Christenson Electric Supports Local Elementary School

When Christenson Electric moved to their new headquarters in October 2015, they were asked if they wanted to carry on the tradition of providing meals to Wilkes Elementary families in need, a program that had been started by the former owners of their Gresham headquarters.

For those at Christenson Electric, the decision to carry on the tradition was a no-brainer, and they have since grown the program.

This year, Wilkes Elementary had decided to restructure the Wilkes Holiday Pantry Drive said Pedro Villagomez, the Community School Site Manager.

“Originally it was a partnership where Christenson was providing food boxes and gifts to families, but this year we decided it was going to be a little different in order to reach more families,” Villagomez said. “We went from 20 families last year, and we currently have 50 families signed up.”

According to Sarah Shields, the Principal at Wilkes Elementary School, the change has enabled the program to help more families in need.

“The two biggest things people cherished last year was toilet paper and towels,” Shields said. “We realized, these this are expenses, and if you are struggling, a new towel is not something you’re going to go buy because there are other things you have to focus on.”

For the employees at Christenson, a competitive nature to the donations quickly developed.

“Our first year, Good Samaritian was the one that kind of started the competition, by just submitting $200 cash saying, ‘I challenge you job sites, beat this’, and that was two years ago,” Joanne Gaspari, the Human Resources Manager at Christenson Electric, said. “Then last year they drove in with a pickup full of food and said, ‘beat this.’”

According to Gaspari, while the Good Samaritian job site was quiet early on, they ended up donating the most, bringing in over $3,000 of food donations to the Wilkes Holiday Pantry.

In addition to the employees at Christenson Electric, several community partners made donations to the drive as well, including: IBEW Local 48, Local 125, Local NECA leadership, the Grocery Outlet on Division, Mondelez, and many others.

“Each year, IBEW Local 125 looks forward to the opportunity to partner with Christenson Electric,” said Cheryl Arrant from IBEW Local 125. “It is an honor to be able to help families in our community during the Holiday Season.”

In total, there was about $8,000 worth of donations made this year. Christenson Electric and its employees plan to continue the Wilkes Holiday Pantry for years to come, with continued community support throughout the year.

Those at Wilkes Elementary made sure to express their appreciation for all the help and donations they received.

“It is so neat to see the community rally around the school,” said Shields. “There are kids in need here, and it’s pretty great that they do these things for them, it’s very humbling.”

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How Portland is meeting the challenge of fewer electricians

While the electrical industry throughout the U.S. is brimming with opportunity, the field is facing a problem. In a study by the Conference Board, the electrical industry is struggling to fill its rosters. Skilled electrical workers are in high demand, but few people are answering the call, and the shortage is only expected to get worse.

In a 2017 nationwide survey by Klein Tools, that produces tools for electrical workers, it was reported that:

  • 56 percent of electricians noticed more workers leaving the field over the past few years, an increase from the 44 percent in 2015.
  • Almost two-thirds of electricians who have less than 20 years of experience have seen an increase in experienced electricians leaving the field, with a significant increase among those with 10-19 years of experience.
  • Forty percent of electricians are concerned that there will not be enough qualified workers available over the next five to 10 years.

These findings suggest that the industry currently has fewer experienced electricians working on job sites and there are not enough new workers to fill the shortage. This could cause issues for commercial developers and general contractors who have deadlines to meet.

Read the article in full at Portland Business Journal.

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NECA/IBEW Local 48 works with OSU students

This summer, several NECA contractors hosted internships for Oregon State University students.  Over the weeks, the interns supported project management staff while learning estimating, scheduling, how to process submittals, cost management, and construction oversight.  They worked with various individuals within the companies to learn the different aspects of their operations.

This year’s group was:

  • Jonathan Balcom with OEG
  • Zachery Holmes with OEG
  • Andy Hua with OEG
  • Carlie Stickler with OEG
  • Mitchell Baertlein with Rosendin
  • Kyle Coleman with Rosendin
  • Jake Rembolt with E.C.
  • Matt Rosa with E.C.
  • Michael Schumacher with E.C.

OSU students who participate in the NECA internships have very positive internship experiences and most usually pursue full-time employment with an electrical contractor after graduation.

interns

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NECA/IBEW Local 48 Training Center Graduates First Class of Pre-Apprentices

(Portland, Ore.) The National Electrical Contractors Association and International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker’s Electrical Training Center (NIETC) conducted their first State Approved Pre-apprenticeship program as part of a grant-funded opportunity through the national Electrical Training Alliance. The funding is part of the overall American Apprenticeshippre-apprentices-2 Initiative from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The program is focused on providing career opportunities to underrepresented populations, which includes women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans.

Pre-Apprentices in the program attended seven weeks of classroom and lab training, five days a week, for six hours a day. Upon completion of the classroom training, they worked as material handlers with a Training Agent for a minimum of two weeks for an on-the-job experience.

The program started on May 19 with 19 pre-apprentices enrolled, made up 10 women, some of who were minorities, 10 minorities, and three veterans. All 19 completed the program on July 25, with 18 moving on to transition into the apprenticeship. Eight have become Inside electrician apprentices and six have become Limited Residential Electrician apprentices, while the remaining four will become inside electrician apprentices upon successful completion of the applicant aptitude test.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better class,” said Bridget Quinn, the Workforce Development Coordinator at the Training Center. “The pre-apprentices were enthusiastic and diligent, despite the heavy course load and the fact that many were also working almost full-time jobs.”

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NECA/IBEW Local 48 in Oregon Business Magazine

NECA/IBEW Local 48 and the training center are featured in an article in this month’s Oregon Business Magazine.  You can see the story online here.

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IBEW Local 48: Committed to Diversity

“A diverse workforce and a diverse leadership team is key to the success of the IBEW.” – Keith Edwards, Former Business Manager of Local 48 (and first ever African American IBEW Business Manager). Check out IBEW Hour Power’s video “Committed to Diversity.”

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Portland Winter Light Festival

NECA/IBEW 48 is a proud sponsor of the inaugural Portland Winter Light Festival – February 3-6. It is an outdoor, community celebration illuminating the city with installations by premier light artists and designers. Hosted by OMSI, no tickets are needed for this event simply show up and enjoy the fun!

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Giving Back

A group of young union members — part of IBEW Local 48’s Reach out and Energize Next-gen Electrical Workers, or RENEW—spent the last two months collecting warm clothes and blankets to give to the homeless. Check out this article from the Northwest Labor Press.

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Helmets to Hardhats

“Through the IBEW, I have friends and people I now consider as family.” The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ (IBEW) Helmets to Hardhats program helps military veterans get jobs in the construction industry. IBEW Local 48 and the NECA contractors are proud to offer state of the art training and real-life experience to our veterans. Read the full article or learn more at NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center.

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