The IBEW — and NECA! — Have San Diego Wired

Another reason to be excited about visiting San Diego for NECA’s 2011 Convention and Trade Show in October:

“Founded [in 1920] when the total San Diego County population was 112,000, the Electricians [in IBEW Local Union 569] have played an integral part in the development, construction and maintenance of major buildings and attractions, iconic landmarks, manufacturing and retail centers, schools, hospitals and homes … As you visit downtown, you can see IBEW members at work on the new Downtown Library — creating a state-of-the-art facility. And at the Convention Center, IBEW members, along with other Building Trades craftsmen and women, work on every tradeshow that comes to town.”

The above is quoted from an article in the June 29, 2011, edition of The Daily Transcript, which publishes San Diego business news. It was written by Tom Lemmon, the business manager of the San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council AFL-CIO. READ More about the NECA/IBEW San Diego project on NECA’s website>>

Explore Renewable, Energy-Efficient Market at All-New NECA 2011 Energy Forum, Oct. 22

NECA will kick off its 2011 Convention and Trade Show in San Diego with an all-new, one-day Energy Forum for the electrical construction industry on Saturday, Oct. 22. Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, will open the symposium with a keynote address, followed by panel and roundtable discussions on how electrical contractors can best help their customers meet their energy needs.

“Electrical contractors are the vital link between energy-efficient technology and cost-efficient construction,” said Stan Lazarian, President, Electric Service & Supply Co., Pasadena, Ca., and chair of NECA’s Energy Solution Task Force. “Our goal at the Energy Forum is to provide contractors and their customers with an opportunity to share what they’ve learned about working on renewable energy, energy conservation and energy efficiency projects.”

“How and where we get our energy has become a serious question for building owners, government leaders and developers. Rising energy prices and energy inefficiencies have everyone thinking about what the smart alternatives could be, but those alternatives have to make financial sense, both for the customer and the electrical contractor,” said Rob Colgan, NECA executive director, market development.

Alternative power and energy efficiency upgrades are the next boom market for contractors, Lazarian said. “But it’s hard for electrical contractors to know when it’s the right time for them to add new services to their traditional business model,” he said.

Making sense of the range of opportunities in green energy will be the focus of NECA’s inaugural Energy Forum. Speakers and session leaders will discuss the many ways electrical contractors can enter this market and what questions they need to ask before doing so.

In addition to Jon Wellinghoff, Energy Forum participants will hear from industry on energy economic modeling, the electric vehicle market, and innovative energy storage technology. The forum will discuss concrete examples of how to become an energy solutions contractor by addressing some fundamental questions, such as:

Is there a tool I can use to show realistic projections for energy and cost savings to customers?

What types of financing are available for renewable energy projects, and how could financing be impacted by future regulations?

How do we integrate renewable energy and energy efficiency to ensure reliable power?

NECA’s Energy Forum will be held at the San Diego Convention Center on Oct. 22, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The cost is $129 for NECA members attending the 2011 Convention and $249 for individual registrants.  Lunch will be provided, and Forum registrants are invited to the final judging of NECA’s Green Energy Challenge, the annual student chapter design competition, at the conclusion of the Energy Forum.  Register Now>>

The “Weekend Package” includes the Energy Forum on Sat., Oct. 22, and all Sunday, Oct. 23 events, including the  Opening General Session with General Stanley McChrystal, plus all management seminars and technical workshops, the grand opening of the NECA Show and the Showstopper Showcase, tradeshow lunch and Sunday daily prize tickets. For $100 more, weekender registrants can choose the package that also includes the Opening Reception on the USS Midway. Non-member pricing is also available; press and government employees can request complementary registration by emailing Beth Margulies,beth.margulies@necanet.org.

NECA 2011 San Diego Registration Opens June 14

Online registration for NECA’s annual convention and trade show, Oct. 22-25, in San Diego, opens Tuesday, June 14. Early savings for NECA 2011 San Diego events, pre-convention workshops, and the all-new Energy Forum and weekend packages will be available until August 29. Attendees can also make hotel reservations when they register for the meeting.

NECA 2011 San Diego features all the great education and networking events the industry expects from our annual convention and trade show. We’ll have management workshops focused on best business practices and market development tactics, inspiring messages from Gen. Stanley McChrystal and Steven Farber, and hands-on technical workshops right on the NECA Show floor. Popular sessions like the Green Energy Challenge finalist presentation jury, NECA Women’s Peer Group Open Forum, and the NECA Safety Roundtable are also included in the NECA 2011 San Diego full registration package.

Contractors and industry pros who want to pack in as much education with minimal time away from the office can choose from two new weekend packages. Both packages include the all-new Energy Forum on Sat., Oct. 22, and the Opening General Session with General Stanley McChrystal on Sun., Oct. 23, plus Sunday, Oct. 23 management seminars and technical workshops, the grand opening of the NECA Show and the Showstopper Showcase, tradeshow lunch and Sunday daily prize tickets.

For $100 more, weekender registrants can choose the package that also includes the Opening Reception on the USS Midway.

Registrants can fully customize their time at NECA 2011 San Diego with the new ala carte menu which enables you to register for specific events (pre-convention workshops, Energy Forum, opening reception, management seminars, and/or the NECA Show.)

Pre-convention workshops start as early as Friday, Oct. 21 and are priced separately. Registrants for pre-convention workshop are also entitled NECA Show admission, Oct. 22-25, including all technical workshops and access to the Showstopper Showcase.

NECA Conventioneers who stay through to the end will enjoy the waterfront Closing Celebration with Al Jardine and the Endless Summer Band.

Explore NECA 2011 San Diego>>   Register Now!>>

NJATC And Thomas & Betts Collaborate On National Training

In response to the anticipated demand for electrical workers, the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Electrical Industry (NJATC) and Thomas & Betts Corporation have agreed to develop a joint national apprentice-training program. The agreement also establishes a framework for all Thomas & Betts (T&B) programs and initiatives serving the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), for which the NJATC is the national training organization, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the NJATC itself.

Read more on NECA’s website >>

And We’re Live on NECAConvention.org!

The website for NECA 2011 San Diego, www.necaconvention.org, is now live with preliminary information about speakers, events, the NECA Show, travel arrangements and the brand-new Energy Forum! Online registration opens June 14, and we’ll be adding updates on management seminars and technical workshops as details are as finalized.

We hope you’re as excited about NECA 2011 San Diego as we are! Check out the new site and start making your plans to join us in San Diego, Oct. 22-25! You can also get NECA 2011 San Diego updates through Twitter and Facebook.