NECA Blog

All The Latest News from NECA

Oct 13

How Many Times Can You Say NCCMP? 2013 NECA Industry Partner Winner

The 2013 winner of NECA’s Industry Partner award has a slightly unwieldy abbreviation, but it suits the National Coordinating Coalition of Multiemployer Plans (NCCMP). Since 1974, NCCMP has tackled the unwieldy and complex task of explaining multiemployer benefit plans to Congress. Since then, NCCMP has achieved unparalleled results for more than 40 multiemployer organizations, including NECA. NCCMP was recognized for its work supporting NECA at the Board of Governors meeting.

NCCMP made a tremendous contribution to the industry and association this year with publication of “Solutions Not Bailouts: A Comprehensive Plan from Business and Labor to Safeguard Multiemployer Retirement Security, Protect Taxpayers and Spur Economic Growth.” The report authored by NCCMP Executive Director Randy DeFrehn and Deputy Executive Director for Research and Education Josh Shapiro highlights the need for dramatic, permanent reform of multiemployer pension plans. It outlines a series of reforms to ensure that multiemployer pension plans are able to continue to provide cost-effective and reliable retirement benefits to millions of working class Americans while protecting taxpayers.

“NCCMP still has a lot of work to do, when it comes to making sure Congress and regulators understand multiemployer plans,” DeFrehn said , when he accepted the Industry Partner Award. “We have the Affordable Care Act that is affecting Coalition members, and ERISA needs to update its rules. We have great partner Coalitions like NECA, and we look forward to doing more good work together.”

Oct 13

Report from the 2013 Board of Governors Meeting

The NECA Board of Governors held its annual meeting Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. The Governors reviewed several items of association business, including committee and officer reports, standing policies, ordinary proposals and bylaws amendments. Voting results were all bylaws amendments and ordinary proposals were approved. Complete information about the items voted on by the Board of Governors can be found on NECA’s website.

  • Bylaw Amendment #1: Proposed to amend Sections 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6 and 10.7 regarding Terms of Office.
  • Bylaw Amendment #2: Proposed to amend Sections 8.2, 9.2, 9.3, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.6 and 10.7 regarding office of President Elect
  • Ordinary Proposal #1: Distance learning programs and opportunities
  • Ordinary Proposal #2: Proposed changes to the Rules of the Academy of Electrical Contracting
  • Ordinary Proposal #3: Proposed changes to the Labor Relations policy to include gender-neutral language

IBEW International President Ed Hill was invited to speak to the Governors. “We are at our best when we are working together, and we know bad times can strain even the best relationships,” Hill said. “But we’ve worked out many issues on the national level. Surely we can be capable of that on local level, too.”

NECA President Dennis Quebe reiterated the need for cooperation to assure the industry’s future. “We’ve seen what uncertainty can do to the economy. We want to promote an environment where growth is encouraged and supported. We won’t agree on everything, but we won’t let our positions harden to a point where compromise is impossible. Leaders communicate, and NECA is the industry leader.”

Sep 29

Riley Recognized as 2012 NECA Industry Partner

NECA’s Board of Governors recognized Dr. David Riley as the association’s 2012 Industry Partner Award winner during their annual meeting today.

The NECA Industry Partner Award recognizes organizations or individuals who are not NECA members, yet have significantly contributed to the electrical contracting industry’s success through their decisions, actions, or cooperation with NECA.

Riley, an associate professor of architectural engineering at The Pennsylvania State University, has been a regular contributor to NECA’s education programs for several years, urging the association to reach out to students to promote electrical contracting and using his own research talent through ELECTRI International to help NECA members improve their business.

“The first research grant award I won from NECA changed my life,” Riley remarked when he accepted the award today. “It enabled me to pursue something I believe in – learning outside the classroom. NECA has been a true education partner and supported this mission for over 10 years.”

Riley described Penn State’s entry into the 2006 Solar Decathlon, when funding had tried up and the student team was struggling to overcome design and technical challenge. Several NECA chapters and ELECTRI International came through with financial support to help complete the team’s project, and IBEW members personally helped the students with the final construction of their solar-powered green house for the Dept. of Energy competition. “Our successes have been shared with NECA,” Riley said.

Riley currently serves as the executive director of the Penn State Center for Sustainability, which is focused on the engagement of students in sustainability challenges. He is also leading the development of multiple initiatives at Penn State funded by the U.S. Department of Energy that address the integration of commercialization, workforce development, and education programs in the fields of energy efficiency, solar, wind, and smart grid technologies, and he spoke about how his connection with NECA has made these advances possible.

Riley has led many ELECTRI studies related to energy efficiency and green building power systems, and he was the first faculty member to champion ELECTRI’s Student Talent Initiative and Green Energy Challenge, a design competition for NECA student chapters. He has also worked with NECA’s Management Education Institute to develop and deliver in-depth courses reflecting these findings in order to help contractors succeed in new and emerging green electrical construction markets.

“Multiple partners are necessary to make this kind of innovation possible,” Riley said. “NECA has been a true partner for me.”

Sep 29

2012 Board of Governors Meeting Recap and 2013 Vice Presidents Elected

NECA President Dennis Quebe opened the 2012 NECA Board of Governors meeting today to tend to the association’s annual business and governance. The Governors heard officer reports from NECA Secretary-Treasurer Traci Pickus, CEO John M. Grau, COO & Vice President Dan Walter, and Vice President, Labor Relations Geary Higgins.

IBEW International President Edwin Hill also spoke to the group about CW/CE and the Code of Excellence.

The Governors passed Ordinary Proposal #1, submitted by NECA’s District IV Council, to amend NEBF’s Definition of Gross Labor Payroll, by voice vote. The proposal means that NECA will work with the IBEW to replace the wording of “Gross Labor Payroll” with the words “Productive Electrical Labor Payroll” in the NEBF standard Category 1 labor agreement language and will direct the NEBF Trustees and National Employees Benefit Board to replace the wording of “Gross Labor Payroll” wherever it appears in any NEBF plan and trust documents with the words “Productive Electrical Labor Payroll” and specifically reword Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the NEBF Restated Employees Benefit Agreement and Trust. The actual amendment of the NEBF Agreement requires concurrence by the IBEW. The full text of the online proposal can be viewed online.

The Governors also reviewed nominations for five Vice President candidates, and all candidates passed with unanimous approval. The candidates will take office on Jan. 1, 2013 and serve two-year terms.

Vice President, District 2
Greg E. Stewart
The Superior Group
Columbus, OH

Vice President, District 4
Gerald W. Schulz
Michels Power Division of Michels Corp.
Neenah, WI

Vice President, District 6
George Adams
E C Company
Portland, OR

Vice President, District 8
Robert May
A-C Electric Inc
Salt Lake City, UT

Vice President, District 10
Gary A. Tucci
Potelco Inc.
Sumner, WA

All candidates ran unopposed.

NECA’s 2013 Executive Committee

Oct 22

2011 Board of Governors Convenes


Members of NECA’s Executive Committee and Board of Governors convened Oct. 21 to review one proposed bylaw amendment, two ordinary proposals and reports from the organization’s staff officers, committees, and task forces. NECA President Rex Ferry chaired the meeting, the final one of his term as NECA president.

The amendment to NECA’s bylaws regarding the recommendation to sunset the Marketing Committee and reorganize the current committee members as the Business Development Task Force passed by ballot vote.  The Executive Committee recommended passage of the amendment, writing that “[c]hanges in the marketplace are among the most frequent and significant changes the association must face. New products, new competition for installation services and new strategies for the delivery of electrical construction services are being developed constantly. NECA needs to be able to react quickly to these developments. This change reflects efforts to bring greater flexibility and increased relevance to the activities of related taskforces.”

Ordinary Proposal 1 to amend Standing Policy 15: Electrical Industry Contractor Utility Relations  and Ordinary Proposal 2 directing NECA to work with the IBEW to modify the CIR presentation policy and procedure to reflect that the grieved party (defendant) will be allowed to decide who makes the opening argument before CIR both passed unanimously by voice vote.

The Board of Governors voted unanimously to approve the nominations of district vice presidents David Pinter (District 1), Alex Owen (District 3), John Lambert (District 5), Dan Schaeffer (District 7), Stan Lazarian (District 9), and Ron Autrey, Vice President at Large.  The officers will begin their two-year terms on Jan. 1, 2012. President-elect Dennis Quebe will begin serving a three-year term as NECA President, beginning in Jan. 1, 2012.

The Board of Governors also recognized Robert Gasperow, former director of the Construction Labor Research Council, as winner of the 2011 Industry Partner Award.

Oct 03

Report on the 2010 NECA Board of Governors Meeting

Members of NECA’s Executive Committee and Board of Governors convened Oct. 2 to review two proposed bylaw amendments, one ordinary proposal and reports from the organization’s staff officers, committees, and task forces. NECA President Rex Ferry chaired the meeting.

Neither the amendment to increase NECA member dues or the amendment to NECA’s bylaw regarding the Council for Industrial Relations (CIR) passed by the required majority. An ordinary proposal to update NECA’s standing policy on government affairs was approved by voice vote.

The Board of Governors voted unanimously to approve the nominations of district vice presidents Greg Stewart (District 2), George Adams (District 6) and Gary Tucci (District 10). David Hardt (District 4) and Ray Friend (District 8 ) were elected to their second two-year term. The officers will begin their two-year terms on January 1, 2011. Current District 2 Vice President Dennis Quebe was unanimously voted as NECA President-elect, a one-year term that will begin January 1, 2011. Quebe will then serve a three-year term as NECA President, beginning in 2012.

The Board of Governors also recognized Milwaukee Electric Tool as NECA’s 2010 Industry Partner award winner.

Oct 02

Milwaukee Electric Wins 2010 Industry Partner Award

The Board of Governors recognized Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. as NECA’s 2010 Industry Partner award winner. Steven Richman, president of Milwaukee Electric, accredited the award on behalf of the company.

“We don’t take this honor lightly,” Richman remarked to the Governors. “We know we have to earn your trust by producing great products and integrated learning.

Milwaukee has generously supported NECA’s educational initiatives for many years, as an exhibitor at the NECA Show, a supporter and platinum level training partner for the National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee and as a new member of ELECTRI International’s Partner’s for Progress program. Milwaukee will lead a technical workshop at NECA 2010 Boston’s trade show on “Power Tool Safety and Productivity,” Oct. 3. The company became a NECA Premier Partner in 2008.

NECA’s Industry Partner Award recognizes those organizations or individuals who, though not members of NECA, contribute to the electrical contracting industry’s success through their decisions, actions, or cooperation with NECA. Previous winners of the Industry Partner Award include the National Fire Protection Agency (1996), Graybar Electric Co. (2004), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (2008).

“We are extremely proud to receive this exclusive award and consider it an honor to partner with NECA to demonstrate our shared commitment to the electrical trades,” Richman said. “Milwaukee remains committed to disruptive innovation and delivering solutions for electricians that increase productivity and enhance ease-of-use.”



Sep 13

National Association of Electrical Distributors Earns NECA 2009 Industry Partner Award

NECA recognized the contributions made to electrical contracting by the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) during yesterday’s Board of Governor’s meeting with the association’s 2009 Industry Partner Award.

2009 NECA Industry Partner Award to NAED accepted by Bob Reynolds of Graybar

NECA Industry Partner Award recognizes those organizations or individuals that, though not members of NECA, contribute to the electrical contracting industry’s success through their decisions, actions, or cooperation with NECA. Previous winners of the Industry Partner Award include the National Fire Protection Agency (1996), Graybar Electric Co. (2004), and University of Kansas professor and ELECTRI International researcher Thomas E. Glavinich (2007). The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) and NECA have worked together for more than a century to the mutual benefit of their respective members.

Electrical distributors are essential link between companies who make electrical products and the electrical contractors who put those products to use in projects worldwide. Beyond warehousing and selling electrical products, distributors provide extensive product knowledge, technical assistance, on-time delivery to facilitate productivity, market knowledge, and extend credit to end-users.

NAED is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving and protecting the electrical distribution channel. Much of its work centers on helping electrical distributors develop effective working relationships with their best customers. electrical contractors.

NECA and NAED joined forces in 2009 to fight the growing number of counterfeit electrical products making their way to the market. Since its inception, the Anti-Counterfeit Products Initiative, www.counterfeitscankill.com, has educated thousands of electrical professionals and the public on the dangers and liabilities counterfeit electrical products present. “We’re proud of this initiative with the potential to save lives, and we’re proud of our ongoing partnership with NAED,” said NECA CEO John Grau.

Grau wrote in a recent editorial in Construction Today, “We’re all in this together, and we all share a common goal of keeping buildings, their owners and their occupants safe. When your electrical contractor comes to you with a concern about product quality, hear him out. You could be saving liability, property and lives.”