Dina Kimble, President and CEO of WECA Member Contractor Royal Electric Company, honored by the Sacramento Business Journal as one of the Sacramento region's most admired CEOs


 

Dina Kimble, President and CEO of Royal Electric Company, a longtime WECA Member Contractor who has also served on our Board of Directors, was recently honored by the Sacramento Business Journal as one of the region's most admired CEOs.

Please join WECA in congratulating Dina for this tremendous accolade, and for giving us a glimpse in the accompanying article into the hard but important work that goes into building a strong company culture.

Leslie Schlaegel, Vice President of Talent Development at Royal Electric Company and current Trustee on the WECA Apprenticeship Training Trust Board of Trustees, is also quoted in the article and provides further insight into Dina's leadership and Royal Electric Company's success.

Congratulations, Dina!

Enroll today and then register for your WECA-exclusive platform walk-through session on Apr. 19


 

Dear WECA Member Contractor,

Mineral (formerly ThinkHR) is a premium Human Resources platform that combines the best in live advisor expertise with innovative technology and comprehensive and instructional content to help organizations address all potential Human Resources related people risks, including guidance on preparing for and managing these risks. WECA provides access to this premium resource for you as our valued member contractor.

Mineral's value proposition and benefits: an overview

Comprehensive Overview

Premium Solutions

Industry Value Report - Construction

What's New in Mineral

35 Critical HR Processes

You're eligible for access to the Mineral HR Resources platform (formerly ThinkHR) as a WECA member benefit. If you have not yet enrolled for access, please do so here.

Mineral will be hosting a special platform walk-through session for WECA Member Contractors on Wednesday, April 19 at 9 AM PDT/12 PM EDT, where they will provide a detailed overview of the resources to which you will have access as an administrative user once you've enrolled.

Next, Please register for "Introduction to Mineral -- a Walk-Through for WECA Member Contractors" on April 19, 2023 at 9 AM PDT here.

In this session, Mineral will cover:

• General Mineral platform layout
• How to consult your Mineral HR experts
• How to easily create your Employee Handbook that's never out-of-date
• How to assign training to your employees from a catalog of hundreds of interactive courses
• How to navigate a multitude of HR compliance resources, tools, and templates
• Plus much more!

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. You will also receive reminder emails the day prior and one hour prior to the start of this session.

We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

The WECA Team

 

At WECA, many of our employees have become family over the years. That’s certainly true for Audra Jamieson, WECA’s Apprenticeship Program Specialist, who celebrated her 20^th working anniversary with WECA earlier this month.

Audra began working for WECA as a file clerk in 2003. During her first year, she started working toward her goal of learning everything about WECA and its operations. Her ambition opened the door to expand her knowledge of WECA and inspired her to learn beyond her newfound acquired knowledge.

In Audra’s current role as Apprenticeship Program Specialist, she focuses on processing apprentice, state, and federal registrations and apprentice GI Bill benefits, conducts apprentice probationary reviews, and assists with apprentice wages and questions. She also provides support to WECA’s Member Contractors, students, and staff, and makes it her personal mission to find the answer they need.

“My current role today is sort of unique, as my daily tasks can change day to day,” says Audra. “I want to treat everyone I interact with just how I would like to be treated and provide the best customer service I can.”

Even after 20 years at WECA, Audra endeavors to continually grow in her role and contribute to improving the association.

“With the expansion of our apprenticeship training programs into Arizona and Utah, my duties seem to have grown as well. This is not a bad thing, because this only allows me to think outside of the box and about what I can do to make my daily tasks and processes run a little smoother,” says Audra.

Additionally, it seems that Audra’s passion for WECA and its mission has intensified over her 20 years with the organization.

“I have been extremely fortunate to be part of the continuing growth WECA has accomplished throughout the years. I really do believe in our core values and our mission to train, educate, and to develop a future skilled trades workforce,” says Audra. “WECA works hard to protect the rights of merit shop business owners and their employees, and I truly believe that 100 percent of everything that we do here is because of our Member Contractors and students. We couldn’t be successful and where we are today if it wasn’t for them,” says Audra.

However, Audra’s favorite thing about her job and working for WECA is witnessing and being part of students’ success stories.

“The accomplishments of an individual who has successfully completed one of our outstanding programs, whether it is the electrical trainee program or the apprenticeship program, is very satisfying to me. I’m honored to be part of that success of a student who proudly accepts their certificate of completion during graduation and to be able to walk the stage with their classmates and have their employer, family, and friends share that experience. Each student has worked exceptionally hard for that, and it pleases me to see them reach their goal,” says Audra.

And, Audra’s favorite memory of WECA at WECA is witnessing and contributing to the organization’s exponential growth.

“I’ve been fortunate to witness the growth of WECA in the last 20 years,” says Audra. “Most people may not be aware, but WECA was limited to training apprentices in certain areas and counties for California when I first started. So, one of my favorite memories is when WECA won statewide approval in 2005. That allowed us to start training apprentices throughout the state of California for our Commercial Electrical, Residential Electrical, and Low Voltage Apprenticeship programs. This was just the boost we needed, and between 2005 and 2007 is when WECA established our Electrician Trainee program to meet the needs of uncertified electricians. Now adding the Arizona and Utah apprenticeship programs to our list of accomplishments is just icing on the cake.”

Outside of work, Audra is equally passionate about her family and her hobbies.

“Coming from a big family, I feel like we are always celebrating something special, so I like hanging out with my family whenever possible. I enjoy all types of music and I like spending time going to movies, concerts, or any type of classic car shows. I’m also a big foodie lover, so I take pleasure in being in the kitchen trying out old and new recipes and making yummy things to eat for my friends and family. And when it comes down to baking, that’s my passion and I’m all over it. I also find it’s extremely important to be able to prioritize self-care and make life as enjoyable as possible. Just be free and have fun when you can – life is short,” says Audra.

Audra’s been extremely successful in her 20 years at WECA thanks to her passion and drive, but she also attributes her success at WECA to the help of her mentors, who have also become friends.

“I’d like to thank Terry and Bob for their greatness and knowledge of the organization and extend a special thank you to Christine and Wendy for always being a fantastic support system for me with any challenges that may cross my path, and their willingness to always help,” says Audra.

Congratulations on your 20^th working anniversary with WECA, Audra! We are honored to have you as part of the WECA family, and thank you for helping WECA grow into the premier nonprofit organization serving merit shop electrical and low voltage contractors, their employees, and the industry suppliers that support them in the American West! 

Responsible Managing Employees Are No Joke

Failure to Adhere to Responsible Managing Employee Requirements May Result in Waiver of Contractor's Right to Compensation for Work Performed

Content courtesy of Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP

For the second time in calendar year 2022, the Court of Appeal of California has found California Contractors State Licensing Laws bar contractors from collecting for work performed. (See Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP Partner Daniel McLennon's Law Note on Kim v. TWA Construction, Inc. (2022) 78 Cal.App.5th 808, finding that licensed contractor could not collect payment for work performed by an unlicensed subcontractor notwithstanding that the contractor was itself licensed to perform that work.)

In an opinion that should be a warning call to all contractors in California, the Court of Appeal upheld a trial court's decision to vacate an arbitration award of over $100,000 to a contractor because the contractor did not carry its burden to prove that its purported Responsible Managing Employee was in fact a bona fide Responsible Managing Employee. (Vascos Excavation Grp. v. Gold (Cal. Ct. App., Dec. 21, 2022, No. B315205) 2022 WL 18398783.) All corporate contractors in California should be aware that failure to have a bona fide Responsible Managing Employee automatically suspends the contractor's license, resulting in the inability to collect for the work performed.

Read the rest here.

Don't miss out -- there are three weeks left to RSVP to join WECA for an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating our NEW Utah Apprenticeship Training Center!

Apr. 12 from 3:30 to 6:30 PM


 

Please join us this April for WECA's open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new, state-of-the-art training facility in Woods Cross, Utah! All are welcome!

When: April 12, 2023 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Where: 2511 S. Redwood Rd., Ste. 22

Woods Cross, UT 84087

• Enjoy food and libations
• Tour our new facility
• Meet WECA instructors, staff, members, students, board members, and members of the Salt Lake City and greater Utah electrical industry and community
• Learn about WECA and how the association serves electrical contractors and the industry
• See how our apprentices learn--including the new technology and innovative training tools used in WECA's apprenticeship learning labs!

We look forward to seeing you there! Please take a moment to RSVP:

Register for our Utah open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony

Starbucks' Fight with Unions Comes Down to This Brutal 7-Word Truth. Every Leader Should Pay Close Attention.

Content courtesy of Inc.
 

By Jason Aten, Tech Columnist

Starbucks' CEO Howard Schultz has always been staunchly against unionization at the company's stores. During his three different runs as CEO, he hasn't been shy about his feelings that employees shouldn't need to join a union to be treated fairly.

In the past few years, the company has been aggressive in its efforts to slow down the push to form unions at its more than 9,000 stores. It's one of the reasons Starbucks brought its founder back to the top role. Schultz argued that the company lost its way under its previous leadership, and that's a big part of why employees are pushing to unionize.

Whatever you think about Starbucks, or unions, or Schultz, he makes an important point that every business leader should consider.

"Some decisions were made that I would not have made," Schultz told CNN. "As a result of that, I think people did lose trust in the leadership of the company." 

If you think about it, once your team loses trust in the leadership of your company, it shouldn't come as a surprise that they might try to do something about it. Unionization is simply the logical conclusion of that thread. 

Basically, Schultz is saying that if your employees are trying to form a union, you're doing something wrong. As for Starbucks, he says the reason employees want to be a part of a union is because the company "was not leading in a way that was consistent with its history."

I'm not suggesting that unions are bad--but I'm suggesting they always organize in response to something. The reality is that whatever that something is, you usually have a lot more influence over it than you might think. The problem is, you just didn't think it was as big a deal as your employees did. 

To that end, I think Schultz has a point. If Starbucks' employees trusted the company's leadership to do the right thing for them, they would have a lot less motivation to form a union. Inherently, the reason for forming a union is to force an employer to listen to employees and make change. If your employees were happy with their working conditions, they wouldn't be asking for change.

It's important to understand that you might be paying your employees well and giving them good benefits, but if you lose their trust, none of that matters. If they don't feel like they're being treated fairly, you have a problem.

Notice that the standard isn't whether you think you're treating them fairly, or whether an outside observer might think so. It isn't even whether your employees think they are being treated fairly. The question is whether your employees feel that way. 

That disconnect explains a lot of the reason employees lost trust in leadership. On the one hand, executives look at things like spreadsheets and comparables and financial statements. They analyze and rationalize and come up with plans that make sense on paper. 

The thing is, what makes sense on paper doesn't always feel fair to your employees, because feelings are tricky. Employees don't care about those spreadsheets. What they care about is whether they are satisfied in their job, enjoy the people they work with, and feel respected by management. If you lose that, there's nothing a spreadsheet can do to help you win it back.

* Cal/OSHA Guidance on Requirements to Protect Workers from Coronavirus
* Supplemental Toolbox Talks COVID-19
* Coronavirus Toolbox Talk
* Fact Sheet for Pandemics
* Coronavirus - Workplace, School and Home Guidance
* COVID-19 Tool Cleaning Protocols
* United States Department of Labor: COVID-19
* CDC COVID-19 Risk Assessment Flowchart
* EDD Coronavirus Resources for WECA Community

These, and more, are always available on WECA's COVID-19 Advisory Page.

 

Please join us in congratulating the following WECA Member Contractors in making the Sacramento Business Journal's Top Electrical Contractors list!

• Royal Electric Company
• Rex Moore Group Inc.
• Barnum & Celillo Electric Inc.
• Helix Electric Inc.
• North State Electrical Contractors Inc.
• Butterfield Electric Inc.
• Vasko Electric Inc.
• Alessandro Electric Inc.
• Bosley Electric Co.
• K S Telecom
• Garrahan Electric Inc.

Thank you, everyone, for exemplifying WECA excellence in the Sacramento region and beyond!

 

Please join us in congratulating the following WECA Arizona Member Contractors in making the Phoenix Business Journal's Top Electrical Contractors list!

• Corbins
• K2 Electric
• Specified Electrical Contractors, Inc.

Thank you, everyone, for exemplifying WECA excellence in the Phoenix metro and the state of Arizona!

Please join us in congratulating WECA Member Contractor Imperial Electric Service (owned by WECA alumni Windell Pascascio) for winning the Gwen Moore Diversity Award from Southern California Edison! Congratulations, Imperial Electric Service and Windell -- thank you for being a pillar of WECA's caliber and diversity in Fresno and the Central Valley!

 

WECA's solar energy contractors are shining bright this year!

Please join us in congratulating WECA Member Contractors SunPower and GAF Energy for making CNET's Best Solar Companies of 2023 list. Congratulations to both on leading the way in sustainably powering our communities!

See Our Recap Video and Pictures Below


 

WECA held our first "Jump Start Your Career" fair at our Fresno training facility (which serves Fresno and the greater Central Valley region) on February 22nd.

Diane Trotter, WECA's Workforce Development Supervisor, reports that the event had a "solid turnout with many eager career seekers."

Ana Lopez, ET/Journeyman Program Manager, and Trisha Hughes, Client Services ET/CE Specialist, shared information about the Electrician Trainee Program during the event and helped attendees get a "Jump Start" on their electrical careers.

"All attendees were so grateful to have them there and to learn more about this pathway," says Diane.

Meanwhile, George Leach and Jaron Stroud, the Apprenticeship instructors at WECA's Fresno training facility, made sure that attendees got some "real hands-on questions" answered and showed off their electrical knowledge!

Additionally, Rex Hime, WECA's Regional Relationship Manager for Fresno, Don Black, Apprentice Training, IT, and Facilities Director, and Wendy Flanagan, Assistant Director of Apprenticeship, were on hand to answer attendees' burning questions, make them feel welcome, guide them to the right spot within the fair, and made sure that our participating Member Contractors had everything they needed.

Rex says, "The event captured the value of being a WECA member or student in a bottle. Our enthusiastic applicants got hands-on experience with what their education in Fresno would look like, witnessing live workshops from WECA's Fresno instructors. Participating members were also thrilled to meet potential future employees. The event gave them a venue to put a name to a face and see the determination of the Central Valley's future electricians. I was delighted with all the preparation and professionalism displayed by our attendees, and our member contractors felt the same way. Jump Start was a successful catalyst to strengthen Central Valley's electrical workforce, which is beneficial to all of us at the end of the day."

Many of WECA's Member Contractors participated in the career fair. Chad Leger of Rex Moore Group says, "Rex Moore's partnership with WECA is great. We love WECA because WECA turns out some of the best talent there is; WECA turns out great apprentices. We like to take those apprentices and turn them into leaders."

Richard Markuson of WECA Government Affairs also stopped in to show his support for the educational and member services provided by the Fresno training facility for the greater Central Valley region.

And last, but not least, Jeff Jaramillo, WECA's Content and Event Producer, compiled footage of the event (seen above) and interviewed attendees.

"It was great to see everyone!", concludes Diane.

WECA would like to thank our attendees for their interest and participation and our participating Member Contractors for helping expand the electrical workforce in Fresno and the Central Valley!

Introducing the Next Self-Paced Online Option for Our GetWired Electrician Trainee Program Series:

GetWired 201: Self-Paced Introduction to Alternating Current, Branch Circuits, and Feeder/Service Calculations

Your Employees Can Now Opt to Take This Course On Their Own Time, At Their Own Pace!


 

WECA is excited to announce another way students can take GetWired 201, the fifth class in WECA's Path to an Electrician Trainee Program Certificate!

We've long offered GetWired 201 as an instructor-led online course. And we still do!

But for students who would prefer to take this course at their own pace, on their own time, we're now offering a fully self-paced online option, just like we've been offering for the GetWired 100 series! Students who might prefer this format include:

• Students with job, childcare, or other obligations preventing them from taking the instructor-led scheduled courses in the evenings
• Students who would benefit from being able to review the material at a slower pace, such as students for whom English is a second language
• Students who just prefer to work on the coursework at times and places when it works best for them

WECA's new GetWired 201 Self-Paced Option is an entirely online, self-paced alternative version of our GetWired 201 course, which reviews content covered in GetWired 104 and expands on theories and applications taught in the 100 series. You will gain practice in making a variety of calculations for:

• Branch circuit loads for single and multi-family dwellings
• Service entrance conductors using optional methods
• Peak to peak voltage

Course topics include:

• Finding information in the NEC
• Conductor comparisons and resistance
• Branch circuits and feeders
• Make up and box fill calculations – hand-on-lab
• Introduction to service calculations
• Magnetic induction
• Dwelling load calculations
• Services

GET WIRED! 201 Self-Paced includes project-based learning designed to help you develop on-the-job skills you need to be an expert electrician.

• Total class hours available: 36
• Standard Tuition Fee: $339

If all of this sounds like it would work for your employees,

have them enroll in GetWired 201 Self-Paced Online today!
 

Think your employees would prefer being able to interact with an instructor and learn along with other students, on a schedule two evenings a week, including one onsite in-person lab on a Saturday?

Have them enroll in an upcoming instance of the original GetWired 201 here!

 

Or, would your employees prefer to interact with an instructor and learn along with other students, on a schedule two evenings a week, but with an instructor-guided online lab experience on one of those evenings?

Have them enroll in an upcoming instance of the online evening instructor-led GetWired 201 with an online lab here!

 

Please join us this April for WECA's open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new, state-of-the-art training facility in Woods Cross, Utah! All are welcome!

When: April 12, 2023 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Where: 2511 S. Redwood Rd., Ste. 22

Woods Cross, UT 84087

• Enjoy food and libations
• Tour our new facility
• Meet WECA instructors, staff, members, students, board members, and members of the Salt Lake City and greater Utah electrical industry and community
• Learn about WECA and how the association serves electrical contractors and the industry
• See how our apprentices learn--including the new technology and innovative training tools used in WECA's apprenticeship learning labs!

We look forward to seeing you there! Please take a moment to RSVP:

Register for our Utah open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony

Dear WECA California Member,

The new 2023 private wage sheets (effective March 2, 2023) are available on our website.

Please visit the Wage Section of our Member Forms and Resources page to view applicable private wages.

These sheets are additionally linked from your secured member dashboard, to which you can login at GOWECA.COM, underneath your prevailing wage determination links.

Sincerely,

The WECA Team

WECA Member Contractors:

Need help navigating the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)? WECA has compiled a comprehensive guidance page, which we will regularly update as new information becomes available.

Access the IRA guidance here.

 

Content courtesy of: California Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, Underground Safety Board Planning and Design Committee

Got 5 minutes? The Underground Safety Board's Planning and Design Committee is developing a design ticket and needs input from designers and operators regarding the planning and design process.

To access the surveys, please visit Planning and Design Surveys | Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety (ca.gov).

The surveys can be completed via your mobile device or computer. The surveys will run until COB March 17th.

Thank you for taking the time to provide a response and valuable information!

Please join us this April for WECA's open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new, state-of-the-art training facility in Woods Cross, Utah! All are welcome!

When: April 12, 2023 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Where: 2511 S. Redwood Rd., Ste. 22

Woods Cross, UT 84087

• Enjoy food and libations
• Tour our new facility
• Meet WECA instructors, staff, members, students, board members, and members of the Salt Lake City and greater Utah electrical industry and community
• Learn about WECA and how the association serves electrical contractors and the industry
• See how our apprentices learn--including the new technology and innovative training tools used in WECA's apprenticeship learning labs!

We look forward to seeing you there! Please take a moment to RSVP:

Register for our Utah open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony

Reaching New Heights in the Classroom and on the Aerial Lift with Low Voltage Instructor Randy Rivera's First Year, Second Semester Low Voltage Apprenticeship Class

Content courtesy of: BlueBeam



Despite the temptation to implement a new technology quickly, it’s important that there are practices in place to ensure the tool is evolving in the long run.

By: Frank Kalman

Most construction industry leaders would likely agree that implementing a new technology can be a complicated process.

From identifying pain points to researching possible solutions to going about the lengthy process to test and implement the new technology, the process can be painstaking—even though such efforts have largely gotten relatively easier and more accessible recently.

Still, it’s important for construction leaders to remember that any new technology implementation is a marathon, not a sprint.

While many focus on the initial dash to become operational on a new technology, it’s critical to account for long-term considerations. Even once the initial phase of implementation is complete, seemingly solving the problem, it’s worth maintaining a continuous-improvement approach.   

Here are six things construction leaders can do to ensure they’re taking the long view when implementing a new technology.

Make training continuous

It’s easy to focus on the initial implementation training when installing a new technology. Construction leaders have by this point spent months (or even years) researching the new tool and orchestrating its implementation.

Yet, there are several reasons why training should be designed as a continuous, long-term process.

No matter how well-designed your initial technology implementation training may be, people aren’t likely to retain it all the first time around. Often when taking on new technology, people don’t know what they don’t know—so they retain what’s taught to them just to get by, without fully realizing the context of the tool.

Revisiting concepts taught in the initial training may be helpful several months after the implementation training. Then, as time passes, additional ongoing training should take place about new features and tools.

Appoint technology champion(s)

It’s likely that the initial technology implementation featured a leader or group of leaders responsible for the complex process of overseeing the effort and all its components. This leadership structure should persist long past the initial implementation.

Depending on the size of your company or team taking on the new technology, this can be one person or several people. A large municipal department, for instance, may appoint a council of strategic advisors to oversee and maintain the long-term efforts associated with a new technology implementation.

These people should meet regularly to craft new trainings and other initiatives to ensure that the technology’s use is progressing. They should also come from different divisions or disciplines across a company to ensure every perspective is represented.

Initiate internal user groups

A great way to embrace a continuous-improvement approach to a new construction technology implementation is to form an internal user group. This group is designed to meet regularly to share knowledge of the new technology and explore new possibilities of how the tool can be used.

Perhaps the best way to make these groups effective is to make them social as well. Have them meet after working hours so they feel more informal and community oriented, rather than just another meeting during the workday.

Devise external knowledge sharing

Equally as critical may be coming up with ways for external knowledge sharing on a new technology. While internal user groups are tremendously effective in expanding a company’s use of a new technology over the long term, it’s important that construction firms have a way to bring in external knowledge, too.

Attending or organizing industry events on new technology, or starting one that brings in like-minded users from other organizations, are all ways to channel external knowledge that will pay dividends long into the future.

Conduct regular technology audits

No matter how long a tool has been in place and how knowledgeable people may be on it, construction leaders should get into the habit of conducting regular, formal audits on the technology. Whether you bring in an outside group to conduct the audit or use your internal technology leadership team, doing this ensures that the technology remains effective at improving your firm’s efficiency and solving new problems that arise over time.  

Embrace failure

Don’t worry if everything isn’t perfect. New technology implementations can be messy. Try to embrace the small failures that will inevitably come, allowing you to iterate to ultimately maximize the value of the new technology. After all, such failures are often the best learning opportunities.

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

And if we can just add a tip of our own here:

Ask your recent WECA Apprenticeship Grad for help

WECA apprentices get training on multiple construction technologies during the course of their program. Your WECA Grad may be just the person to help you get the most out of your construction tech.

 

 

Helping Your Non-Electrician Construction Professional Employees Gain Electrical Job Site Fundamentals

Our contractors asked, and WECA delivered.

Essential training for non-electrician construction professionals:

The WECA Project Engineer to Project Manager

(PE to PM) Program

Get acquainted with a quick video:

 

 

And now learn a whole lot more:

The WECA Project Engineer to Project Manager (PE to PM) Program

Providing training in electrical concepts, code, and best practices for non-electrician construction professionals, WECA's PE to PM Program was designed and developed in close consultation with our contractors. It's designed to give construction professionals--including Project Engineers who have a background in construction but little or no electrician-specific training--the electrical fundamentals and crucial concepts they need to talk the talk and walk the walk on your projects. 

The PE to PM Training Path is made up of five online courses which should be taken in the following order:
 

1. Practical Electrical Theory is an online, self-paced introduction to electrical theory, laws, and circuits. Course topics include:

• Atomic Theory
• Ohm’s Law
• Series Circuits
• Parallel Circuits

Learn more and enroll here.

2. Subject Indexing and Code is an online, self-paced course in which students will learn how to effectively navigate and answer code-related questions in the National Electrical Code book and complete the calculations needed for electrical installations. Course topics include:

• NEC Subject Indexing
• Conductor Sizing and Protection
• Raceway, Box Fill, and Conduit Fill Calculations
• Service Sizing, Clearances, and Terminations
• Wiring Methods, Special Equipment and Occupancies
• Grounding and Bonding
• Motors
• General Equipment, Lighting and Panelboards

Learn more and enroll here.

3. Electrical Wiring Methods and Installations is an online, self-paced introduction to the most used wiring methods with emphasis on proper installation and correctly applying electrical code. Course topics include:

• Installation basics
• National electrical code
• Workmanship standards
• Identification of methods

Learn more and enroll here.

4. Job Costs and Estimating Basics is an online hybrid (a scheduled instructor-led introduction and otherwise self-paced) course which introduces estimating job costs, material and labor for electrical installations. Course topics include:

• Material estimations
• Labor estimations
• Voltage drop as applied to installation
• Total job cost analysis

Learn more and enroll here.

5. Commercial Electrical Blueprint Reading is an online, scheduled, instructor-led course in which students learn how to coordinate cut sheets, submittals, the NEC and more with digital blueprints to plan electrical installation for commercial construction from the ground up. 

Learn more and enroll here.

FAQs

Q: Is the PE to PM Program for Project Engineers only?
A: Nope! Any construction industry professional (for instance, General Contractors, Construction Managers, etc.) who requires a grounding in electrical concepts, the National Electric Code, and best practices on the electrical job site can benefit from this program. 

Q: Does the WECA discount structure for Member Contractors and their employees apply to the PE to PM program?
A: Yes, discounts on these classes are available to WECA Member Contractors and their employees as a WECA membership benefit. Members: Please log in to your secured member dashboard to download the PE to PM program discount rate sheet, or call our office for more information. Member employees: Please speak to your contractor about accessing a discount.

Q: How long does it take to complete the program?
A: The program is modularized and was designed to accommodate individual choice in the intensity and speed of completion. Motivated students might complete it in as little as 6 months. A student who would like to integrate the concepts more slowly, or who is combining this program with other on-the-job training, might prefer to enroll in only one course per quarter, taking approximately 18 months to complete the program.

Q: Will the timing of the classes interfere with job duties?
A: The program has been designed for busy working professionals and should not interfere with full-time job duties. All of the courses are fully online. Three of the courses are entirely self-paced. One of the courses has an instructor-led introduction, which is held online in the evening, and then the remainder is self-paced. The final course is scheduled, online, instructor-led, but classes occur on weeknight evenings and one Saturday.

Q: I'm a construction professional who has had some electrical training already. Can I skip a class? 
A: WECA recommends the full program, taken in the order outlined above. However, if you've had previous electrical training (for instance, by taking some WECA GetWired! classes), we recommend you review the course outlines closely, and then enroll in whatever is most appropriate for you. Call WECA and talk to one of our client services specialists if you're not sure what to take.

Q: Does WECA provide a certificate of completion at the end of this program?
A: Yes, a student who successfully completes all five courses in the PE to PM Program Path with be granted a certificate of completion from WECA. (Credit towards the certificate for alternative courses previously taken at WECA will be considered on a case-by-case basis.)

Q: I'm ready to get started (or to get my employees started) in this program! What do I do next
A: Enroll online through our PE to PM Course Catalog, or call our office at 1-877-444-9322 for enrollment guidance.

Enroll your employees (and be sure to utilize WECA's member training discounts) today!

 

 

 

* Cal/OSHA Guidance on Requirements to Protect Workers from Coronavirus
* Supplemental Toolbox Talks COVID-19
* Coronavirus Toolbox Talk
* Fact Sheet for Pandemics
* Coronavirus - Workplace, School and Home Guidance
* COVID-19 Tool Cleaning Protocols
* United States Department of Labor: COVID-19
* CDC COVID-19 Risk Assessment Flowchart
* EDD Coronavirus Resources for WECA Community

These, and more, are always available on WECA's COVID-19 Advisory Page.

Utah Founding Member Contractor Hunt Electric's Executive Team Visits; First Year, First Semester Commercial Electrical Apprentices Use Oculus VR Headsets to Learn CPR
 

WECA was excited to host Utah Founding Member Contractor Hunt Electric for a tour of our new Salt Lake City-region training facility on Thursday, February 2.

Talon Pobuda, the Apprenticeship Manager and Instructor for the WECA Utah Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program, gave members of Hunt's executive team (including Troy Gregory, President and CEO; Cody Eaton, Operations Manager; Ibi Guevara, Vice President of Business Development and Marketing; Tyler Staveley, Workforce Manager; Karen Powers, Human Resources Director; and other Division Heads) a tour of the facility while classes and labs were in session.

Of the visit and WECA's working relationship with Hunt Electric, Talon says "Every interaction with the Hunt team has been a pleasure. I am so glad we had the executive team out and were able to show them what we do here. I am grateful to have Hunt as our partners to make the Utah electrical workforce the best it can be."

Additionally, Cody says that "Hunt's executive team got a first-class tour of the new training facility from Talon; he was an awesome host and our team was very impressed."

Thank you, Hunt Electric, for visiting our new facility and training program! We're happy that you got to see your employees' educational development in action!






----------------------------------------------------------------------
In WECA's Apprenticeship Program, the future of learning is today. Here are some pics of WECA's new first year, first semester Commercial Electrical apprentices in Utah utilizing Meta Quest VR headsets in the classroom last week, to learn how to safely and effectively administer CPR on-the-job. Exploring cutting-edge virtual reality for learning helps apprentices simulate real-world CPR conditions, gives them critical experience if the need arises, and sets them apart with advanced safety knowledge.

Meet WECA Apprenticeship Applicants In Your Area

RSVP Today!

We are excited to host the "Jump Start Your Career" job fair at WECA's Fresno training facility on February 22 from 4 to 7 p.m.!

But, your help is needed to make this event a success! This is a great opportunity for Fresno-area member contractors to connect with apprentice applicants about career opportunities in the trades as an electrician, and to share information about your company.

We will be providing information about the different pathways and programs we offer at WECA and some hands-on activities.

Please let us know if you want to be included in this fabulous event to showcase all the great things about a careers as an electrician. WECA will provide tables and chairs for the event booths, as well as meeting space, if you would like to conduct interviews at the event.

To register to represent your company at this event, please email Wendy Flanagan at wflanagan@goweca.com or Diane Trotter at dtrotter@goweca.com.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Download the "Jump Start Your Career" Job Fair flyer here.

Content courtesy of: California Department of Industrial Relations

The Labor Commissioner’s Office offers educational seminars across the state to provide an overview of prevailing wage and apprenticeship standards compliance and public works enforcement. Discussions will include awarding body responsibilities, coverage determinations, and prequalification of contractors, contractor registration and Project Registration (formerly known as PWC-100). Some seminars are focused on requirements for specific groups such as contractors or public agencies. Follow the registration links below for more detail about each seminar.

Click below to find and register for seminars.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Access tutorials on certified payroll reporting below:

Module 1: Contractor and Project Information (3:26) 

Module 2: Entering Payroll Information - Part 1 (3:10)

Module 3: Entering Payroll Information - Part 2 (4:13)

Module 4: Submitting Payroll via XML (4:01)

For more information and to find exact legal definitions and language please see the Public Works Chapter of the California Labor Code.

Also, Explore the Three Ways Your Employees Can Take the GetWired Path to an Electrician Trainee Program Certificate

WECA's Jobsite Skills Acquisition Companion Guide for Electrician Trainees pursuing the WECA ET Program Certification is meant to help them track their jobsite skills practice and progress. This guide can help them tie what they're learning in the classroom--especially if they've opted for fully online and/or self-paced course options--to what they're doing on your jobsite.



Download the flyer to share with your employees here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are now three different ways for your Electrician Trainees to take the WECA GetWired Path to an Electrician Trainee Program Certificate. Learn all about it with this video:

* Cal/OSHA Guidance on Requirements to Protect Workers from Coronavirus
* Supplemental Toolbox Talks COVID-19
* Coronavirus Toolbox Talk
* Fact Sheet for Pandemics
* Coronavirus - Workplace, School and Home Guidance
* COVID-19 Tool Cleaning Protocols
* United States Department of Labor: COVID-19
* CDC COVID-19 Risk Assessment Flowchart
* EDD Coronavirus Resources for WECA Community

These, and more, are always available on WECA's COVID-19 Advisory Page.

Our new video explores the benefits for Arizona electrical contractors in enrolling their employees in

WECA Electrical Apprenticeship
 

Pro Tip: WECA's California and Utah Programs Offer All these Benefits to Contractors, Too!



 

You're Cordially Invited to the 2023 WECEF Claws for a Cause Crab Feed Fundraiser and Board Installation


 

2023 WECEF Claws for a Cause Crab Feed Fundraiser and Board Installation

When: Friday, March 10, 2023

Time: 5:00 to 8:00 PM

Where: WECA California HQ

3695 Bleckely St.

Rancho Cordova, CA 95655
 

After a three-year hiatus, the Western Electrical Contractors Education Foundation (WECEF) is pleased to invite you to once again come out for a good cause on March 10th! Join us for WECEF's annual fundraiser and crab feed, to support education and careers in the electrical and low voltage trades. This fundraiser helps WECEF create more opportunities for student scholarships, materials, and improvements to WECA labs, classrooms, and the electrical industry.

Please join us for the installation of the 2023 WECA Board of Directors, Apprenticeship Training Trust Board of Trustees, and Health and Welfare Board of Trustees at this event, in addition to a delicious dinner of fresh Dungeness crab, sides, and festive libations, celebrating in support of WECEF's mission, and mingling with your peers and industry professionals.

This is a "bring your own butter" event!

King Crab Sponsor ($1,000)

• Includes (6) dinner tickets, reserved table, acknowledgement from podium, newsletter & social media recognition, announcement on WECA and WECEF websites. We'll contact you to get the names of your additional guests.

Snow Crab Sponsor ($750)

• Includes (4) dinner tickets, acknowledgement from podium, newsletter & social media recognition, announcement on WECA and WECEF websites. We'll contact you to get the names of your additional guests.

Blue Crab Sponsor ($500)

• Includes (2) dinner tickets, acknowledgement from podium, newsletter & social media recognition, announced on WECA and WECEF websites. We'll contact you to get the names of your additional guests.

WECEF Crab Feed Dinner Ticket ($75/person)
 

Sign up for a sponsorship or purchase individual dinner tickets at the link, and thank you for your continued support of electrical and low voltage education!

Reserve your sponsorship package and/or dinner tickets today!

WECA's Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program Now Serving Commercial Electrical Contractors and Their Apprentices in the Salt Lake City Area






 

This week is a historic week for WECA's Utah Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program and Salt Lake City-area training facility in Woods Cross! Monday was the first day of class for our inaugural cohort of first year, first semester Commercial Electrical apprentices at our brand-new, state-of-the-art training facility!

Don Black, Apprentice Training, IT, and Facilities Director, applauded Utah Apprenticeship Manager/Instructor Talon Pobuda for working tirelessly to get the facility and program ready, and also credited Carolyn Black, Lab and Facilities Technician, with preparing the training aids for the program and Christine Hall, Director of Operations, with making sure that the apprentices were ready to be successful in their new training and career. Countless other WECA staff were also instrumental in making the WECA Utah Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program and new training facility a reality, and appreciates all the support from founding Utah member Hunt Electric.

WECA is thrilled to educate and train the next generation of premier commercial electricians in the Beehive State, and looks forward to all that our apprentices will accomplish!

Content Courtesy of: Apprenticeship USA

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed Public Law 117-369, 136 Stat. 1818, commonly known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), into law. The IRA amended the Internal Revenue Code to add prevailing wage and Registered Apprenticeship requirements for taxpayers constructing, and in some case performing alteration or repair, of qualified clean energy facilities, property, projects, or equipment to qualify for increased tax credit or deduction amounts. The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Apprenticeship is committed to supporting the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the effective implementation of these apprenticeship requirements. The IRS has launched a page dedicated to providing the latest information and guidance on the implementation of the IRA.

By statute, the prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements generally apply to qualifying facilities where construction begins 60 days or more after Treasury and the IRS publish guidance on those requirements. On November 30, Treasury and the IRS published initial guidance on the prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements. The publication of guidance on November 30 starts the 60-day period, meaning the prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements will be operative for facilities where construction begins on or after January 29, 2023.

This webpage provides resources on apprenticeship for background information purposes only. Please consult Notice 2022-61 published by the Internal Revenue Service for guidance on the prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements.

The IRA is by far our nation’s largest investment in clean energy solutions to date. By pairing climate investment, with the creation of good paying jobs, the IRA’s unparalleled investments to fight the climate crisis will help improve job quality in clean energy industries and incentivize the expansion of workforce training pathways into these jobs. The inclusion of Registered Apprenticeship provisions also enables a talent pipeline for developing this critical workforce and ensures that it is an industry-driven approach with high-quality career pathway opportunities for all workers. By utilizing Registered Apprenticeships, employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.  

The IRA’s prevailing wage and apprenticeship provisions apply to the: 

• Alternative Fuel Refueling Property Credit  
• Production Tax Credit 
• Credit for Carbon Oxide Sequestration  
• Credit for Production of Clean Hydrogen 
• Clean Fuel Production Credit  
• Investment Tax Credit  
• Advanced Energy Project Credit  
• Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction 

In addition, the IRA’s prevailing wage provisions apply to the: 

• New Energy Efficient Home Credit 
• Zero-Emission Nuclear Power Production Credit 

Click here to explore more featured resources and read and get answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
 

Please join us in thanking our sponsors and gift donors for making the event special and memorable for our graduates and their guests!



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



Watch: WECA Arizona Class of 2022 Graduation Event

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












 

WECA celebrated the hard work and accomplishments of the Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2022 at their graduation on Saturday, January 7^th at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Phoenix.

75 people – including graduates’ family and friends, special guests, WECA Member Contractors, WECA Industry Partners, gift donors, and WECA staff – attended the celebration. Notable attendees included Darin Johnson, Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety and Workforce Development at Corbins and WECA Apprenticeship Training Committee Trustee; Mike McBride, National Account Manager for WECA Industry Partner Talent Corps, and Andrew Spleth, Territory Manager for the Greater Phoenix area for tool donor Milwaukee Tool.

The evening was memorable and poignant, according to Wendy Flanagan, WECA’s Assistant Director of Apprenticeship and Don Black, WECA’s Apprentice Training, IT, and Facilities Director.

“Everyone was excited and proud of their accomplishments,” said Wendy. “Most of the graduates chose to speak and they thanked Corbins and their loved ones, and also expressed their appreciation for WECA and the higher level of education that we and Keith Smart [WECA Phoenix Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program’s Manager and Instructor] offer. It was very moving to hear about how much they appreciate and respect Keith and his teaching and his mentorship.”

Don concurred with Wendy, stating “The graduates were very grateful that Corbins switched to using WECA as their apprenticeship program. Many graduates said that Keith was the best instructor they ever had and were grateful for his mentorship.”

The graduation ceremony also had a unique twist – certainly a WECA graduation first!

“Several of the graduates brought their kids, and one of the kids had a birthday that day. Her dad thanked her for cutting her birthday short to be at the ceremony, and we all sang happy birthday to her,” said Wendy.

Congratulations to the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2022! We’re proud of you, and thankful that you are part of the WECA family. We look forward to seeing how you shape the future of the Arizona commercial electrical industry! 

 

Meet Some of Our Graduates

Erik Ramirez


 

Erik Ramirez, a WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2022 graduate, knew that his WECA education would be exceptional from the first class.

“After transitioning from a different institute over to WECA, in the first class I realized just how much better my education experience was going to be,” says Erik. “WECA’s staff is exceptional, and the instructor [Keith Smart, WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program Manager and Instructor] was always there to support me and answer any question I had."

The quality of WECA’s education has also played a pivotal role in helping Erik prepare for his chosen career.

“Their curriculum offered a full range of topics that cover a lot of the fundamentals needed to succeed in this industry. Many of the hands-on labs were based on real-life situations in the field,” says Erik.

Additionally, Erik’s on-the-job training with his employer, WECA Arizona Founding Member Contractor Corbins, has provided opportunities to work alongside experienced coworkers and gain invaluable experience doing different scopes of work through various projects.

Outside of school and work, Erik credits his family with providing essential support every step of the way.

“The main factor that contributed to my success at WECA and in my career was and still is my family,” says Erik. “Without their support and motivation, I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am today.”

However, we suspect that Erik’s ambition and tenacity has also propelled him along his journey, as evidenced by his post-graduation plans.

“My plans after graduating are to keep growing in my career and knowledge. I won’t settle with just a journeyperson title. I want to be part of the next generation of leaders in the electrical industry,” says Erik.

Congratulations, Erik! We are proud of your hard work, determination, and success, and are confident that you will make an excellent future leader for Arizona’s commercial electrical industry.

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

Chase Quillin


 

For WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2022 graduate Chase Quillin, WECA’s Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program and instructor Keith Smart have given him a new perspective on the electrical industry.

“My WECA experience has consisted of constant learning and exposure to new ideas in the electrical field with real-world experience to back it up,” says Chase. “When I go to a job site now, I can understand what it is we are installing and why. With the preparation and knowledge gained at WECA, combined with the skills I’ve gained on-the-job, I am ready to tackle any task presented to me.”

Chase says this is all thanks to Keith Smart, WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program Manager and Instructor.

“Keith is an awesome instructor, and his experience is shown every day in class through his expounding on the material presented and ensuring everyone has a full understanding of the concepts presented,” says Chase.

Outside of the classroom, Chase’s employer – WECA Arizona Founding Member Contractor Corbins – has provided him with forepersons and journeyperson electricians who have not only led him, but showed him how to lead others. Such leadership gave Chase the opportunity to become a lead for his crew in the past year.

Thanks to his high-quality WECA education and steadfast guidance from his employer, Chase’s plans for the future are rock-solid.

“My goal is to continue refining my leadership skills, apply my credits [earned at WECA, whose apprenticeship programs have been awarded college credit recommendations by the National College Credit Recommendation Service] to an Associates degree, and I hope I get the opportunity to become a foreperson to continue passing on my knowledge,” says Chase.

Congratulations, Chase! We are pleased that WECA and Arizona Founding Member Contractor Corbins built up your leadership skills and paved the way for you to tackle the rest of your career in the commercial electrical industry! We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

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

Aaron Reali


 

WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2022 graduate Aaron Reali credits his WECA education with giving him confidence, helping him develop problem-solving skills, and presenting excellent opportunities to lead and learn, and Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program Manager and Instructor Keith Smart with making his time at WECA challenging and rewarding.

“My education and training at WECA were really centered on real-life situations, helped me learn how to problem solve situations at work, gave me the confidence to have conversations with my leads, foremen, and superintendents about the work we’re performing, and I have been given the opportunity [by employer Corbins, a WECA Arizona Founding Member Contractor] to lead teammates. Also, Keith deserves a lot of the credit for the progress a lot of us have made,” says Aaron.

Another benefit of his WECA education, Aaron says, is learning in the classroom alongside his coworkers.

“We can talk about what we learned in class and bounce ideas off each other,” says Aaron. “Keith contributed real work examples and cited personal experiences, which helped a lot of us grasp certain concepts. Hands-on activities in class also helped build confidence in my work.”

Looking back on his WECA experience, Aaron encourages current and future WECA students to ‘take it all in.’

“It goes by so quickly and before you know it, graduation is happening. Really take advantage of the experience and the training. You’ll be surprised what you’re capable of if you just apply yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and volunteer for any opportunity because those can be your door to the next great step in your career,” says Aaron.

When it comes to next steps, Aaron is already carving a definitive pathway for his career in the commercial electrical industry.

“I’ve been given a great opportunity to lead a couple of my teammates in a job we are in right now,” says Aaron. “I’m excited to complete this job and continue to lead in other jobs and soon become a foreman for a couple of years and then transition into a superintendent role. I also plan to work with apprentices and help them out on their path.”

The results are in! Please join us in congratulating the following individuals on their respective elections to the following WECA Boards of Directors and Trustees:
 

WECA Board of Directors:

Ian Vander Linden

Mark Cooper

Rick Butterfield

Rob McMillian
 

WECA Apprenticeship and Training Board of Trustees:

Dru Wells

Matt Liefer

Leslie Schlaegel

Windell Pascascio, Jr.

Cody Eaton
 

WECA Health and Welfare and Pension Board of Trustees:

Jeremy Alessandro

Nathan Gosink

Dustin Phillips
 

Congratulations to the newly elected!

You can view our full Boards of Directors and Trustees rosters here.

Three WECA Member Contractors Make Engineering News Record California's 2022 Top Specialty Contractors Preview List

Rankings for Top Contractors by Sector: Electrical

Please join us in congratulating WECA Member Contractors Helix Electric, Royal Electric Company, and Barnum & Celillo Electric, Inc. on being named to Engineering News Record California's 2022 Top Specialty Contractors! Shown below are the rankings for top contractors for the electrical sector:

Greater Fresno-Area Member Contractors: Participate in Our Feb. 22 "Jump Start Your Career" Job Fair at WECA's Fresno Training Facility: Meet WECA Apprenticeship Applicants In Your Area

RSVP Today!



We are excited to host the "Jump Start Your Career" job fair at WECA's Fresno training facility on February 22 from 4 to 7 p.m.!

But, your help is needed to make this event a success! This is a great opportunity for Fresno-area member contractors to connect with apprentice applicants about career opportunities in the trades as an electrician, and to share information about your company.

We will be providing information about the different pathways and programs we offer at WECA and some hands-on activities.

Please let us know if you want to be included in this fabulous event to showcase all the great things about a careers as an electrician. WECA will provide tables and chairs for the event booths, as well as meeting space, if you would like to conduct interviews at the event.

To RSVP, please email Wendy Flanagan at wflanagan@goweca.com or Diane Trotter at dtrotter@goweca.com.

We look forward to seeing you there! And if you RSVP soon, we'll add you to the "attending contractors" section of this flyer:

?Download the "Jump Start Your Career" Job Fair flyer here.

Happy New Year, everyone!

We're looking forward to a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2023, but before we continue diving head-first into the new year, we'd like to look back on the joyous time we had at WECA's staff Winterfest breakfast at our California headquarters in Rancho Cordova on December 30.

Everyone had a blast -- we enjoyed yummy breakfast foods and beverages, listened to festive music, enjoyed each other's company, and showed off our competitive sides with a suspenseful but friendly game of White Elephant (pictured above)!

Thank you for being part of the WECA family and allowing us to serve you -- here's to a wonderful 2023!

* Cal/OSHA Guidance on Requirements to Protect Workers from Coronavirus
* Supplemental Toolbox Talks COVID-19
* Coronavirus Toolbox Talk
* Fact Sheet for Pandemics
* Coronavirus - Workplace, School and Home Guidance
* COVID-19 Tool Cleaning Protocols
* United States Department of Labor: COVID-19
* CDC COVID-19 Risk Assessment Flowchart
* EDD Coronavirus Resources for WECA Community

These, and more, are always available on WECA's COVID-19 Advisory Page.