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Upcoming Events
We hope that you will be able to attend these events:
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February 6, 2020
"Should I Stay or Should I Go? Seminar
This Complimentary Seminar
is a joint program with area
trade associations. Hear from your peers about the ups and downs of relocating a business.
Register on-line at:
mca.org/event/should-i-stay
February 6 - 7, 2020
Young Professionals of ECA: 2020 Leadership Conference
Westin Hotel
Itasca, IL
February 10 - 12, 2020
NECA Business Development Conference
Scottsdale, AZ
February 12, 2020
ECA Regular Membership Meeting
Union League Club of Chicago
Chicago, IL
February 19, 2020
"Pull Planning" Seminar
Drake Oak Brook Hotel
Oak Brook, IL
March 11, 2020
ECA Regular Membership Meeting
Gene & Georgetti's
Rosemont, IL
March 17 - 19, 2020
NECA Women in NECA and FUtire Leaders (WINFL) Conference
Tampa, FL
March 24, 2020
IMSCA Lobby Day
Springfield, IL
March 25, 2020
"Managing Field Productivity"
Workshop
Drake Oak Brook Hotel
Oak Brook, IL
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Quick Links
ECA Website
(The collective bargaining agreements, industry statistics, among other industry information is available on the website.
No log-in is required.)
The ECA
Young Professionals is on Linkedin:
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Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago
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Chicago & Cook County Chapter, NECA
Phone: 708-531-0022
Fax: 708-531-0071
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Please review this month's LiveWire newsletter. We hope you enjoy the local and national industry updates.
As a reminder, we also invite to join us on Facebook and LinkedIn!
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ECA January Membership Meeting
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) held its first meeting of the year on Thursday, January 9, 2020 during the Electric Association Annual Conference held at the Drury Lane Conference Center in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.
Pictured above from left to right are:
Michael Schwarz, Advent Systems, Inc., Beth Ellis, NECA Executive Director, Convention-Exposition, and
Rick Jamerson, ECA President,
Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc.
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Young Professionals of ECA - P.A.C.E.
Young Professionals Conference
As a reminder, the Young Professionals Conference will be held on February 6 - 7, 2020 at the Westin in Itasca, Illinois.
This year's conference will focus on the theme: "Setting the
P.A.C.E.
of our Future".
P
RODUCTIVITY
ACCOUNTABILITY
COMMUNICATION
EFFECTIVENESS
Life's busy schedules often keep us from reaching our fullest potential. This year's conference will guide attendees to develop an action plan to take charge of a demanding schedule, and become more productive, efficient individuals at work and at home. The conference sessions will also give attendees a look at innovative construction technology that help streamline tasks in the office and on the jobsite.
We are very pleased to welcome featured speakers:
Alex Willis, Leadership Surge,
Amanda King, Leadership and Development Coach, NECA, and
Josh Bone, NECA's Director of Innovation.
We hope that you will join us for the Conference!
Please Note:
At this time, overnight accommodations are no longer available; but, members are invited to still attend any of the conference events on Thursday, February 6th or Friday, February 7th. Please email Carrie Spaeth to register: [email protected].
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"Apps for Business" Workshop
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Research and Education Committee was pleased to present the workshop called, "Apps for Business." The program was held on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at the Drake Oak Brook Hotel, Oak Brook, Illinois.
Pictured above from left to right are:
Tess Vismale, Dahlia Agency and
Katie Canino, ECA Research and Education Committee member,
Canino Electric Company
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"Material Purchasing: Subcontractor vs. General Contractor" Seminar
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Research and Education Committee sponsored a seminar called, "Material Purchasing: Subcontractor vs. General Contractor." The event was held on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at the Drake Oak Brook Hotel, Oak Brook, Illinois. This well-attended seminar was conducted by Dr. Heather Moore and Sonja Daneshgari, MCA, Inc.
Pictured above are the attendees for the session.
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ECA Educational Programming for 2020
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Research and Education Committee is pleased to present its educational programming for 2020. Please click on the "Learn More" link for a listing of the programs for 2020. Registration for all of the programs are now available on the ECA website at:
www.ecachicago.com.
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NECA IIT Student Chapter
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Student Committee is pleased to sponsor the activities of the NECA IIT Student Chapter. The students are preparing for the NECA 2020 Green Energy Challenge. This year's competition will be a 'net-zero' energy audit of a community organization that will also afford the students the opportunity to participate with a volunteer activity that aids in the mission of the organization.
The students look forward to an upcoming Student Chapter evening meeting at IIT's Smart Tech Lab (date to be decided) later this semester. The discussion will focus on best practices in conducting energy audits, among other areas. We wish the students well on the Challenge!
Pictured above at a recent IIT IPRO class
meeting to work on the NECA 2020 Green Energy Challenge is
Dr. Daniel Tomal, IIT Facilitator (center)
with the NECA IIT Student Chapter.
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ECA Member Milestone
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) congratulates ECA member firm, Block Electric Company, Inc., on recently reaching a unique milestone in their firm's history! Block Electric Company, Inc. celebrated their Centennial Anniversary! We thank the principals and staff of Block Electric Company, Inc. for their many years of dedicated service to the Association, as well as the industry. We wish many more years of success!
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Illinois Green Alliance Annual Meeting
The Illinois Green Alliance (formerly, the Illinois Chapter of the USGBC) held their Annual Meeting on January 30, 2020 at Marshall's Landing in the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. The Illinois Green Alliance membership celebrated their many volunteers and looked ahead for new opportunities to advance the industry in 2020.
The Illinois Green Alliance is a membership-driven non-profit organization that advances green buildings and sustainable communities across Illinois. Their members represent a broad group of building professionals, homeowners and civic leaders committed to a sustainable, healthy, and prosperous future for everyone. Please review the Illinois Green Alliance website for the most updated information regarding their membership benefits and information on networking and educational programs for LEED accredited professionals.
As you are aware, the Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) is offering a member benefit program with the Illinois Green Alliance. The Association is offering the opportunity to have up to two individuals from each ECA member firm to participate with the Illinois Green Alliance through their Green Building Professional Membership Category. You can contact the ECA for details.
Pictured above is Brian Imus, Illinois Green Alliance Executive Director,
as he began the program.
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NECA's Premier Partner sponsorship program connects NECA members to the leading companies in the electrical construction industry. It represents the most comprehensive business-to-business marketing and sales opportunity ever presented to reach the $160 billion electrical construction industry. Premier Partners of NECA showcase their brands, products and services in the electrical construction industry through hundreds of NECA events, publications and digital platforms year-round, including the annual NECA Convention and Trade Show, the industry's premier trade show and gathering. The Chicago and Cook County Chapter, NECA will focus on each NECA Premier Partner over the coming months. This month's focus will be on Schneider Electric.
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NECA 2020 Convention Coming to Chicago
The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Convention & Trade Show will be held in Chicago at McCormick Place on October 3 - 6, 2020! Convention registration will begin on June 4, 2020. The Chicago & Cook County Chapter, NECA is to have a Welcome Reception on Friday, October 2, 2020 at the United Club space at Soldier Field. The "Rebuilding Chicago Together" charity will be promoted throughout the Convention with opportunities for involvement from NECA Chapters throughout the nation. An Apprenticeship Challenge is being formulated with the assistance of INTECH and Powering Chicago. More details regarding the Special programming / Convention activities will be announced through the coming months. We hope that you are able to participate with the Convention's many seminars, educational programming, guest presenter sessions, the Opening Event at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, among many other areas.
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NECA Legislative Conference
APRIL 27-30, 2020 * MANDARIN ORIENTAL * WASHINGTON, D.C. Bigger and Better in 2020:
- More congressional meetings
- More prestigious keynote speakers
- More time for registrants to tell lawmakers their stories
- More updates on legislation
The NECA 2020 National Legislative Conference is the premiere legislative event for electrical contractors to hear about top issues affecting our industry and meet the leaders who are working to provide real solutions.
During the conference, participants will use our collective voice to advance NECA's top legislative issues on Capitol Hill. Participants will take part in issue briefings and engage with Members of Congress and Washington DC insiders while gaining a first-hand perspective on the legislative process.
SPECIAL STIPEND
The ECA Executive Committee approved the registration fees, transportation and accommodation costs for all ECA member attendees of the NECA Legislative Conference to be held April 27 - April 30, 2020 in Washington, D.C.
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2020 Project Excellence Awards
NECA began accepting submissions for the 2020 Project Excellence Awards Program on January 1, 2020.
These prestigious awards recognize NECA member companies for their outstanding commitment, professionalism and ingenuity in delivering an electrical project across 12 different market sectors:
- Commercial/Institutional
- Design Build
- Educational
- Energy Solutions/ Green Building
- Healthcare
- Industrial
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- Low Voltage/
Integrated Systems
- Overhead Transmission
- Residential
- Street Lighting/ Traffic Signal
- Substation/Interconnection
- Transportation & Infrastructure
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Entries
Entries feature projects small and large, from religious facilities, schools
and universities to hospitals, hotels, commercial office buildings, sports stadiums and large solar installations.
Submissions for projects completed in 2019 will be accepted until April 30.
For additional information, including a timeline of the application process, program FAQs, 2019 submissions and award winners archive, and a gallery of all project submissions visit ProjectExcellenceAwards.com »
Program Rules and Information:
To be eligible, a NECA member must have performed the installation. It must have been completed between Jan. 1, 2019 and Dec. 31, 2019. The deadline for submissions for the 2020 Project Excellence Awards is April 30.
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NECA WINFL Conference
One Conference - One Fee - 3 Full Days
The Women in NECA and Future Leaders (WINFL) Leadership Conference will be held March 17-19, 2020 at The Grand Hyatt Tampa in Tampa, Fla. The newly combined conference features three full days of education and breakout sessions including featured speakers, group discussions and networking opportunities for both groups, plus a company tour of NECA member MJM Electric facilities. A detailed agenda will be made available soon.
SPECIAL STIPEND
The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives and their guest and/or spouse, if applicable, of participating ECA member firms for the NECA WIN and Future Leaders (NECA WINFL) Conference on March 16 - 20, 2020 in Tampa, FL.
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CISCO Scholarships Available
As a reminder, t
he Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) is a joint labor-management group consisting of numerous area unions and construction trade associations in the Northeastern Illinois area. The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) is an active member. All signatory Local Union #134, IBEW contractors and signatory electricians can benefit from CISCO programming.
CISCO is accepting applications for its 2020 Scholarship Program. The three different categories enable a wider range of students of both union building trade members and union contractor employees to apply. CISCO offers (3), four-year scholarships to high school seniors; (2), two-year awards for seniors planning on attending a community college; and (2), two-year continuing education awards to union members or contractor employees.
The application forms can be downloaded from the following links:
All applications and accompanying documents must be postmarked by February 21, 2020. For more information, contact CISCO at 630.472.9411.
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ECA Educational Stipends & "Save the Dates" for
Special Events for 2020
Stipends
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Executive Committee has extended a number of educational stipends for many special programs / conferences throughout 2020. All stipends / reimbursements are made after each conference with registration confirmation(s) forwarded to ECA.
Listed below are the stipend opportunities:
CSC/ASA Safety Conference
The Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives of participating ECA member firms for the Construction Safety Council / Association of Subcontractors and Affiliates (CSC/ASA) Safety Conference on March 2 - 3, 2020.
NECA WINFL Conference
The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives and their guest and/or spouse, if applicable, of participating ECA member firms for the NECA WIN and Future Leaders (NECA WINFL) Conference on March 16 - 20, 2020 in Tampa, FL.
NECA Legislative Conference
The ECA Executive Committee approved the registration fees, transportation and accommodation costs for all ECA member attendees of the NECA Legislative Conference to be held April 27 - April 30, 2020 in Washington, D.C.
NECA Safety Professionals Conference
The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives and their guest and/or spouse, if applicable, of participating ECA member firms for the NECA Safety Professionals Conference - May 18 - 20, 2020 in Scottsdale, AZ.
NECA Midwest Region Conference
The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees and a flat fee stipend of $800.00 for up to two representatives and their guest and/or spouse, if applicable, of participating ECA member firms for the NECA Midwest Region Conference on June 13 - 17, 2020 in Colorado Springs, CO.
NECA Convention
The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives and their guest and/or spouse, if applicable, of participating ECA member firms for the NECA Convention on October 3 - 6, 2020 in Chicago, IL.
Save the Dates for these Special Events
President's Party
Friday, May 22, 2020
Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier - Chicago
ECA Golf Outing
June, 2020 - TBD
Location TBD
End of Summer Social Event
Friday, August 14, 2020
Theater on the Lake - Chicago
Air and Water Show rehearsal
ECA hosts "Welcome to Chicago Party" at Soldier Field
Friday, October 2, 2020
2020 NECA Convention
ECA Christmas Party
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Location TBD - Chicago
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Safety Update
--CSC February Schedule
For a listing of coursework available through the Construction Safety Council (CSC) for the month of February, please click on the link:
www.buildsafe.org.
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Safety Forum
--February 13, 2020
The Chicago & Cook County Chapter, NECA Safety Committee and the Northeastern Illinois Chapter, NECA Safety Committee are jointly sponsoring a morning Safety Forum on Thursday, February 13, 2020 at 8:00 am at the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (INTECH) in Alsip, Illinois. The speakers for the program are: Ms. Karen Rioux, Partner,
MCGann, Ketterman & Rioux and William Heffernan, Co-founder, Employee Resource Systems, Inc.
The presentations are to include discussion of the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act concerning employer obligations for Sexual Harassment Prevention Training and Reasonable Suspicion implementation including impact of the new Illinois Recreational Marijuana Law. The forum is complimentary for all ECA members. Registration is now open on the ECA website at www.ecachicago.com. (Special Registration Code is needed, as indicated in previous e-mails).
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Reasonable Suspicion Training
--February 18, 2020
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) is pleased to present a complimentary seminar called, "Reasonable Suspicion Training - (Cannabis-focused)." The program presenter is William Heffernan, Co-founder, Employee Resource Systems, Inc.
This course is geared for contractors and personnel in supervisory roles and provides an an overview of Reasonable Suspicion follow-up concerning the new Recreational Marijuana Law in Illinois.
As this new law certainly presents challenges for employers, it also included the amendment of the Illinois Privacy Act that provides protections to employees from adverse employment actions based on use of lawful products off of the premises. The new law also places limits on when an employer may consider an employee "impaired": specifically, the employer must have, "a good faith belief that an employee manifests specific, articulable symptoms while working that decrease or lessen the employee's performance."
Following this class, participants will be able to:
- Understand the roles and responsibilities in making and documenting reasonable suspicion determination
- Understand the costs and dangers of drug abuse in the workplace
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse and controlled substance use
- Know how to approach employees in a professional and respectful manner
- Understand how to initiate the reasonable suspicion process
The program is scheduled on
Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at either 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Five Westbrook Corporate Center, Link 2- 5 Conference Room, Westchester, IL 60154. The program fee is FREE for all ECA members. To register, please visit the ECA website at:
www.ecachicago.com. (Special Registration Code is needed, as indicated in previous e-mails).
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NECA Safety Achievement Program
--Safety Excellence & Zero Injury Awards
NECA invites member companies to participate in the 2020 Recognition of Safety Achievement Program, an annual program that provides elite safety recognition for our members by recognizing electrical contractors that adopt safety and health-related work practices, as a core value, within their organization. The program includes two entry categories, Safety Excellence and Zero Injury. Recognition is given to electrical contractors that demonstrate their commitment to safety by consistently showing lower than industry average OSHA recordable injury and fatality rates and to those that have implemented internal safety practices that go above and beyond that of basic compliance. Applications are due March 1, 2020.
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CSC/ASA Safety Conference
--March 2 - 3, 2020
This Annual Construction Expo and Safety Conference, co-hosted by the Association of Subcontractors and Affiliates of Chicago (ASA Chicago) and Construction Safety Council (CSC) serves Chicagoland construction industry professionals by providing unique opportunities for business-to-business commerce, education and networking. The event is being held at the Drury Lane Conference Center in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois on March 2 - 3, 2020.
SPECIAL STIPEND
The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives of participating ECA member firms for the Construction Safety Council / Association of Subcontractors and Affiliates (CSC/ASA) Safety Expo. on March 2 - 3, 2020.
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NECA Safety Professionals Conference
--May 18 - 20, 2020
Conference Participants Can Expect:
- Presentations based on current trends and important regulatory and code updates
- Leading experts to present Keynote speeches during general sessions
- Access to exclusive content and industry education not found anywhere else
The conference is scheduled May 18 - 20, 2020 in Scottsdale, AZ. This event presents an opportunity to network with other electrical industry safety professionals, receive continuing education units for attending educational sessions specifically geared towards your line of work and provide you with an opportunity to update your knowledge of current regulatory and industry best practices.
Registration is now open.
Visit
NECASafetyConference.com
for additional details. Don't miss your opportunity to receive the latest industry information and stay up-to-date with safety!
SPECIAL STIPEND
The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives and their guest and/or spouse, if applicable, of participating ECA member firms for the NECA Safety Professionals Conference - May 18 - 20, 2020 in Scottsdale, AZ.
Note: You will need your NECA userID and password to register for this event. For assistance, or more information contact Aga Golriz at 301-657-3110, or select the forgot my username/password option.
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Industry Statistics
Stay on top of monthly data for our industry: number of contractors active, quantity of people employed and total hours worked.
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