniel! We are inspired by your drive and your relentless educational pursuits and know that the two combined will help you continue to craft a successful career in the commercial electrical industry – and beyond!