Western Electrical Contractors Association, Inc.

Already Belong? Login

ET News + Events

Wednesday, June 25, 2025   Women Apprentices and Electrician Trainees: Connect with Your Peers at Virtual Forum on June 26th

Women Apprentices and Electrician Trainees: You're invited to join us for a virtual "Women in the Electrical Trades Forum" on Thursday, June 26th from 4 to 5 PM on Microsoft Teams!

Come chat with fellow women Apprentices and Electrician Trainees about topics impacting women in the electrical workforce.

We recently sent out invites to RSVP to the forum via email, so check your inboxes! Didn't receive an invite? Email Brandon Drew, Apprenticeship Workforce Development Recruiter and Outreach Specialist, at bdrew@goweca.com to RSVP.

See you there!

Read more >>


Wednesday, June 25, 2025   Life at WECA Lately

First year, second semester Low Voltage Apprentices at WECA CA HQ

































First year, first semester Low Voltage Apprentices at WECA CA HQ



















Upcoming Commercial Electrical Apprentice Grads Completing Capstone Projects at WECA CA HQ















Read more >>


Wednesday, June 25, 2025   Video: Considering WECA's GetWired Electrician Trainee Certificate Program for CA? Have a Look


 

Have a look at WECA's GetWired Electrician Trainee (ET) Certificate Program and its benefits. This convenient, four-year program, which can be completed entirely online (with your choice of self-paced or scheduled, instructor-led classes) is the independent alternative to apprenticeship and readies you to take the California General or Residential Electrician Certification exam.

More electrician trainees in California choose WECA's well-regarded ET program over any other school.

Read more >>


Wednesday, June 25, 2025   Enroll in Basic Motor Controls 1 & 2 in Rancho Cordova; San Diego Starting July 12th


 

Basic Motor Controls, Part 1

Get hands-on experience building control circuits for motors as you learn the basics of Motor Controls.

In this lab-based course, working on a motor controls training board with up to one other student partner, you'll get hands-on experience with Basic Motor Controls Part 1, learning about and gaining experience with:

  • The parts and components of a motor circuit
  • Manual control, automatic control and control logic
  • Motor control line - ladder diagrams
  • Local Start / Stop Station
  • Multiple Start / Stop Stations
  • Using Selector Switches & Pilot Devices
  • Reversing circuits
 
  • Total class hours available: 16
  • Standard Tuition Fee: $229 per person

Enroll in Basic Motor Controls, Part 1 starting July 12th in Rancho Cordova

------------------------------


Basic Motor Controls, Part 2

Build on what you learned in Basic Motor Controls, Part 1 by getting further hands-on experience building control circuits for motors.

In the lab-based course, Basic Motor Controls, Part 2, working on a motor controls training board with up to one other student partner, you will learn about and gain experience with:

  • Sequential starting of multiple motors
  • Control relays and their common applications
  • Timers and timing logic, for example, on delay, off delay, etc.

 

  • Total class hours available: 16
  • Standard Tuition Fee: $229

Enroll in Basic Motor Controls, Part 2 Starting July 12th in San Diego

 

Read more >>


Wednesday, June 25, 2025   New WECA Electric Eel Mascot Designs Available in the WECA Gear Store

Or Try Winning One by Impressing an Instructor


 

All-new designs featuring our electric eel mascot are now available in the WECA Gear Store!

Rep the finest electrical and low voltage training and apprenticeship in the American West.

Get yours

Read more >>


Wednesday, June 25, 2025   Celebrating Rick Labon's 20th Working Anniversary with WECA


 

Rick Labon, WECA’s Senior Education Advisor and Curriculum Development Lead, is celebrating his 20th working anniversary with WECA this year!

Before beginning his WECA career as an instructor at our San Diego training facility in 2005, Rick gained extensive experience in the electrical industry, from apprentice to journeyman, to foreman, supervisor, and electrical contractor. Altogether, Rick has worked in the industry for over 40 years—but his interest in the electrical field all began in his junior high school electronics class, when he took a particular interest in three-way and four-way switching.

Rick was instrumental in the opening of WECA’s Riverside training facility in 2010, and was our first Lead Instructor at that location.

In his current role as Senior Education Advisor and Curriculum Development Lead, Rick creates all manner of learning content for WECA’s Apprenticeship, GetWired Electrician Trainee, Journeyperson Continuing Education, and Industry Education programs. Rick’s role has a heavy emphasis on the development of interactive e-learning content for engaging online courses and simulations.

“In the coming years, I hope to incorporate ever more interactivity for our learners,” says Rick. “Being an electrician is a hands-on trade, and designing courses that require learners to build or wire equipment in a virtual scenario helps reinforce the concept of why we do what we do as electricians.”

Michelle Gilkey, WECA's CGO/CINO, says “Rick is always pushing the envelope on electrical industry education. If you've ever seen any of the excellent original technical illustrations in our curriculum, those were created by Rick. He taught himself extended coding skills for our eLearning development platform so he could gamify our learning activities and assessments. He’s been a mentor to so many of his team members, and not a week goes by that I don't hear someone asking for his insight and guidance.”

Rick surmises that WECA’s greatest asset is its ability to adapt as the electrical trade continues to evolve and its focus on implementing new technologies into its training programs. “Our highly knowledgeable instructors provide our students with the most current and up-to-date information on electrical building trends. This includes using job site management tools for real-time collaboration and digitized documentation management via mobile apps,” says Rick.

Rick reports that his favorite aspect of his role is having the ability to take a concept, create content based on code or theory, create illustrations, and bring to life “why we safely do many of the things we as electricians do every day.”

Rick reflects that one of the most memorable moments of his WECA career was when his former student, 2018 WECA Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Valedictorian Demi Zayas, gave a moving and memorable speech on her motivator to excel as an electrician—her daughter.

When not working—which Rick’s wife, Sherry, says he does too much of—Rick enjoys playing the guitar (his heroes are Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana), non-edible gardening, riding his motorcycle, and spending time with his seven grandchildren.

Speaking of Sherry, Rick thanks her for “giving me the confidence to become an instructor when WECA asked me to join the team.”

WECA would also like to thank Sherry for giving Rick the confidence to join WECA. Rick’s contributions to WECA over the course of his (thus far) twenty-year career with us have been immeasurable, not least of which includes his involvement in making WECA’s electrical apprenticeship and training programs the best in the industry.

Thank you for everything, Rick—cheers to twenty years, and many more!



Rick and Sherry pictured on one of their many "foodie adventures" in Las Vegas.

Read more >>


Wednesday, June 25, 2025   Save the Date(s) for the WECA California Class of 2025 Graduation Events in NorCal and SoCal



WECA's 2025 Commencement Ceremonies for our Northern and Southern California graduating Apprenticeship and Electrician Trainee Program Classes of 2025 will be held on the above dates! Watch your inboxes for more details as these events draw closer. We look forward to celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of our graduates!
Read more >>


Wednesday, June 25, 2025   Don't Forget to RSVP Today to Celebrate Your Hard Work and Achievements at the WECA Utah Graduation



Utah grads: If you haven't yet RSVP'd for your graduation tickets, check your inboxes. The registration link is waiting for you!

WECA is excited to invite you and your loved ones to come and celebrate your achievement of successfully completing your program. Graduates of WECA's Commercial Electrical apprenticeship program will be honored at this event. Meet with your classmates, instructors, contractors, and WECA staff in honor of your graduation, and celebrate together!

We look forward to celebrating with you!
Read more >>


Wednesday, June 25, 2025   Take Advantage of SmartDollar, Your FREE Apprenticeship Benefit

July's Theme: Christmas in July/Skip Holiday Stress by Saving Today!

Not Yet Taking Advantage of SmartDollar? Get Started Below







 

Content courtesy of SmartDollar

Summer is officially here and while it might be hot outside, the holidays will be here before you know it! July is the perfect time to start saving for Christmas -- skip the stress and make the season merry (and budget-friendly). We've got tips and tricks to help you plan ahead and make this a new holiday tradition!

Jump in today to make your holiday season the best one yet!

------------------------------
 

Not yet signed up for SmartDollar? No worries -- getting started is easy! Learn how below.

SmartDollar is a financial wellness benefit for WECA apprentices. We announced our partnership with the Dave Ramsey-founded online financial wellness platform in January, 2021 to provide our apprentices with a sound foundation in personal finance management. This benefit is available to all WECA apprentices free of charge. Not yet signed up for SmartDollar? No worries -- scroll to the bottom of this article for instructions!

What is SmartDollar? SmartDollar is a step-by-step approach to handling money with the number-one authority in personal finance, Dave Ramsey. More than 4.5 million people have started on Dave's plan and taken control of their money, and you can too! SmartDollar will equip you to get out of debt, on a budget, and on your way to a strong financial foundation.

The average person pays off $9,405 of debt and saves $6,127 in the first twelve months, and you can too!

"This program is powerful yet simple to understand. The Baby Steps make understanding how to win with money easy! Dave's lessons are fun, informative, and incredibly encouraging. It really doesn't feel like I'm taking a financial course. It's more like learning finances from a good friend...or a financially savvy stand-up comedian! The online tools are fantastic as well, and I love being able to 'ASK DAVE' any question and do my budget online. Love it all!" - Recent participant

With SmartDollar, you'll learn how to...

  • Jump-start your money
  • Knock out debt
  • Secure your dream home
  • Retire in style
  • Demystify your credit score

How does SmartDollar work? With so many ways to engage in SmartDollar activities and content, SmartDollar Points have been designed to encourage users to establish true behavior change. (Check out the graph below for a quick rundown). The greater the importance and required time of each activity, the greater the amount of points that can be earned. For example, each Core Lesson video completed is worth 250 points. Completing a shorter Deep Dive video is worth 50 points. Tracking a transaction in EveryDollar is only worth 20 points, but users are encouraged to track all their financial transactions with no points limitations. These example activities are key for building the confidence you need to reach your financial goals.







 

Taking advantage of your free financial wellness benefit, SmartDollar, is easy!

To set up your account after accessing your dashboard, click either of the links shown as highlighted in the screenshot to the right of this paragraph. You'll be taken to a page with a SmartDollar enrollment link, where you will be able to set up immediate access to this important benefit.

Ready to get started?

Login to your GOWECA dashboard

Read more >>


Monthly Meeting of WECA Boards of Directors and Trustees
Start Date/Time: Thursday, September 11, 2025 9:00 AM
End Date/Time: Thursday, September 11, 2025 12:00 PM
Recurring Event: One time event
Importance: Normal Priority
Category:
Board of Directors/ATC Combined Meeting
Description:

Enter event description

Owned by Morgan Rosenberger On Wednesday, February 12, 2025