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Tuesday, November 26, 2024   In Celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2024, Meet Commercial Apprentice Joseph Kezmenko



Becoming a WECA apprentice means learning how to become a leader on your jobsite. In this apprentice video spotlight for National Apprenticeship Week 2024, we hear from WECA Commercial Electrical Apprentice Joseph Kezmenko on what his WECA apprenticeship has done for him.
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Tuesday, November 26, 2024   In Celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2024: Behind the Scenes at WECA's Open Houses

Behind the Scenes at WECA's National Apprenticeship Week 2024 Open Houses in Sacramento, Fresno, San Diego, and Phoenix

Also, at the Apprenticeship Utah Summit

And that's a wrap on National Apprenticeship Week 2024! Our Open Houses in celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2024 were incredibly successful thanks to the hard work and dedication of WECA staff, support from our community partners, and engagement from attendees exploring future careers in the electrical industry.

San Diego Open House


WECA held its first Open House on November 19th at our San Diego Training Facility. There, instructors led by Don Williams engaged attendees in discussions about apprenticeship and conducted hands-on demonstrations of labs that apprentices encounter and complete during their apprenticeship program.





Sacramento Open House

Our second Open House was held on November 20th at our Sacramento/Rancho Cordova Training Facility. This Open House was hosted by Diane Trotter, Workforce Development Supervisor, and James Hall, Randy Rivera, Bob Boling, and John Arias, Apprenticeship instructors. Hershel Baser, Jr., an Apprenticeship Consultant with the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards, also attended and spoke about how WECA is "one of the best apprenticeship programs out there."

According to Diane, "Our event was standing-room-only and full of participants that asked great questions. There were lots of great moments, but the two I would highlight were the demonstrations that our instructors were able to provide and having third-year apprentices speak. James and Randy did a great job getting and keeping the audience engaged, and showed some great examples of the types of activities we teach at WECA. We were also able to have third-year apprentices Cristian Gonzalez and Kevin Mendez speak. They both described their path to becoming an apprentice at WECA, and answered questions from the room. This is always a big hit with attendees, getting firsthand knowledge of what it is to be an apprentice is very valuable."











Fresno Open House

Our third and fourth Open Houses were held on the same day -- November 21st -- at our Fresno Training Facility and our Phoenix Training Facility, respectively. Rex Hime, Government Relations Director, and George Leach and Jaron Stroud, Apprenticeship instructors, hosted the Fresno Open House. We were very gratified to have so many community partners attend our Fresno Open House. We would like to thank Will Oliver (President/CEO of the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation), Vong Mouanoutoua (Clovis City Councilmember), Camaleh Saleh (Student Assistant for the Maddy Institute), Greg Newman (President/CEO of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce), Guadalupe Cruz (Assistant Director of the Maddy Institute), Shannon Major (Field Representative for the office of Senator Shannon Grove), Alina Alonzo (Maddy Institute intern for the office of Senator Shannon Grove), Gena Behrens (Chief Operating Officer of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce), Victoria Mosby (Research Analyst for the Fresno Chamber of Commerce), and Clint Olivier (President/CEO of the Central Valley Business Federation) for attending and supporting workforce development in the Central Valley.

Rex says, "I am extremely grateful for the diverse group of Central Valley leaders that joined us on Thursday for WECA's Fresno National Apprenticeship Week event. Community involvement plays a crucial role in creating diverse pathways to success, especially through apprenticeship, by providing individuals with hands-on skills, mentorship, and opportunities to thrive in high-demand careers, and ultimately fostering economic growth and long-term stability for all."







Phoenix Open House

Meanwhile, our Phoenix Open House was hosted by Heath Anderson, Arizona's Outreach and Workforce Development Specialist, and Keith Smart, Apprenticeship Manager and instructor. Many Phoenix community partners also attended this Open House, such as Stacey Travers (Arizona State Representative), Tom Cole (Director of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors), Joann Bueno (Director of the Arizona Office of Apprenticeship), and Shelley Seitz (Interim Director of the Center for Workforce Development for Grand Canyon University).

Heath shared his appreciation for the Phoenix business and workforce development communities attending the Open House, stating that "We appreciate the support of our community partners in teaming up with us on workforce development in Arizona."







Apprenticeship Utah Summit

Last, but not least, WECA celebrated National Apprenticeship Week in Utah by attending the 2024 Apprenticeship Utah Summit on November 19th at the Salt Mine Productive Workspace in Sandy, UT. Christine Hall, WECA Chief Operations Officer, was a panelist at the summit and shared ideas, information, and resources with attendees on expanding Apprenticeship in Utah. At the event, Christine was also excited to support Pat Miller, the State Director for the Utah Department of Labor, as she received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to apprenticeship in Utah.

Thank you, everyone, for your continued support of and interest in National Apprenticeship Week! It is always gratifying to promote the benefits of apprenticeship within our communities and inspire future generations of electricians and low voltage technicians to pursue apprenticeship with WECA.


 

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Tuesday, November 26, 2024   The Latest in the Data Center Build-Out in the Low Volt Lab at WECA's Sacramento Training Facility









Low Voltage Apprenticeship instructor Randy Rivera has added seismic bracing of the four racks to the floor beneath the tiles per code and installed fiber optic LIUs (with fiber optic housing), copper patch panels, and mock switches and servers along with monitors, and is almost finished installing the LEDs. We're that much closer to officially unveiling and utilizing the new data center in the Low Voltage Apprenticeship lab at our Sacramento/Rancho Cordova Training Facility! 
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Tuesday, November 26, 2024   WECA Member Contractors: Cast Your Ballot for WECA Board of Directors 2025 Election by Dec. 13

WECA Member Contractors: Please Take a Quick Moment to Cast Your Ballot Today for the WECA Board of Directors Election for 2025

Check Your Email: Ballot Instructions Within

Deadline: Dec. 13th
 

Dear WECA Member Contractors,

It's time to cast your ballot for candidates for the 2025 WECA Board of Directors. If you are the primary contact for your organization with WECA, and have not yet voted, please check your inbox for your ballot.

Please cast your ballot by December 13, 2024.

Thank you to all our members who have already voted!

The WECA staff would like to thank the members of the 2024 WECA Board of Directors for their continued commitment to the merit shop electrical industry member contractors and their employees.

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Tuesday, November 26, 2024   WECA Arizona Member Contractors: Save the Date to Celebrate the WECA Arizona Class of 2024 Grad


 

Save the date! WECA's 2024 Commencement Ceremonies for our Arizona Graduating Apprenticeship Class of 2024 will be held on February 8th!

Please watch your inboxes for more details as this event draws closer. We look forward to celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of our graduates with you!

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Thursday, November 14, 2024   In Celebration of Veterans Day 2024, Meet Three Current WECA Apprentices Who Have Served

David Berber



David Berber, a U.S. Army veteran, is now enrolled in the Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program and works for WECA Member Contractor JTE Electrical, Inc. David's path to becoming an electrician was inspired by his father and brothers.

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Burton Richards



Burton Richards, a U.S. Marine veteran, is now enrolled in the Low Voltage Apprenticeship Program and works for WECA Member Contractor Serban's Background Music, Inc.

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Brent Davidson



Brent Davidson, a U.S. Army veteran, is now enrolled in the Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program and works for WECA Member Contractor Mark III Construction, Inc. Brent discusses how his extensive military experience prepared him to excel in apprenticeship, and also discusses how apprentices can utilize the GI Bill. (While apprenticeship tuition is covered by the apprentice's employing Member Contractor, veterans can use the GI Bill to cover their remaining expenses, such as textbooks.)

 
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Thursday, November 14, 2024   WECA Arizona Fall Outreach Update

WECA Arizona Performs Fall Outreach at Southern Arizona Construction Career Days and Arizona Construction Career Days Events 







Southern Arizona Construction Career Days (SACCD)

WECA Arizona attended the Southern Arizona Construction Career Days (SACCD) event in Tucson, AZ on October 23rd and 24th. SACCD's mission is to increase awareness about construction industry careers amongst Arizona middle school and high school students, and they accomplish this through educating students and providing them with career-enhancing opportunities.

4,057 students from across Arizona were in attendance at the event. WECA Arizona was proudly joined at the event by three WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical apprentices: Nicholas Henkel of WECA Arizona Member Contractor Mountain Power, and JT Dolinich and Jordan Herrick of WECA Arizona Member Contractor K2 Electric.

Nicholas, JT, and Jordan will all be graduating from WECA Arizona's Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program in February, and all have additionally reached the rank of foreman within their respective companies.

Nicholas, JT, and Jordan captivated students and teachers alike with their stories, and spoke highly of their time in the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program.

WECA Arizona also enjoyed a surprise visit from Tom Cole, Director of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Tom's team provides a great deal of support for workforce development in Arizona, so it was great to be able to thank him for his team's hard work and support in person!

Thank you for having us, Southern Arizona Construction Career Days! We are already looking forward to next year's event!

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Arizona Construction Career Days

WECA Arizona was also in attendance at the Arizona Construction Career Days (AZCCD) event on November 7th and 8th in Phoenix. AZCCD aims to introduce high school students and counselors to careers in the construction industry.

More than 60 contractors, associations, and training partners met with 4,086 students. WECA Arizona was joined at the event by WECA Arizona Member Contractors CorbinsPCLBrycon, and Fluor. The WECA Arizona Member Contractors were instrumental in sharing their experiences and opportunities with attendees. 

WECA Arizona was also pleased to have visits from the Arizona Office of Apprenticeship, the Arizona Registrar of ContractorsGrand Canyon University, the National Association of Women in Construction, and the City of Phoenix

Thank you for having us at the event, Arizona Construction Career Days! We had a great time and are already eager for next year's event!


 
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Thursday, November 14, 2024   CA Members: Active Electrician Trainees Are Waiting for a Referral to You in Most CA Counties


 

Are you looking to hire Electrician Trainees? We have qualified individuals throughout California looking to get referred to a WECA Member Contractor through our Student Referral Service!

Electrician Trainees currently enrolled in the WECA ET Program are available for work in the following counties:

  • Alameda
  • Calaveras
  • Colusa
  • Contra Costa
  • El Dorado
  • Fresno
  • Humboldt
  • Imperial
  • Kern
  • Kings
  • Los Angeles
  • Madera
  • Marin
  • Mariposa
  • Merced
  • Monterey
  • Napa
  • Nevada
  • Orange
  • Placer
  • Riverside
  • Sacramento
  • San Bernardino
  • San Diego
  • San Francisco
  • San Joaquin
  • San Jose
  • San Mateo
  • Santa Clara
  • Santa Cruz
  • Sonoma
  • Stanislaus
  • Sutter
  • Tulare
  • Tuolumne
  • Ventura
  • Yolo
  • Yuba

WECA's Student Referral Service is a free job referral service that introduces our current Electrician Trainee, Journeyperson, and WECA-grad job seekers to Member Contractors in order to help Members meet their staffing needs.

This service provides additional customer service by having WECA staff supply you with hands-on referrals. In other words--we take some of the hard work off your plate! The Student Referral Service refers employees to you, and you hire them directly.

To receive referrals from WECA's Student Referral Service, please contact the WECA Client Services Team at (877) 444-9322.

 

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Thursday, November 14, 2024   Encourage Your Employees to Learn More About WECA Apprenticeship

At Next Week's Apprenticeship Programs Open Houses in Celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2024 (Nov. 17-23)

They Can Choose from Open Houses in Sacramento, Fresno, San Diego, and Phoenix





Download this flyer to share with your employees

This November, WECA is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2024 with Open House events at four of our Apprenticeship Training Facilities!

Please encourage your employees to join us at our Sacramento, Fresno, San Diego, or Phoenix locations for one of these fun and informative November events that just might be their first step into their future career!

At a WECA Apprenticeship Program Open House, attendees will learn more about WECA's three state and federally-approved Electrical (Commercial Electrical and Residential Electrical) and Low Voltage (Sound and Communications Installer-Voice Data Video and Fire Life Safety) Apprenticeship programs, focused on whichever are offered at the facility you're visiting. (Commercial Electrical is offered at all facilities.) 

Attendees can tour WECA's training facilities, see lab demos, meet WECA instructors and staff, get their individual questions answered, learn about the application process, and more!

We encourage them to pre-register for their chosen event ahead of time to secure their spot, but will also accept walk-ins on the day of the event if space allows. Pre-registration will allow them to receive event reminders and updated event information.

Apprenticeship means getting paid to learn. It's a path to a great, skilled career, without having to take on any college debt.

Share this link with employees -- they can RSVP for their chosen open house here!

 

Read more >>


Thursday, November 14, 2024   WECA Curriculum Development and Educational Media Teams Attend DevLearn 2024 in Las Vegas

WECA Curriculum Development and Educational Media Teams Represent WECA and Immerse Themselves in the Latest Learning Technology at DevLearn 2024 in Las Vegas



From left to right: Jeff Jaramillo (Content and Event Producer), Joshua Simpson (Apprenticeship Curriculum Developer), Maris Kaplan (Apprenticeship Curriculum Development Manager), Neil Pesarillo (Apprenticeship Curriculum Developer), Rebecca Archer (eLearning Manager), and Dan Bierly (Curriculum Development and GetWired Training Manager) pose for a group picture during DevLearn.
 

Members of WECA's Curriculum Development and Educational Media teams recently attended DevLearn 2024 (North America's largest learning technology event) in Las Vegas.

This annual conference and expo gives our teams the opportunity to level up their skills in managing, designing, and developing cutting-edge learning tech by diving deep into topics like instructional design, AI, VR, and more, and allowing them to interact with the latest learning tech from leading industry suppliers and solution providers.

WECA is committed to continuously developing the interactive and innovative learning solutions that keep WECA apprenticeship and training programs at the forefront of our industry.

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Thursday, October 31, 2024   WECA Member Contractors Make Engineering News-Record's Top 50 Firms in Electrical List



WECA would like to extend our congratulations to WECA Member Contractors Power DesignHelix Electric Inc.Bergelectric Corp., and Corbins for making Engineering News-Record's Top 50 Firms in Electrical list! We congratulate you on this nationwide recognition!
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Thursday, October 31, 2024   WECA Arizona Women Apprentices Janet and Lisette Amaya Encourage Women to Pursue Electrical Careers


 

WECA Arizona recently had the honor of supporting Janet and Lisette Amaya -- sisters and WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical apprentices, employed by WECA Arizona Member Contractor Corbins -- while they spoke at the Phoenix NAWIC chapter meeting at Grand Canyon University on Oct. 22.

Janet and Lisette both came to Corbins and WECA through Grand Canyon University's Pre-Apprenticeship program, stating that they both saw Grand Canyon University's program as a great opportunity to establish electrical industry careers.

Attendees were impressed by Janet and Lisette's stories, and even more so by their enterprising yet humble attitudes. Janet and Lisette both noted that they are proud of the work they do, and enjoy reaping the rewards that come from their hard work. Janet and Lisette enjoy sharing their stories with women audiences in a bid to encourage other women to seek opportunities in the electrical industry.

WECA and Corbins are proud of Janet and Lisette's accomplishments, and eagerly look forward to their continuing contributions to Arizona's electrical industry -- which includes welcoming the future women they will likely inspire to pursue electrical industry careers.

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Thursday, October 31, 2024   Squad Ghouls

Check Out How WECA Staff Celebrated Halloween 2024
 

Happy Halloween, everyone!

The WECA Team celebrated in spooktacular fashion (as always!) and wishes you a delightfully haunting celebration of your own!

P.S. Can you spot the winner of this year's costume contest?

(We are so jelly of Assistant Apprenticeship Registrar Heather Myers' costume, which won the contest!)





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And, of course, no WECA Halloween is complete without Insurance Administrator Cindy Cormier's wickedly good Halloween decor!







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Thursday, October 31, 2024   Encourage Your Employees to Learn More About WECA Apprenticeship

At an Upcoming Apprenticeship Programs Open House in Celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2024 (Nov. 17-23)

They Can Choose from Open Houses in Sacramento, Fresno, San Diego, and Phoenix

























 

Download this flyer to share with your employees
 

This November, WECA is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2024 with Open House events at four of our Apprenticeship Training Facilities!

Please encourage your employees to join us at our Sacramento, Fresno, San Diego, or Phoenix locations for one of these fun and informative November events that just might be their first step into their future career!

At a WECA Apprenticeship Program Open House, attendees will learn more about WECA's three state and federally-approved Electrical (Commercial Electrical and Residential Electrical) and Low Voltage (Sound and Communications Installer-Voice Data Video and Fire Life Safety) Apprenticeship programs, focused on whichever are offered at the facility you're visiting. (Commercial Electrical is offered at all facilities.) 

Attendees can tour WECA's training facilities, see lab demos, meet WECA instructors and staff, get their individual questions answered, learn about the application process, and more!

We encourage them to pre-register for their chosen event ahead of time to secure their spot, but will also accept walk-ins on the day of the event if space allows. Pre-registration will allow them to receive event reminders and updated event information.

Apprenticeship means getting paid to learn. It's a path to a great, skilled career, without having to take on any college debt.

Share this link with employees -- they can RSVP for their chosen open house here!

 

Read more >>


Thursday, October 31, 2024   WECA Member Contractors: Stay Compliant with Prevailing Wage Reqs with US DOL's Davis-Bacon Webinars

WECA Member Contractors: Stay Compliant with Prevailing Wage Requirements in California, Arizona, and Utah with U.S. Department of Labor's Upcoming Two-Day Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage Webinars

Choose from Webinars on Nov. 13-14, 2024; March 18-19, 2025; Jun. 25-26, 2025, and Sept. 24-25, 2025



 

Content courtesy of: U.S. Department of Labor

The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division will offer compliance seminars for contracting agencies, contractors, unions, workers and other stakeholders on the requirements for paying prevailing wages on federally funded construction and service contracts.

Part of the continuing effort by the division to increase awareness and improve compliance, the two-day seminars will offer sessions on the labor standards protections in the Davis-Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act, including how the department sets and administers prevailing wages and other topics. Participants can choose among the sessions offered either of the two days.

The upcoming seminars are scheduled on Nov. 13-14, 2024, and from March 18-19, June 25-26, and Sept. 24-25, 2025.

The seminars are free to attend but registration is required. Additional information and a link to the online seminars will be sent to registered participants.

For additional information on prevailing wage compliance, the division also has an updated video library on the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, the Service Contract Act and various executive orders.

Register now.

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Thursday, October 17, 2024   Promoting Workforce Development and Apprenticeship in Utah

Staffers for Senator Mike Lee (Utah) and Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (Utah-02) Visit WECA to Learn How WECA's Workforce Development Efforts and Apprenticeship Training Benefit Constituents


 

WECA Board Members and staff welcomed staffers for United States Senator Mike Lee (Utah) and Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (Utah-02) at WECA's Utah Apprenticeship Training Facility last week.

Mark Welcker, the Business Outreach Director for Senator Lee, and Cody Schlottman, the Outreach Coordinator for Congresswoman Maloy, toured the training facility and learned about the role that WECA plays in workforce development and apprenticeship in Utah.

WECA CEO Don BlackWECA Board of Directors Board Chair Dru WellsWECA Government Relations Director Rex HimeWECA lobbyist Richard Markuson, and Utah Lead Instructor Talon Pobuda joined various WECA Board Members in giving the tour and and educating Welcker and Schlottman on the WECA Utah Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program.

Welcker and Schlottman were impressed with WECA's practical approach to education after observing cohorts of apprentices moving seamlessly between lectures, presentations, assessments, and hands-on training steps away from each other. They stated that providing as many professional pathways as possible for their constituents is a priority, and noted exactly the value that WECA provides in that space.

"Promoting the trades and apprenticeship as a viable pathway for those in Utah is a like-minded goal for their offices, WECA, and our members," said Hime.

Cody Eaton, Trustee of the WECA Apprenticeship Training Trust Board of Trustees/Apprenticeship Training Committee and Operations Manager for WECA Utah founding Member Contractor Hunt Electric, also took the opportunity to explain how critical competency-based training is for workforce development in Utah.

"With 130 apprentices in the program, no one prepares Hunt Electric's employees for the field like WECA," remarked Eaton.

WECA thanks Mark Weckler and Cody Schlottman for learning more about WECA's workforce development efforts in Utah on behalf of Senator Mike Lee and Congresswoman Celeste Maloy.





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Thursday, October 17, 2024   Fall Apprenticeship Outreach Update

Connecting with Sacramento-Area High School Students at SRBX's Trades Day on Oct. 9 in Sacramento



Workforce Development Specialist Richard Meek and Workforce Development Manager Diane Trotter are excited to reach out to the next generation of electricians and low voltage technicians!



Diane shares the merits of WECA's three apprenticeship programs with interested attendees.



Apprenticeship instructors James Hall (left) and Bob Boling (right) conduct a lab demo for attendees.



James lets attendees get a closer look at part of his lab demo.

WECA's Outreach Team had a great time conducting outreach and lab demos for high school students at SRBX's Trades Day in Sacramento on Oct. 9!

We enjoyed seeing WECA Member Contractors Barnum & Celillo ElectricRoyal Electric Company, and Mark III Construction at the event, and also loved having the chance to explore WECA's three electrical and low voltage apprenticeship program options with the students who stopped by our table -- we hope to see them at WECA soon! 



The lab demos were popular for attendees to watch!



It was a rare treat to have Curriculum Development and GetWired Training Manager Dan Bierly come in from Texas to attend WECA's Northern California graduation ceremony. He couldn't resist joining in representing WECA at SRBX's Trades Day! Here, Dan discusses WECA's apprenticeship programs with an attendee.



WECA loves seeing our Member Contractors at industry events! Here, employees of WECA Member Contractor Barnum & Celillo Electric take a break from outreach to pose for the camera.

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Thursday, October 17, 2024   Celebrating Women-Owned Electrical Contracting Companies

Congratulations to WECA Member Contractors Royal Electric Company and Alessandro Electric Inc. for Being Named to Sacramento Business Journal's List of the Top Women-owned Businesses in the Sacramento Region






Please join us in congratulating WECA Member Contractors Royal Electric Company (#4) and Alessandro Electric Inc. (#10) in being named to the Sacramento Business Journal's List of Top Women-owned Businesses in the Sacramento Region!

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Thursday, October 17, 2024   Congratulations to the WECA Northern and Southern California Classes of 2024!

Relive the WECA Northern California Class of 2024 Graduation:



Relive the WECA Southern California Class of 2024 Graduation:



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Celebrating the WECA Northern California Graduation




 

WECA held its Northern California Class of 2024 graduation on Saturday, October 5th at the Sacramento Zoo in Sacramento, CA

The 363 attendees, notably graduates from WECA's Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship, Residential Electrical Apprenticeship, Low Voltage Apprenticeship, and Electrician Trainee Certificate programs, as well as their families, friends, and contractors, celebrated the graduates' hard work and accomplishments amongst the animals, on the zoo's Reptile House lawn. After three to five years of intensive training in the classroom and on-the-job for Apprentices, and four years for Electrician Trainees, the graduates deserved to be feted!

Wendy Flanagan, WECA's Assistant Director of Apprenticeship, did an excellent job (as always) of coordinating and co-hosting the graduation ceremony. Wendy says, "Thank you to everyone for making this such a special day for our graduates! There were so many kind words and comments from our graduates, their loved ones, and our special guests. It was definitely a hot day, but the food and company were great, and the drinks were cold!"

WECA thanks the Sacramento Zoo for helping us host such a unique celebration, and appreciates the continued generosity of our sponsors, gift donors, and industry supporters, who help make our graduations memorable for our graduates and their families. 

WECA additionally thanks special guests -- such as Hershel Baser, Jr. of the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards and Raymond Carrillo of the United States Department of Labor -- for attending the graduation. 

WECA congratulates our 2024 Northern California graduates, whose future contributions to the electrical and low voltage industries we will enjoy celebrating for years to come! 





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Celebrating the WECA Southern California Graduation




 

WECA held its Southern California Class of 2024 graduation on Saturday, September 28th at the Temecula Creek Inn in Temecula, CA.

In attendance were 245 graduates from WECA's Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship, Residential Electrical Apprenticeship, Low Voltage Apprenticeship, and Electrician Trainee Certificate programs, and their families, friends, and contractors. The fete was held on the inn's patio as well as in the inn's ballroom. After three to five years of intensive training in the classroom and on-the-job for Apprentices, and four years for Electrician Trainees, we were excited to finally celebrate their hard work and accomplishments at the beautiful inn, with great weather! 

"Graduation is such a special time," says Wendy Flanagan, WECA's Assistant Director of Apprenticeship. "We have had the privilege to share in our graduates' lives for three to five years, and seeing them at graduation with their families and friends was amazing. We enjoyed watching our graduates thank their loved ones, employers, and instructors, and also enjoyed the big party celebration vibe of the evening!"

WECA thanks the Temecula Creek Inn for being such a fabulous venue -- replete with delicious food and drinks -- to host our Southern California graduation celebration at. Additionally, we are ever grateful for the generosity of the sponsors, gift donors, and industry supporters who contribute their time and resources to help make our graduations special for our graduates and their families. 

WECA congratulates our 2024 Southern California graduates on their achievements, and we look forward to sharing in your future success in the electrical and low voltage industries! 





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Thank You to the 2024 Graduation Sponsors and Graduate Gift Donors for Their Continued Generosity and Support


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Thursday, October 3, 2024   CA Member Contractor Notice: CA DIR Has New Public Works Website Services

Learn How to Use and Navigate the System, and Receive Assistance, Through How-To Guides and Upcoming Zoom Workshops

Content Courtesy of CA DIR

Content courtesy of: CA DIR

We are pleased to inform you that in June, the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) launched the modernized Public Works website services, introducing a new unified system that replaced the PWC-100, PWCR, and eCPR applications.

As part of our ongoing commitment to improving the new solution, we have recently made significant enhancements to the system. These updates have resolved several pending account and association requests, allowing users who had encountered registration issues to move forward in the system.

We also have posted a series of LIVE WORKSHOPS where you can join through Zoom and receive assistance. To register, RSVP here. Space is limited but there are several dates to select. Events are listed at the bottom of this page.

We appreciate your continued patience and support as we work diligently to enhance the user experience and functionality of the new system.

Additionally, we would like to share a summary of the system updates that have been implemented to address various issues:

  1. Awarding Bodies: If you have multiple projects with the same or substantially similar names such as "maintenance", we recommend that you register the project, and revise the project name by adding the DIRPROJECT ID in front of the name. For example, "20241234 - Maintenance". Contractors will then be better equipped to search and find your projects to add to their dashboard.
  2. Manual eCPR and Classifications Updates: Added crafts and classifications include Electrician, Glazier, Painter, Sheet Metal Worker, Carpenter, Plasterer, Roofer, Tile Finisher, and more.
  3. eCPR Employee Notes Section Updates: The Employee Notes section now allows up to 500 characters, an increase from the previous 49-character limit. This field should be used to itemize additional deductions or contributions not covered by other eCPR fields, such as manual calculations for garnishments or 401k contributions.
  4. eCPR Proof of Submission Report: Click into your project on your dashboard and a screen print of the eCPR dashboard now provides information substantially similar to the previous proof of submission report.
  5. New Values for Manual eCPR Submission: The values listed below must be reported in hourly increments -- Fund/Admin, Savings, and Dues. The following values should be added as lumps ums per payroll period: Federal Tax, FICA, State Tax, and SDI. Note for XML users: These fields have existed in the XML schema prior to implementation of the new system. The information above serves as a reminder which are to be hourly and which are to be lump sums.
  6. New Fields Added to eCPR Exported PDF: Gross wages for all projects included in this check, gross wages for this project, and net wages for all projects.
  7. Deductions (Per Payroll) Section: The "Total (incl. other)" field is now modifiable. If you have deductions other than the four listed, manually calculate them into the "Total (incl. other)" box and adjust the "Gross Wages for All Projects" box accordingly. These additional amounts should also be noted in the "Employee Notes" section.
  8. Trailing Decimal Places Removed: Trailing decimal places on eCPR total amount fields have been removed for accuracy.
  9. Help Text Added: Additional text has been added to various sections of the user dashboard, including the deducations and XML upload sections, to assist users.

We remain committed to further enhancing the system and welcome your feedback as we continue this journey. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

There are a number of guides that can be of utility and they are found here.

If you have any further questions, please submit here.

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Thursday, October 3, 2024   Northern and Southern California Classes of 2024 Graduation Ceremonies Coverage Coming Soon

In the Meantime, Thank You to Our Graduation Sponsors and Gift Donors!

Stay tuned for a special publication featuring the WECA Northern and Southern California Classes of 2024! We celebrated the Southern California graduation this past weekend, and will be celebrating the Northern California graduation this Saturday, and have pictures and video coming your way soon! In the meantime, we want to extend our gratitude to our Graduation Sponsors and Gift Donors for making our graduates' events extra special for them.

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Southern California




Northern California

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Thursday, October 3, 2024   Meet Valedictorians and Salutatorians of the WECA Northern and Southern California Class of 2024


Jonathan Espinoza, the Valedictorian of the WECA Southern California Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2024, already had some experience under his toolbelt when he started his WECA Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship journey in 2019.

Jonathan began working for WECA Member Contractor Blum & Sons Electric, Inc. in 2018. After a year with the company, Blum & Sons offered Jonathan the opportunity to apprentice with them, an opportunity Jonathan says, “opened up many doors for me.”

“My WECA education and on-the-job training with Blum & Sons was instrumental in helping me pass my state exam and become the journeyman I am today,” says Jonathan. “I believe there were many factors that contributed to my success—my coworkers’ help, my instructors’ guidance, and my determination and my desire to succeed. But, most importantly, the support system I had from my family.”

Looking back on his apprenticeship journey, Jonathan advises apprentices to push themselves during the rigorous times, because the hard work will be worth it in the long run.

Moving forward, Jonathan plans to continue his education and branch out into various fields of electrical work.

“I would like to give a great thank you to everyone at Blum & Sons for providing this opportunity that I never thought I would get, and for always supporting me and helping me along the way. Most importantly, I would like to thank my wife and children for always being my biggest support system and motivation,” says Jonathan.

Congratulations on your graduation and your Valedictorian achievement, Jonathan! We have no doubt that your determination and ambition will serve you well in all aspects of your electrical career!

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WECA Southern California Class of 2024 Residential Valedictorian Josh Nordholm, an employee of WECA Member Contractor Surfside Electric, credits his success to WECA’s educational programs, culture, staff, and instructors.

“WECA provided me with a fully equipped academic environment, a culture of excellence, and the staff and teachers who maintain high standards of learning, which were all conducive to preparing me for a career in the electrical trade,” says Josh. “In class, it was all about industry standards—this is how things should be done, and here’s what you need to know to get it done properly and safely.”

However, Josh says that his success was not linear and advises that current and future apprentices embrace that reality when faced with obstacles or doubt.

“I always strove for perfection in class and in the field. Did I always achieve it? Heck no! And that’s okay, but I can say that I gave it my all and I got as close to perfect as I was going to get. So, stick with it. There are some pretty intimidating aspects of the curriculum and the trade, but trust the process. WECA knows what they’re doing. And don’t be late on your dang time cards,” entreats Josh.

Reflecting more on his time in WECA’s Residential Electrical Apprenticeship Program, Josh shared lots of appreciation for his instructors and his boss at Surfside Electric, Ryan.

“Jaron, Neil, and Don all brought a unique flavor to the classroom, but all were equally committed to seeing us succeed. I’m pretty sure Jaron knows everything, and it was a pleasure to pick his brain,” reminisces Josh. “Neil was always talking to us about the bigger picture and helping us understand the nature of the job and situations we would likely face. Don is a real nice guy with insane grip strength, but there were no shortcuts in his class. If you asked him a question, he would tell you how to find the answer. You could ask him if it’s okay to wear blue on Tuesdays and he would ask ‘What’s the code say?’ I also appreciate my boss Ryan for sponsoring me through the apprenticeship and just being an understanding and supportive guy.”

Now that Josh has his Residential Electrical Apprenticeship Program certificate under his toolbelt, he reports that the sky is the limit for his future.

“I’ll keep learning and working for Surfside Electric,” says Josh. “I may go out on my own eventually, or I could go work for a facility and teach! The doors are now open.”

Congratulations, Josh! Thank you for applying humor and humility to your WECA education, and for sharing those nuggets of wisdom with us. We look forward to following your endeavors—including maybe seeing you as an instructor in the halls of a WECA training facility in the future!

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WECA Southern California Class of 2024 Low Voltage Salutatorian Erik Martinez Jimenez’s WECA education was multifaceted.

“The WECA program was great for me, because I got to learn multiple systems, which helped me out once I was in the field,” reports Erik, an employee of WECA Member Contractor AMS.net. “WECA taught me multiple skills which I could use in the field, too.”

Erik also appreciates that WECA’s in-classroom education also focused on dissecting and disseminating apprentices’ on-job experiences.

“We did a lot of stuff in the field that we later discussed in class, like why we did things a specific way or why we ran cables a certain way. Class helped me understand why we terminated things on the field and the purpose of it,” says Erik.

Erik’s WECA apprenticeship education, coupled with guidance from apprenticeship instructors, helped him pass the California Voice Data Video Technician certification exam and excel on and off the jobsite.

“The material we went over in class helped me pass the VDV exam,” recalls Erik. “Instructors also guided me over the years and were always there for us if we needed help.”

He also says that “Having the support of my family, friends, instructors, and coworkers contributed to my success at WECA. My work ethic and hunger to learn were also big factors.” 

For those wanting to replicate Erik’s drive and success, his advice is simple:

“Make yourself valuable by learning new things or getting certifications to show your hunger to succeed,” implores Erik. “Show your company that you want to be there by showing a great work ethic and by learning new things on your own. Always be on top of things when working with your coworkers, such as doing things without having them tell you. These three years go by fast, so enjoy your time as an apprentice and open your exam books throughout the years to be prepared [to pass the certification exam] by your third year.”

After graduating this fall, Erik has a laundry list of things he would like to accomplish.

“My plans are to become a lead for AMS.net, get a C7 contractors license in the future to start doing my own work, and get more certifications, such as BICSI, fire optic, and fire alarm certifications,” concludes Erik.

We love to see it—a graduate with the drive and determination to continually improve and craft their career! Congratulations on your graduation, Erik—we’ll be cheering you on as you conquer the industry!

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There's more than one way to become—and succeed as—an electrician through a WECA training program. Just ask Jacob Minkoff, the Salutatorian of the WECA Southern California Electrician Trainee Program Class of 2024.

Jacob’s on-the-job training with his contractor, coupled with the education he received through WECA’s Electrician Trainee Certification Program, prepared him to earn his general electrician journeyman certification in November 2023.

“My WECA education was very informative and wide-ranging in electrical knowledge. It prepared me for my career by providing me with the necessary knowledge, so I could understand and perform the required tasks in my career. Meanwhile, my on-the-job training with my employers prepared me for my career by allowing me to build skills and gain experience,” says Jacob.

As a student in the WECA Electrician Trainee Program, Jacob's recipe for success was similar to that of his apprenticeship counterparts. He attributes his success to “keeping up with the assigned reading and homework, signing on early to the lectures, participating in answering questions asked by the instructor, and continually practicing using the NEC code book as often as possible.”

“I’d also like to thank all of my instructors for sharing their electrical and code knowledge and experience, and for allowing the trade to continue to grow and expand this way,” says Jacob.

To succeed like he has, Jacob implores apprentices and GetWired students alike to take the development of knowledge in their trades seriously, to be vigilant in their applications of that knowledge when working, and to never stop learning.

Jacob takes the “never stop learning” mantra seriously—aside from continuing to grow in his electrical career, Jacob plans to someday pursue a degree in electrical engineering.

Congratulations, Jacob! Thank you for being a great example of success in the WECA Electrician Trainee Program, and we wish you the best in acquiring a degree in electrical engineering in the future!

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Confidence. That is an invaluable thing that WECA and its Electrician Trainee Certificate Program have provided to Anthoney Castro, the 2024 Northern California Electrician Trainee Valedictorian.

“I feel more confident in the field with the things I learned while attending WECA,” says Anthoney. “The education I received was fantastic and has given me a deeper understanding of electricity, how to safely work with it, and how to interpret the NEC. That has greatly increased opportunities for me.”

Anthoney chose the in-person lab option for his classes in the program. “The instructors were very knowledgeable and helpful. The classes were detailed and well-organized. Even with the experience I have acquired in the field, I felt like I was learning and growing in electrical knowledge with every class. The in-class lessons were fun and educational; it was a great experience,” recalls Anthoney.

Initially, Anthoney enrolled in WECA’s Electrician Trainee Program with one goal: to pass the California State Journeyman Exam, which he accomplished. But with an Electrician Trainee Program Certificate in hand, Anthoney will leave WECA with a vast wealth of electrical knowledge, which will help him one day achieve his dream of owning his own electrical company.

Anthoney prospered during his Electrician Trainee Program journey due to support from his family, employer, and mentors.

“My wife, Linsey, took care of our kids and everything at home so I could focus in class and study. My dad pushed me to become an electrician. My company gave me the opportunity to attend WECA. And my mentors helped expand my electrical knowledge,” says Anthoney.

However, success starts with yourself, according to Anthoney.

“Don’t give up, believe in yourself, and make the decision to be great at whatever you do,” advises Anthoney. “There will be things that will try to pull you in a different direction, challenges and people that will try to tell you that you can’t do it or maybe even asking yourself if it is even worth it. It is. Stay focused; in the end, it is definitely worth it.”

Thank you for choosing WECA’s Electrician Trainee Certificate Program for your electrical education and certification preparation, Anthoney! We’re thrilled to celebrate your achievement of becoming Valedictorian of your class and we hope your example of hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm will inspire others.

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2024 WECA Northern California Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Valedictorian Christian Farley says of WECA’s program that “You can learn many things on a job site, but with WECA classrooms and instructors, you can basically touch any electrical subject and be properly informed.”

Christian, who studied at WECA’s Fresno Apprenticeship Training Center, credits WECA and the Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program curriculum with giving him the skills and the confidence to be assured in his career.

“The instructors helped walk students through various electrical scopes and are informative in the classroom as well as in the labs to ensure every student understands what to do and how to do it,” Christian says. “Learning how to navigate the NEC, read plans, proper wiring methods, and even being able to call the instructors has been an invaluable experience. Without WECA, I would not have had the valuable exposure and been formed into a skilled and trained state-certified journeyman. That experience is so valuable for anyone seeking to be a competent and skilled electrician.”

Christian’s learned skills and acquired confidence translated well into his performance on the job site with various WECA Member Contractors, most recently C3 Electric, and previously with members Imperial Electric Service and Westech Systems, LLC.

“I had the opportunity to work for big shops and small shops. The interesting thing is that I was able to do underground, service calls, commercial, residential, and industrial. WECA works with many contractors who each have their own niche and each employer I have worked for has been a learning experience in each scope. The on-the-job training was a great experience and taught me many additional skills and gave me self-worth,” recalls Christian.

However, Christian acknowledges that a lot of his success can be attributed to his self-determination, as well as his robust support system in the classroom and at home.

“It has been very important to me to give the very best of myself to whatever it is that I do. We are the ones in the driving seat of our learning experience,” says Christian. “We get out of our experience what we put in. Showing up every day and putting in the work and trying to master my craft one step at a time has yielded benefits. You reap what you sow, so always give your best.”

Support-wise, Christian thanks “My beautiful wife, Cathryn, for being there for me every single day. My son, Seth, my legacy and my responsibility to train up in the right ways. WECA for being an institution with high standards and for the quality of the learning experience. And a huge thank-you to (WECA apprenticeship instructors) George Leach for his many decades of electrical experience and his ability to share that valuable knowledge with the class, and Jaron Stroud for diving in deep on electrical concepts and encouraging students to trust the process of learning and to implement what we learned.”

In that same vein, Christian advises current and future WECA apprentices to trust the process.

“WECA has a proven model that yields tremendous benefit in learning, on-the-job training, pay, and more. Trust the process and take your education seriously. You get out of the program what you put in, so with the many resources that WECA provides, utilize them to become the best you can be. In the end, you will be skilled and certified, and that experience alone is very rewarding,” says Christian.

Rewarding, indeed: in the future, Christian aspires to start his own electrical contracting business in California’s Central Valley region and to take the skills that he has learned at WECA to provide high-quality electrical work in the region. Additionally, Christian also plans to come full-circle and train apprentices through WECA so that they are properly trained for the electrical field.

Congratulations on your graduation and accomplishments, Christian, and for planning to train your future apprentices through WECA – an enduring testament to the quality and power of WECA’s electrical education! We look forward to sharing in your success in California’s Central Valley in the future.

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For 2024 WECA Northern California Low Voltage Valedictorian Jorge Vazquez, an employee of WECA Member Contractor AMS.net, the Low Voltage Apprenticeship Program allowed him to continue where he left off after high school, but with the benefit of simultaneously obtaining an education and training for an eventual career as a Voice Data Video Technician.

“I was not able to continue my education after high school, and I jumped right into the work field. (Until) WECA gave me the opportunity to further my education and pave a way for a career,” says Jorge.

Jorge attributes his success at WECA and with his employer AMS.net to innate personality traits and skills and strategies learned in the classroom and on-the-job, and to the education he received from instructors Randy Rivera and John Arias.

“My on-the-job training and WECA education prepared me for my career by equipping me with practical skills, quick problem-solving abilities, enhanced safety awareness, confidence, and preparation for unseen challenges,” says Jorge. “I am also meticulous, organized, safety-oriented, and competitive … these skills that I acquired in my previous twenty-two-year career in the specialty rental business paved the way for me to become Valedictorian of my class. I would also like to thank my instructors Randy Rivera and John Arias for preparing and encouraging me to succeed, and my employers at AMS.net for the opportunity to acquire new skills at WECA.”

No matter what apprentices bring to the table, Jorge urges apprentices to invest in themselves and be the best they can be.

After graduation, Jorge plans to continue working as a Journeyman with AMS.net, with the eventual goal of becoming a lead.

Congratulations on your graduation, Jorge! WECA is proud to have played a part in furthering your education and providing training for your new career, and wishes you the best in your future endeavors!

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Thursday, September 19, 2024   WECA Government Relations Director Rex Hime Discusses BizFed's Opposition to Prop. 2 on Podcast

WECA Government Relations Director (and BizFed Central Valley Advocacy Co-Chair) Rex Hime Discusses BizFed's Opposition to Prop. 2 on Fresno's KMJ Now Podcast

Content Courtesy of BizFed Central Valley


 

Content courtesy of: BizFed Central Valley

In case you missed it, our very own BizFed Advocacy Co-Chair Rex Hime (who is a Government Relations Director at WECA), joined us on KMJ Now this evening to talk about why BizFed is opposing Proposition 2.

Today, we released the first statewide poll on Proposition 2 and it shows the public does not like the idea of restricting construction labor on the $10 billion dollar construction bond on the ballot.

BizFed agrees that school bonds are a critical tool for keeping jobs with facility needs and generating jobs for Californians, but we think it's a shame that throughout the state, elected officials are putting the bonds' ability to pass in jeopardy by playing favorites and politics.

Construction industry experts are speculating the current polling by Probolsky Research on Proposition 2 highlights the public's growing distrust of the state spending tax dollars fairly.

Visit our website to read more about the poll. 

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Thursday, September 19, 2024   Pics: Third-Year Commercial Apprentices Keeping CPR Skills Up-to-Date in Class at WECA Riverside

We recently caught up with some third year Commercial Electrical apprentices at WECA's Riverside training facility representing in WECA trucker caps while keeping their CPR skills fresh. Safety training and concepts are woven throughout the curriculum across all years in WECA's apprenticeship programs.



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Thursday, September 19, 2024   Fall 2024 (Oct-Dec) GetWired Classes Start Soon

Encourage Your Electrician Trainees and Journeypersons to Enroll ASAP to Get Spots in Instructor-Led GetWired Courses


 

Have your Electrician Trainees (and Journey Worker electricians needing continuing education hours) enrolled for WECA's Fall 2024 (Oct - Dec) session yet? If not, encourage them to enroll ASAP, especially if they hope to take instructor-led GetWired courses--instructor-led classes are starting back up in October, and spots are going fast! 

If they prefer to take self-paced classes, they're good to go whenever--but remind your Electrician Trainees to stay enrolled to keep their California Electrician Trainee registrations valid! 

Share the Electrician Trainee course catalog

Share the Continuing Education course catalog

They can also enroll over the phone at (877) 444-9322, in person at our Rancho Cordova training facility, or by email at info@goweca.com. 







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Thursday, September 19, 2024   How to Sponsor Your Employees in WECA's Non-Apprenticeship Training Programs

WECA Member Sponsorship and Reimbursement Models for Electrician Trainee, Journey Worker Continuing Education, and Construction Professional Classes

Discounts for Our Members and Their Employees

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Reminder: WECA has made it even simpler--and more affordable--for you to sponsor your employees in our non-apprenticeship training programs. 

We know an increasing number of our California contractors are sponsoring their Electrician Trainees' tuition in our Electrician Trainee (GetWired) Certificate Path program. We think that's great! WECA's Electrician Trainee program is another approved training path towards certification in California, with many educational similarities to our apprenticeship program. And many of you are finding that sponsoring your Electrician Trainees' education gives you a competitive advantage in the hiring market, plus helps you to ensure that your employees stay registered with the State of California. 

Your journey worker electricians and low voltage technicians can take our classes for their continuing education requirements, too, and we are an approved provider in California and also a good resource for Arizona, where continuing education is optional but can give you a competitive edge. Your member discounts apply for your journey workers as well.

Our program to educate non-electrician construction professionals in electrical fundamentals (WECA PE to PM program) is a solution for Utah, Arizona, and California alike. And yes—member discounts apply here, too.

Login to your secured member dashboard and navigate to the "Member Discounts on Non-Apprenticeship WECA Training" section, or give us a call for detailed information on the discounts for which you and your employees are eligible as part of your WECA contractor membership. If you're interested in sponsoring your employees' tuition up front, or are interested in reimbursing them for successful completion, give us a call and we can guide you through those options.

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Thursday, September 19, 2024   There's ONE WEEK LEFT to Register to Join WECA and Cook Brown, LLP for a Davis Bacon Webinar

There's a Little Less Than ONE WEEK LEFT to Register to Join WECA and Cook Brown, LLP for a Davis Bacon Act Compliance Review Webinar

Wednesday, Sep. 25 from 8:30 to 10:00 AM


 

Join Cook Brown LLP Partner Carrie Bushman on Wednesday, Sep 25 for a webinar on Davis Bacon Act Compliance Review. The webinar will cover such topics as:

  • Projects and types of work covered by the Davis Bacon Act
  • CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act
  • Identifying and understanding the applicable wage determination
  • Taking credit for fringe benefit payments
  • Payment of overtime
  • Employment of apprentices
  • Recordkeeping and posting requirements
  • Liability for violations
  • Paid sick leave requirements for federal contractors
  • Compliance resources

Register today to join us online on Wednesday, Sep. 25, from 8:30 to 10:00 AM, for this informative webinar.

This webinar is free for WECA Member Contractors and their employees--it's included in the WECA Member Benefits package. All others are $95/registration.

Register here!

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