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Sep 30

The Real Work Behind Energy Solutions: 2012 Energy Forum

The second NECA Energy Forum compressed intense learning into three far-ranging discussions, covering everything from energy-efficient retail operations to advanced lighting controls to national energy policy.

“I believe the real change will happen at the local level,” said Jack Ryan, CFO/Treasurer, AMC Inc. “We can talk about putting together a national energy policy that includes all the innovation and opportunities for renewable power and energy efficiency that we’ve discussed here today, but for something to work, real people have to be invested in what the change means in their local communities.”

Reyad Fezzani, a global energy business executive with a passion for clean technology, agreed with Ryan. “We will do this grassroots,” he told Energy Forum attendees. “We need to look for partners and work together rather than waiting to be told what to do.”

The second panel discussion introduced NECA contractors who have added energy solutions to their company services. When Rubio Rubio started his company On Target Electric in late 2008, he had a commitment to remaining at the forefront of industry changes. He became an instructor for the California Advanced Lighting Controls Training Program (CALCTP) and through the program, was awarded a lighting controls project for SCE.

“My company is fairly small, but since we made the commitment to help our customers save money through energy-efficient lighting, we have grown every year. That’s pretty convincing when you’re making the decision about taking on energy solution work,” he said.

Jun 18

Announcing David L. Pogue, Keynote Speaker for 2012 Energy Forum

The 2012 NECA Energy Forum will focus on the business realities of the energy solutions market, and the Forum’s keynote speaker David L. Pogue certainly knows the economic benefits of using green energy technologies.

As Global Director of Sustainability, Institutional & Corporate Services for CB Richard Ellis, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services firm with 300 offices worldwide, Dave Pogue is responsible for leading sustainability programs for CBRE’s property and facilities management portfolio across the Americas.

“We’re very excited that Dave will be speaking at the Energy Forum,” said Forum organizer Rob Colgan, NECA executive director, market development. “He has great insight about what sustainable energy practices can make a true difference in the costs of property management, and he will share exactly what building owners and managers want to know from their electrical contractor when they’re considering energy-efficient upgrades.” 

Prior to joining CBRE, Pogue served as Executive Vice President, Ownership Services, for Insignia/ESG in the Western Region and joined CBRE with the company’s acquisition of Insignia. Before joining Insignia, he was Director of Management Services for CB Commercial in the San Francisco Bay Area.

At CBRE, his leadership has produced an award-winning sustainability platform that leverages thought leadership, outstanding service delivery and corporate associations to raise the worldwide green building standard. Program achievements include aggressive endorsement of the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR® program, the introduction of the Green Knights, delivery of co-branded BOMA BEEP training to nearly 10,000 attendees and recognition as the first manager of commercial property to certify more than 100 buildings in the LEED® for Existing Buildings rating system. CBRE was also ranked No. 30 in Newsweek’s list of the 500 greenest companies in the U.S., honored by the EPA as a four-time ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year and recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council® with the Leadership Award for Organizational Excellence.

“He’s certainly one of the sharpest pros in the business when it comes to blending sustainability with smart business practices for commercial real estate,” Colgan said. “David’s keynote will be a great kick-off for this year’s Energy Forum.”

Oct 28

Energy Forum Featured in San Diego Daily Transcript

Mir Mustafa, NECA Director, Business Development, and other speakers and participants from NECA’s first Energy Forum held Oct. 21 in San Diego, immediately prior to NECA’s convention and trade show, was quoted extensively in an article about the event by James Palen in the San Diego Daily Transcript. From the article:

After opening remarks from Stan Lazarian, president of Pasadena’s Electric Service & Supply Co. as well as vice president of NECA’s ninth district, several high-profile names from both in and out of the immediate NECA family took to the podiums and convention halls, touching on everything from opportunities to challenges facing the crowd.

“Is there anyone here that doesn’t think that this energy solution market does not represent an opportunity for them?” Mir Mustafa, NECA’s director of market development, asked the crowd at the last of Saturday’s general session addresses.

Not a single one of the hundreds in attendance raised a hand.

Mustafa then asked how many of them were confident they knew how to go about seizing that opportunity. Just three hands flew to the air.

“It is very confusing,” Mustafa responded.

He then went on to explain how his interest in green energy was brought on by chance through a conversation with a client — Mustafa was previously a lawyer — about energy efficiency. Despite his lack of working experience as an electrician or engineer, he and the client wound up starting a company together doing energy retrofit work.

“We didn’t know what we were doing when we started, but we learned quite a lot along the way, so it’s quite possible for all of you to become quite efficient at it,” Mustafa said.

And so set the tone for the forum. Through six morning breakout sessions and three in the afternoon, electricians learned how to incorporate detailed energy financial analyses in their proposals, listened to what their place may be in the emerging electric vehicle infrastructure market and learned about options regarding the financing of energy projects so they can better approach potential customers.

>>Read the full article from the San Diego Daily Transcript online or NECA’s recap of the event on blog.necaconvention.org.

Mar 03

What’s New at NECA 2010 Boston?

You told us what you wanted, and we listened! NECA 2010 Boston will reflect many great suggestions that will make it an even better event – for you and your company!

1. More family-friendly.
The 2010 NECA Show will be open to all children accompanied by an adult. All they need is a badge for admission!

2. More peer-to-peer networking.
The new NECA Women’s Peer Group and Safety Roundtable are just a few of the opportunities for special groups within the association to meet and discuss the special concerns they face.

3. More opportunities for your entire company.
Newly launched by NECA President Rex Ferry, the “Contractors Challenge: Motivate, Reward, Recognize” is a program any NECA member can customize to help bring talented employees to NECA 2010 Boston. More details can be found online!

4. More access to innovation.
Find more energy solutions across the entire exhibit hall. Companies offering green energy innovations will be identified with NECA Energy Solutions logos on their booths, in the Show Guide and on www.necaconvention.org. Attendees will also be asked to vote for their favorite exhibitors for the first time as part of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR’s Show Stoppers awards.

5. First-Timer Orientation
Will NECA 2010 Boston be your first time at NECA’s annual convention and trade show? Don’t get lost or overwhelmed. First-time attendees will have a special orientation session from NECA and Boston chapter staff about determining and following a path that makes the event work best for you.

Dec 28

NECA Returning to Boston for 2010 Convention and Trade Show

Revolutionary Power. Renewable Solutions.

For more than 80 years, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) has been bringing the nation’s leading electrical contractors together with manufacturers, innovators, suppliers and service providers to help make our electrical construction industry the strongest in the world. In 2010, NECA will host its annual Convention and Trade Show to Boston, Oct. 2-5.

NECA’s convention and trade show are the leading events for the electrical construction industry, featuring classroom and hands-on education, active networking opportunities and open discussion forums where electrical contractors can address the critical issues facing their industry.

“The NECA convention is where I come to get recharged,” said Rocky Sharp, Madsen Electric, Tacoma, Wa. “No matter how tough a year it may have been, I know I’m going to hear some kind of good news there. Either it’s a new product that saves time on a job, or a new way to connect with customers – it always helps. It always gives me a new perspective and a renewed outlook.”

“We broke all previous attendance records for our 2009 pre-convention workshops and management seminars in Seattle, largely because our training focuses on topics that matter to electrical contractors,” said Beth Ellis, NECA executive director, convention/exposition. “We ask them what issues are affecting how they do business, what aspects of the industry they want to learn more about, and sessions are led by experienced instructors. Contractors know that the NECA convention is the best deal when it comes to management education.”

NECA 2010 Boston will also feature an expanded Energy Solutions Zone with new “building green” resources at the NECA Show; special safety sessions for line contractors and a keynote speech from ocean explorer Bob Ballard, who located the wrecks of the Titanic, Yorktown, and more.

Learn more about NECA 2010 Boston at www.necaconvention.org, become a fan of NECA Convention on Facebook, and get updates via Twitter, twitter.com/NECAConvention.

Sep 13

University of Washington Wins First Green Energy Challenge

Following presentations from the three Green Energy Challenge finalist teams yesterday, the entry from the NECA student chapter at the University of Washington was selected as the winner. The results were announced at the NECA Student Chapter Summit today.

University of Washington 1st Place in Green Energy Challenge

Oregon State University placed second, and The Pennsylvania State University was third.

UW team leader Joey Berger was also recognized for his excellent presentation skills.

“I have a great deal of admiration for all the work the student teams put into their projects,” said Challenge juror Tim Ehmann, a senior project manager with Rochester Solar Technologies. “They brought a fresh perspective to some of the major work going on in electrical construction today.”

Penn State 3rd Place in Green Energy ChallengeOregon State 2nd Place in Green Energy Challenge

A full report of the Green Energy Challenge submissions will be available from ELECTRI International soon. More information about the Green Energy Challenge can be found on NECA’s website.

Sep 12

Learning How to Perform an Energy Audit

One program that’s generating some early buzz in Seattle was yesterday’s pre-convention workshop on how to do a facility energy audit. Participation swelled, forcing the workshop to relocate to a larger classroom.

Energy Audit: A Portal to Green Projects offered contractors their first look at a brand-new resource developed just for them by NECA – a step-by-step guide to evaluate the energy conservation, efficiency and alternative power opportunities for an existing building.

“The first step to winning a green energy project is proving to your customer that you understand their energy needs anEnergy-Audit-Workshop-1d that you can do the work to meet their green building goals. When an electrical contractor does a facility energy audit, he shows he can meet both needs,” said Dick Nogleberg, chair of NECA’s Energy Solutions Task Force. The task force was the driving force behind developing the audit tools and training.

Owners tell us that the firm who does their energy audit is usually the same contractor who creates their green energy project and controls the work. Energy audit expertise is a highly valuable addition to a NECA member’s green energy business and profit development toolkit.

Future energy audit training will be available through MEI.

Oct 07

NECA NewsCast “Live from Chicago” – Day 4

Jennifer Brice, NECA NewsCast host, brings us an exclusive peak into the Labor Relations focused general session. On stage were IBEW International President, Ed Hill and NECA’s VP of Labor Relations, Geary Higgins – together they highlighted the future of the NECA/IBEW working relationship. Also in the spotlight of this broadcast were NECA’s general sessions, green alley and the International Lunch hosted by ELECTRI International.

Oct 06

NECA NewsCast “Live from Chicago” – Day 3

Jennifer Brice, NECA NewsCast host, reports on Day 3 at NECA 2008 Chicago with opening day festivities. Beth Ellis, NECA executive director, meetings/expositions, opened the 53rd NECA Show with the traditional ribbon cutting. This segment also includes interviews with members and exhibitors on the show floor and NECA CEO John Grau talking about his excitement over what’s to come.