BY IEC STAFF  Meredith Balmforth took a few somewhat drastic turns before becoming an electrician. But once on that path, it was full speed ahead and watch out world. Today, she’s a licensed electrician, an instructor for IEC of Utah, works with IEC National on test banks and curriculum errata, a wife, and a mother. As one of the participants in The House That She Built initiative, Meredith is committed to actively promoting trades as a career option to girls.    The Back Story  Utah born and bred, Meredith earned a scholarship to her college of choice — Brigham Young Unive ..read more

Recently awarded WELL Platinum, the highest level of WELL certification, Lutron’s Global Experience Center in New York is designed with both visitors and everyday employees in mind.   BY MICHAEL JOUANEH, LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.  As sustainability becomes increasingly important in the design and construction industry, more business owners are leaning on performance-based certifications for guidance. While you are likely familiar with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a certification focused on energy-efficient, green buildings, the complementary WELL Buil ..read more

BY IEC STAFF IEC strongly believes in building a resilient and prepared workforce that can adapt to changing economic times and bolster the electrical and systems contracting industry. Attracting and training future electricians through the IEC Apprenticeship Program is key.  “IEC has always taken responsibility for ensuring that individuals desiring to become electricians can benefit from top-notch training that equips them with the basic skills, latest techniques, and hands-on experience to ensure quality and safety in the workplace,” says Tom Alexander, Atkins & Stang and IEC Found ..read more

BY PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY®  Patrick spoke to rave reviews at the 2024 IEC Business Summit. We asked him to turn his presentation into an article for the benefit of Insights readers.  Small and medium sized businesses, especially FAMILY businesses, are the backbone of the American economy. The succession statistics below paint a clear picture that the odds are stacked against the multi-generation business. We also know that selling a business doesn’t always go according to plan.    Business Succession Facts  According to SCORE, The Family ..read more

Part Three of a Six-Part Series  BY DAVE GILSON, TERA-BYTE TECHNOLOGIES Currently, there are more than 50 million surveillance cameras installed in the United States with an annual growth rate projected to be 17 percent through the year 2025. There are more cameras installed per capita in the United States than any other country. With growing concerns for national and domestic security, video surveillance systems have become integrated with enhanced features such as fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, license plate imaging, and behavioral pattern recognition. Video surveilla ..read more

BY IEC STAFF Founder and CEO Brian Zadrozny and the team at BFZ Electric, Plainville, CT, know they have a good thing going on. Their work is meaningful, their team is amazing, and they have experienced tremendous growth in the last five years, moving from a team of 4 to a crew of 45.  “My senior year in high school, I worked weekends with my friend Kevin for his family home building company (Carrier Group) and their in-house electrician as a pre-apprentice,” Brian explains. “When I graduated high school in 1999, I started as an apprentice that summer wiring houses. I moved as fast as I c ..read more

BY IEC STAFF Having just completed her third year in the IEC Apprenticeship Program at IEC of New England, Paula C. Montiel Arias is well on her way to an exciting career — one she hadn’t really considered coming out of high school in Central Florida.  “In my family, it was black and white; there was no gray,” Paula explains. “After high school, you go to college. After I graduated high school in 2016, I went to the University of South Florida in Tampa to major in electrical engineering. I was having a rough semester at the beginning of 2019. When I came home for that summer, I told my mo ..read more

Photo by Joe Holland on Unsplash  BY CLAIRE WILSON AND MODUPE AKINNAWONU, SITELINE  Claire and Modupe spoke on artificial intelligence in construction at the 2024 Business Summit. They provide the article below for those who were not able to attend.  Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved from a futuristic concept to an increasingly prevalent reality across industries. In construction, AI promises to revolutionize manual processes, enhance efficiency, and drive innovation. As subcontractors navigate this evolving landscape, understanding AI’s practical capabilities, cu ..read more

By IEC Staff Make your company a place where someone wants to spend their time, expend their energy, and do good work. That might sum up the recruitment and retention strategy of Mid-America Electric, Inc., in Imperial, MO.  Phil Burmeister is second generation shareholder at the company his dad, Larry Burmeister, formed in 1999 with another family member Jeremy Bass who still is involved in daily operations. Justin Garnett, who feels like family, has grown with the company and is also a shareholder at the company he joined right out of high school in 2001.  “My dad demonstrates what ..read more

BY PHILLIP B. RUSSELL, OGLETREE DEAKINS NASH SMOAK & STEWART PC  To lawfully remain merit-shop and union-free, IEC contractors should understand the new “ambush election” rules of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that just went into effect. The new rule compresses the time between the time a labor union files a representation petition and the actual election. The impact of the rule is to make it more difficult for employers to educate employees about unions and unionization before a vote.  The new final “Representation-Case Procedures” rule, rescinds the remaining aspect ..read more