WECA Spotlight: Ben Palmer, Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Valedictorian
Ben Palmer didn’t start his career in the electrical trade. Before joining WECA, he was a bartender and musician. He enjoyed that life, but he eventually wanted something that offered more stability and a better future. After a friend from high school, who was also a WECA graduate and journeyman, recommended the apprenticeship program, Ben decided to give it a shot.
Making the career change took time. Ben earned his Electrical Trainee card, completed GetWired courses 101–104, and spent nine months looking for a job before landing an opportunity with Mark III Construction. Even then, he had to wait another nine months before being sponsored into the WECA apprenticeship program.
He stuck with it, and that decision paid off.
Becoming an electrician gave Ben something he had been missing in his previous career: benefits, financial security, and a path toward long-term growth.
“I’ve significantly grown my wealth since changing careers and I am now licensed, skilled and trained in a highly demanded trade. The potential for what I can accomplish as I continue in my career is truly great.”
The apprenticeship wasn't always easy, though. Between early mornings, long commutes, demanding deadlines, and the physical challenges of working in the field, Ben had plenty of reasons to feel worn down. There were times when he considered quitting, but he kept showing up and pushing through.
“For one thing it taught me the meaning of perseverance.”
That determination carried over into his schoolwork, too. Ben set his sights on becoming valedictorian early in the program and made it a personal goal. He took his classes seriously, never missed a class, and made sure he was on time. Even when things got challenging at work, he stayed focused on finishing what he started.
Ben also credits WECA's classroom instruction and hands-on labs with helping him develop the knowledge he uses on the job. Learning electrical theory, code requirements, and motor controls gave him a solid foundation, but he believes putting that knowledge into practice is just as important.
“The ability to learn and earn on the job was everything.”
For students currently working through the program, Ben's advice is straightforward: stay focused, work hard, and don't get distracted by the challenges along the way.
“WECA apprenticeship is undoubtedly the way to go over coming up as an ET. Work hard, keep your head down until you get good (lots of egos out there), turn in your time cards on time and get through the apprenticeship.”
Now that he's graduated, Ben plans to keep learning and improving as an electrician, with the goal of becoming a foreman and pursuing whatever opportunities come next. He wants to build a career that supports his future, retirement, hobbies, and personal goals.
He also credits several people for helping him get here. Ben thanks WECA instructors James Hall and Zack Wallace for their guidance, along with Mike Morton, his mentor at Mark III Construction. He gives special recognition to his mother, Loraine Palmer, whose perseverance and tenacity have inspired him, and to his partner, Zohra Church, for supporting him throughout the process.
Congratulations to Ben Palmer on graduating as valedictorian! His journey from bartending and music to becoming a skilled electrician shows what can happen when you set a goal, stay committed, and keep going even when the path isn't easy.