It’s rare for electricians from two NECA-IBEW contractors to be on expansion projects at the same location, but that’s the case for Boot Electric and Tri-Area Electric. They’re respectively powering new buildings at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center that will prepare students for careers in healthcare, technology and skilled trades. Wiring a new…
Deciding on an electrical career was a big, first step, for Isaac Arnold, but he has the grit, patience and determination to build a solid future. The 22-year-old Lowellville native, now a third-year apprentice, didn’t waste time after high school. He had his sights set on being an electrician and got the nudge from a…
IBEW Local 64 picnic had all the energy as it celebrated achievements, camaraderie and pride in the electrical trade. It was held at the Youngstown Shrine Club pavilion in North Lima on June 11. At least 50 apprentices from all levels gathered to recognize their hard work, build connections and reflect on their progress. They…
The original blueprint for Tom Plummer’s life didn’t include being an electrician, but at the end of the day, he knew he wanted more than a desk job. Originally from Clarion, Pa., Plummer spent four years at Penn State Dubois, where he pitched for the baseball team and earned a degree in Human Development…
What felt like a setback early in Alex Birtalan’s career ended up wiring him for growth within the electrical industry. He started as an electrician apprentice with “Joe” Dickey Electric in 2019. Three months in, he found out he was color blind, which then made it unsafe for him to be in the field. After…
Michon Peterson’s decision to become a journeyman electrician started with a piece of advice from a family member. “My grandpa used to be a pipefitter,” he said. “He always told me to look into the trades.” Peterson took those words seriously, and the electrical trade was the first one he explored. He initially considered college…
There’s a new leader at the forefront of the Youngstown Area Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC). Ahren Peplow, an experienced electrician and passionate educator, is stepping into the role of training director. He’s replacing Ed Emerick, who’s retiring at the end of February, after being in the position 19 years. Peplow, a dedicated…
IBEW Local 573 is again making Christmas brighter for children in need by donating 20 bikes to Trumbull County Children Services. Union leadership made the delivery on December 16, and agency employees helped unload and wheel the bikes into the building. “It’s hard not to feel for these kids. I couldn’t imagine growing up without…
After more than 20 years as a journeyman electrician, Kenny Lucas is taking on new challenges as the president/organizer for IBEW Local 64. He’s adjusting from life on job sites to helping manage about 430 union members. He’s responsible for building and monitoring membership and leading union meetings. Lucas also stays aware of what’s happening…
[Following is the NECA-IBEW’s submission in the recently published Business Journal Growth Report 1 issue] A steady combination of commercial projects and residential work kept the energy high for NECA-IBEW Electricians in 2023. Overall, the signatory Mahoning Valley electrical contractors and IBEW union locals are keeping an optimistic outlook for 2024. IBEW Locals 64 and…