Every contractor I speak to says good help is hard to find. Because of this overarching problem, contractors are resorting to “stealing” help (at higher wages) from their competitors. Because the hair I have left is gray, I...
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) announced that it will offer two new training courses for recently discharged veterans, providing a career path into the energy industry through the utility’s PowerPathway program.PG&E is...
With the impending generational shift of workers in the electrical industry, it is becoming more important to get young people interested in electricity to replace the retiring ranks.The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for...
Juno Lighting Group announced its newly renovated, state-of-the-art IdeaLab, which is designed to educate lighting designers, architects, distributors, and their clients on the art and science of lighting design. It is a 5...
Some things in education remain the same--—it’s all still really about reading, writing and arithmetic. But the way those and other subjects are taught has evolved significantly since many of us spent time in a classroom...
The evolution of the virtual chalkboard has accelerated as demand has increased for the convenient, learn-at-your-own-pace access to continuing education units, new technologies and methods, industry-specific degrees, and...
Schneider Electric announced the upcoming launch of its EcoXpert program, intended to train electrical contractors in installing and implementing energy efficiency and renewable-energy products and solutions. “The federal...
The Copper Development Association (CDA) announced that its Power Quality CD-ROM has been updated and expanded. Version 3.0 contains several additional video case histories, new interviews and information from experts, and...
If you agree with the old adage that leaders are born and not made, you believe that leadership ability is determined by nature, inherited through our DNA. On the other hand, if environment affects leadership ability, then a...
National Training Center (NTC) has announced Webinar Wednesday, a free monthly training session, covering topics that are important to the low voltage industry. The class is open to everyone. New Webinar Wednesday classes...
According to the Chicago Tribune, administrators and students are uniting at colleges and universities nationwide to cultivate environmentally friendly campuses. Many schools are expanding their existing green programs, and...
Training is the best and only way for electrical contractors and electricians to stay ahead in a world filled with changing markets, technologies and methodologies. However, training can be expensive, and it certainly is time...
According to the 2007 learning and development survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Professional Development (CIPD), little has been changed in the methods selected by company trainers. The focus remains on the use...
I interpret The adage “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”to mean just a small amount of knowledge can lead people to do things they aren’t really qualified to do. A quick search on the Internet lends credit to the...
Integrated building system training Integrated Building Systems (IBS) represent tremendous opportunities for electrical contractors and are predicted to eventually outgrow the traditional electrical market. Success will...
Enhancing cooperation between disciplines with software ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS KNOW the high costs of labor across the entire organization. Most think about outside field force staff, technicians, installers and the like when...
KNOWLEDGABLE CONTRACTORS HAVE AN ADVANTAGE: training has given them the leg up for decades. But as technology changes and the needs of end-users evolve with it, ensuring your electricians can provide the best quality work is...
Maintaining your most valuable resource As a business owner, people are your most important asset, but they are often the most neglected. If you aren’t developing their potential, you may as well stop changing the oil in your...
IDEAL INDUSTRIES has donated tool kits to the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers (IBEW) for use at the National Training Institute (NTI), sponsored by the IBEW and National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)...
When I was asked to write 1,200 words on how to train an estimator I thought, “This should be easy, I train estimators every day.” After a few hours of organizing my thoughts and writing my outline, I realized 1,200 words...
