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ELECTRI Monthly Recap for Council Members – November 2025

RESOURCES

New Research Project Released!

Examining the 4×10 Work Week – Benefits, Challenges, and Data Insights is ELECTRI’s latest interactive study, led by researcher Hala Nassereddine (NCM Consulting LLC).  This project explores the real-world impacts of implementing a 4×10 work schedule across electrical contracting organizations.

Designed to help contractors evaluate, pilot, or expand 4×10 options using evidence-based insights, the study looks beyond assumptions. Instead, it captures perspectives from across the industry through three targeted surveys:

  • Field workers and field leaders
    • Office staff and prefab technicians
    • Company leaders

Because a 4×10 schedule affects every part of a business, this research provides a comprehensive look at how it can influence workforce satisfaction, productivity, project performance, and organizational strategy. You can access the product on the website here.

 

ELECTRI’s Business Coaching program is available to all NECA Contractors. If you are interested in participating in this program, you can find more information here. If you have questions, please reach out to Jessica.Cardenas@electri.org.

 

ACTION ITEMS

Register for the ELECTRI Winter Council Meeting! Registration is open for the Winter Council meeting in San Antonio, TX January 21-23, 2026. Space is filling up so be sure to register soon. Please limit 3 attendees per Council member company.

Register Here

Take our research surveys!  We have several requests on our Research Engagement Hub for surveys, interviews, and input. Please visit the Research Engagement Hub to participate in the Project Checklist Samples request.

UPDATES

A special thank you to L.L.D. Electric for upgrading their commitment to ELECTRI.  They are now recognized at the $200,000 Champion Level!

View our full list of Council members here.

ELECTRI Monthly Recap for October 2025

ELECTRI Monthly Recap for Council Members 

October 2025 

 RESOURCES 

The ELECTRI Council Room session on “Optimizing Fleet Management in Electrical Contracting” was led by Dr. Amy King Lewis with Oklahoma State University. Dr. Lewis is one of ELECTRI’s current researchers and she shared some of her recent findings.  Discussions from participants focused on their fleet management strategies.  

Watch the recording here.   

 Access the presentation here. 

 

October’s IT & Coffee session focused on Cybersecurity Essentials. The discussion was led by Alex Huntoon with Newkirk Electric.  

Watch the recording here.  

Access the presentation here. 

To sign up to receive the invitations for these monthly sessions, click here.  

 

New Research Project Released! 

ELECTRI International is pleased to share a new research report, Exploratory Analysis of Incentive Pay Utilization in Electrical Construction. As electrical contractors face ongoing labor shortages and tighter project schedules, many are turning to incentive pay (IP) programs as a strategy to attract and retain skilled union electricians. This study—based on industry interviews, a nationwide survey, and project case analyses—finds that while incentive pay can offer short-term gains in manpower and productivity, it also brings long-term challenges and costs that contractors must manage carefully. 

Read the report here. 

 

ELECTRI Industry Benchmarking Tool 

The ELECTRI Industry Benchmarking Tool is now live and ready to use. Developed to help electrical contractors measure and compare key performance metrics, this platform is designed to provide valuable insights across the industry. Please create an account and fill out the surveys to help us build the most comprehensive snapshot of our industry yet. The more companies that participate, the more valuable this becomes for everyone. 

 

ELECTRI’s Business Coaching program is available to all NECA Contractors. If you are interested in participating in this program, you can find more information here. If you have questions, please reach out to Jessica.Cardenas@electri.org. 

 

ACTION ITEMS 

Take our research surveys!  We have several requests on our Research Engagement Hub for surveys, interviews, and input. Please visit the Research Engagement Hub to participate in the following requests: 

  • Fleet Management survey 
  • Project Checklist Samples 
  • ELECTRI Researcher Deniz Besiktepe is looking for 6 participants for a virtual focus group in November. The call will last a maximum of two hours and will involve reviewing draft project checklists, onboarding checklists, and job descriptions/org charts and providing feedback and insights to create sample documents for electrical contractors. Prior to the call, Deniz will send you draft checklists to review, then your feedback will be shared on the call with other participants. If you are interested in participating, please reach out directly to Deniz at denizb@purdue.edu.  

 

TOP HONORS to ILLINOIS TECH

NECA and ELECTRI International are pleased to recognize Illinois TECH as the 2025 NECA Student Chapter of the Year. This Chapter was selected for its outstanding efforts to involve students in many programs and projects that help them prepare for and make decisions about future careers in the EC industry. Throughout the year, 57 members of the NECA Student Chapter took every opportunity for volunteering, hosting and conducting structured events, and the expanding the new Lighting and Cyber Security Center, an extension of Smart Tech.

Illinois Tech Chapter’s advisor, Dr Dan Tomal, recently noted “We appreciate the generosity of the electrical contracting industry. NECA Chapter members from ECA here in Chicago and other partners in the profession are so generous with their time and mentoring. They truly want to see the next generation of EC professionals succeed and the NECA Student Chapter program gives us a running start.”

At the recent 2025 NECA Convention in Chicago, Dr. Tomal accepted the 2025 award on behalf of the TECH chapter along with four students from the College of Engineering: Andrew Partyka (Industrial Technology and Management), Christyn Reyes (Industrial Technology and Management), Jose Alonzo (Electrical Engineering), and Aaron Jimenez (Electrical Engineering).

Chapter member Andrew Partyka shared his enthusiasm for their NECA Student Chapter: “We get to experience and consider many different points of view. We learn how to collaborate to make a project or a program a real success. I have discovered many potential opportunities as a result of being a chapter member, especially in the electrical engineering specialty. Exposure to NECA helps me make informed decisions and that’s a major benefit I get as a member of the Illinois TECH Student Chapter.

ELECTRI Monthly Recap for September 2025

 

RESOURCES

ELECTRI Industry Benchmarking Tool

We’re excited to announce that the ELECTRI Industry Benchmarking Tool is now live and ready to use. Developed to help electrical contractors measure and compare key performance metrics, this platform is designed to provide valuable insights across the industry. Please create an account and fill out the surveys to help us build the most comprehensive snapshot of our industry yet. The more companies that participate, the more valuable this becomes for everyone.

ELECTRI’s Business Coaching program is available to all NECA Contractors. If you are interested in participating in this program, you can find more information here. If you have questions, please reach out to Jessica.Cardenas@electri.org.

 

ACTION ITEMS

Request for Propsoals (RFP) released: ELECTRI International is pleased to announce the release of our newest Request for Proposals (RFP) for research. Full details are available on our website here: RFP Information.

We encourage you to share this opportunity with researchers, industry experts, and other qualified individuals who may be interested in submitting a proposal.

Take our research surveys! We have several requests on our Research Engagement Hub for surveys, interviews, and input. Please visit the Research Engagement Hub to participate in the following requests:

  • Fleet Management survey
  • Project Checklist Samples

RAVE REVIEWS FOR STUDENT COMPETITION

The 2025 Electrical Contracting Innovation Challenge (ECIC), sponsored by ELECTRI International, received tremendous support from NECA Student Chapters across the country and from members of the electrical contracting industry.

A total of ten NECA Student Chapters submitted comprehensive proposals detailing plans and cost estimates for creating an electrical system for a facility of their choice.  An all-volunteer jury of experienced electrical contractors and industry partners reviewed and scored each proposal and selected three finalist teams who were invited to make final oral presentations during the NECA Convention in Chicago.

The hall was filled to audience capacity because so many contractors look forward to the ECIC competition as an opportunity to become more familiar with students who comprise the next generation of talent for the EC industry.  Following the competition, NECA San Diego Chapter Executive Andy Berg remarked, “The ECIC is important for both students and our contractors. As teams prepare and present their projects, they learn more about the wide variety of career opportunities open to them in this industry. At the same time, contractors and our industry partners get to see how advanced so many of the students are – eager and ready for positions in firms across the country.”

For 2025, the Penn State University team took First Place ECIC honors. Their proposed project centered on the ERMCO Headquarters in Greenwood, Indiana. While preparing their ECIC proposal, each Architectural Engineering student on the ten-member team had significant interaction with NECA’s Western Pennsylvania Chapter and with contractors throughout the region.

The two other finalist teams were the University of Wisconsin-Madison who took Second Place Honors and Wayne State University who received the Third Place Award.

Several other prizes are also important to the ECIC competition. These include awards for Energy Saving Solution (Iowa State University), Most Compete and Detailed Estimate (Iowa State University), Best Social Media Campaign (Wayne State University), and Best Individual Presenter (Derrick Thomas from University of Wisconsin-Madison)

For information about the 2026 ECIC competition, contact Laura Holmes, ELECTRI Director of Communications at laura.holmes@electri.org.

ELECTRI Monthly Recap for July 2025

 

RESOURCES

ELECTRI Summer Council Meeting Recap. ELECTRI held it’s summer Council meeting in Toronto this month with high engagement from the ELECTRI Council. In case you missed it, check out the recap of the meeting.

This month’s IT & Coffee session focused on our latest research, AI Implementation Roadmap for Electrical Contractors. The discussion was led by researcher Bing Han, Jared Christman with Big State Electric, and Jeff Elwell with EM Duggan. Watch the recording here.

To sign up to receive the invitations for these monthly sessions, click here.

ELECTRI Industry Benchmarking Tool

We’re excited to announce that the ELECTRI Industry Benchmarking Tool is now live and ready to use. Developed to help electrical contractors measure and compare key performance metrics, this platform is designed to provide valuable insights across the industry. Please create an account and fill out the surveys to help us build the most comprehensive snapshot of our industry yet. The more companies that participate, the more valuable this becomes for everyone.

 New Research Released!

  • Understanding Absenteeism in the Electrical Construction Industry through Data Analytics: The study, led by Dr. Ashrant Aryal (Texas A&M University), identifies several statistically significant factors that influence absenteeism rates and offers data-driven insights to help contractors manage and reduce absenteeism.  Read the full report here
  • Fault Managed Power Systems: Led by Dr. Deniz Besiktepe of Purdue University, this research explores how Class 4 (Fault-Managed Power) systems under NFPA 70 are transforming the design and management of digital buildings. Read the full report here. The report covers:
    • Key benefits and challenges of FMP
    • Real-world use cases
    • Insights from Purdue and industry collaborators

ELECTRI’s Business Coaching program is available to all NECA Contractors. If you are interested in participating in this program, you can find more information here. If you have questions, please reach out to Jessica.Cardenas@electri.org.

ACTION ITEMS

Take our research surveys! We have several requests on our Research Engagement Hub for surveys, interviews, and input. Please visit the Research Engagement Hub to participate in the following requests:

  • Preconstruction Planning for Productivity survey
  • 4×10 Work Schedules survey
  • Fleet Management survey
  • Materials Management Practices survey
  • Project Checklist Samples

UPDATES

New Council Member!

Congratulations and welcome to Shawver & Son, Inc. for joining the ELECTRI Council! The Representative to the Council will be Kyle Williamson. Kyle Williamson and Ben Hangsleben joined us at our Summer Council meeting in Toronto and decided to join the Council shortly after. We appreciate their generous support of the foundation and look forward to their involvement in ELECTRI!

Special thanks to the Illinois Chapter NECA for upgrading their ELECTRI commitment to the $250,000 Regent level! We appreciate the Chapter’s support!

ELECTRI Monthly Recap for May 2025

RESOURCES

 The ELECTRI Council Room session on “What is the Ideal Project Environment in 2025.” The discussion is led by Marc Tower with Citadel Electric, Joe Barnard with ArchKey Solutions, and Eric Carlson with ‘Joe’ Dickey Electric. The group discusses the pros and cons of Lump Sum vs. Guaranteed Maximum/Minimum Price, working for the owner vs. the GC, and contract terms regarding managing labor and material risk.

This month’s IT & Coffee session focused on AI Best Practices and IT Considerations. The discussion was led by Maria Davidson with Kojo and Alex Huntoon with Newkirk Electric.

To sign up to receive the invitations for these monthly sessions, click here.

New research projects released!

  • Understanding, Identifying, and Measuring Rework: Rework can be costly, time-consuming, and difficult to quantify. This new interactive report — led by ELECTRI Researcher Hala Nassereddine — helps contractors identify the root causes of rework, establish processes to measure its true impact, and implement practices to minimize it on future projects. Read the Interactive Report.
  • Artificial Intelligence Implementation Roadmap for Electrical Contractors: AI is no longer a distant concept — it’s a practical tool ready to be integrated into construction workflows. This roadmap outlines a step-by-step strategy to evaluate, adopt, and scale AI technologies specific to electrical contracting. Read the Report and Roadmap.

 

Review the Project Management Apprenticeship Webinar. This webinar offered an inside look at the program’s structure, growth, and real-world impact. Hear directly from participating contractors and apprentices about how the program—and its one-on-one coaching—are shaping the next generation of PM talent.. Watch the recording.

 

ELECTRI’s Business Coaching program is available to all NECA Contractors. If you are interested in participating in this program, you can find more information here. If you have questions, please reach out to Jessica.Cardenas@electri.org.

ACTION ITEMS

 Last Call to Register for the ELECTRI Summer Council Meeting! June 12 is the deadline to register for the Summer Council meeting in Toronto, Canada July 14-16, 2025. Please limit 3 attendees per Council member company.

Register here.

 UPDATES

New Council Member!

 Congratulations and welcome to Pueblo Electrics Inc. for joining the ELECTRI Council! The Representative to the Council will be Ron Guarienti. We appreciate their generous support of the foundation and look forward to your involvement in ELECTRI!

Special thanks to Rosendin for upgrading their ELECTRI commitment to the $350,000 Diplomat level! Rosendin has been highly active in ELECTRI and we are very appreciative of their engagement and support!

View our full list of Council members here.

ELECTRI Monthly Recap for April

ELECTRI Monthly Recap for Council Members
April 2025

 

RESOURCES

 The ELECTRI Council Room session on Lessons Learned—Best Accounting Practices was held this month. Special thanks to Jennifer Woods with United Electric, Rod Streets with Alterman Electric, and Chad Bachmann with ERMCO for leading the discussion and sharing their insights and improvements they’ve made in the accounting processes at their companies.

This month’s IT & Coffee session focused on User Training and Support Strategies. As always, thank you to Matt Lamb of Rosendin for leading this discussion.

To sign up to receive the invitations for these monthly sessions, click here.

 

ELECTRI’s Business Coaching program is available to all NECA Contractors. If you are interested in participating in this program, you can find more information here. If you have questions, please reach out to Jessica.Cardenas@electri.org.

ACTION ITEMS

 Register for the ELECTRI Summer Council Meeting! Registration is open for the Summer Council meeting in Toronto, Canada July 14-16, 2025. Space is filling up so be sure to register soon. Please limit 3 attendees per Council member company.

View our full list of Council members here.

 

 

ELECTRI Monthly Recap March 2025

ELECTRI Monthly Recap for  March 2025

 

RESOURCES

 The ELECTRI Council Room session on Best Practices to Maximize Productivity in the Pre-construction Process was held this month. Mike Curran (Red Top Electric), Craig Gini (Collins Electric), and Ken Brouwer (PJS Electric) led the discussion on how to elevate your productivity and project performance. This was a very interactive session where participants shared their own experiences and tactics for success.

This month’s IT & Coffee session focused on IT Structure by company size and covered the pros and cons of internal IT teams vs. outsourcing IT needs.  Thank you to Matt Lamb of Rosendin for leading this discussion.

To sign up to receive the invitations for these monthly sessions, click here.

 Don’t forget to download ELECTRI’s recent reports: 

  • Leverage AI to Streamline Operations (AI for the EC Industry Report) – Discover how AI can enhance efficiency in contract management, job site monitoring, and administrative tasks, giving your business a competitive edge. Download Here
  • Address Workforce Shortages & Retention (Changing Trade Workforce Report) – Gain strategies to attract and retain skilled electricians through flexible scheduling, mentorship programs, and competitive benefits. Download Here
  • Achieve Cybersecurity Compliance for Government Contracts (CMMC Cybersecurity Report) – Learn how to meet CMMC requirements to secure Department of Defense contracts and protect your business from cybersecurity threats. Download Here

ELECTRI’s Business Coaching program is available to all NECA Contractors. If you are interested in participating in this program, you can find more information here. If you have questions, please reach out to Jessica.Cardenas@electri.org.

 

ACTION ITEMS

Contribute your insights to ensure ELECTRI’s research is valuable and relevant to our industry. Keep checking ELECTRI’s webpage, the Research Engagement Hub, for new opportunities to be involved with ELECTRI’s research efforts. Please bookmark this page and visit it frequently to take part in ELECTRI’s research initiatives.

The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED), in collaboration with NECA, NEMA, and NEMRA, is working to replace manual processes with real-time, event-driven data sharing across the supply chain. This initiative aims to improve project planning, order availability, and delivery efficiency. We’re seeking insights from professionals in these roles:

  • IT/Security – Data sharing and integration challenges.
  • Project Manager – Workflow, communication, and order tracking.
  • Estimator – Product data needs and supply chain impacts.
  • Purchasing Agent – Supplier selection and procurement processes.
  • Field Supervisor/Foreman – Material delays and field operations efficiency.

Join us for a 45-minute conversation. Schedule at your convenience: https://tinyurl.com/muwyz3ek.

 

UPDATES

Commitment Upgrades

 Special thanks to the Oregon-Columbia Chapter for increasing their commitment to ELECTRI to the $500,000 level! Thank you for your generous support of the foundation. We are grateful that you continue to see the value in ELECTRI.

View our full list of Council members here.