by franz | Nov 11, 2019 | Uncategorized
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE TRADE? Christine went to college got her Bachelor’s Degree and now needed to pay back her student loans. Her dad had worked for one of the contractors and suggested she apply. She did and was so excited to get in. She applied, three months later took her test, did the interview, was on the list for 6 months. At this point she really wanted to get in. Her dad mentioned to a NECA rep that his daughter had applied and was still waiting. It just so happened that the NECA rep said they had a PRE-Apprentice program starting the next day. Keep in mind Christine had a job at Panera Bread and had to quit that day so she could start in the PRE-Apprentice program the next day. It all happened so fast. Here in the PRE-Apprentice program she was able to get so much field experience. She spent 2 months in this program and then got the call to go into the Apprentice Program. WHAT SHE DID BEFORE THE TRADE, SCHOOL? Christine went to college at OCC then transferred over to Oakland University where she went into Psychology. An undergrad degree is great but going into Psychology you really need your Masters and then your Doctorate. This is was nearly impossible to pay for Grad school even though she loved the field of Psychology. While going to college she also worked at a minimum wage job. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PLACES YOU’VE WORKED? Christine has been in the trades for 2 years now. She is currently laid off since Dec....
by franz | Apr 26, 2019 | Uncategorized
The 20 Biggest Losers of Michigan Battle of the BuildingsENERGY SUMMIT – APRIL 25JW Marriot, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1st Place Education Category Monroe County Community College15% Energy Reduction 2nd Place Education Category Joan & Sanford Weill Hall ,University of Michigan11% Energy Reduction 1st Place Entertainment Category SMGVan Andel Arena12% Energy Reduction 2nd Place Entertainment Category Celebration Cinema,Studio C Meridian Mall8% Energy Reduction 1st Place Financial Institution Category Fifth Third BankBelleville Banking Center19% Energy Reduction 2nd Place Financial Institution Category Fifth Third BankNapier Banking Center14% Energy Reduction 1st Place Health/Hospital Category Spectrum Health330 Barclay Building9% Energy Reduction 2nd Place Health/Hospital Category Beaumont HospitalRoyal Oak6% Energy Reduction 1st Place Manufacturing/Industrial Category Autodie, LLC 9% Energy Reduction 1st Place Office Category IBEWLocal 58 Zero Net Energy Center 21% Energy Reduction 2nd Place Office Category State of Michigan DTMBSouth Grand Office Building 18% Energy Reduction 1st Place Other Category Sunset Manor and Villages 25% Energy Reduction 2nd Place Other Category University of MichiganMedical Science Unit II 8% Energy Reduction 1st Place Production Normalization Pilot FCA US LLCTrenton Engine Complex 59% Energy Reduction 1st Place Retail Category Sears 1460 9% Energy Reduction 2nd Place Retail Category Meijer Hampton Twp, MI 3% Energy Reduction 1st PlaceWarehouse/ Distribution Category General Motors CCA Flint IE Lab 23% Energy...
by franz | Apr 13, 2019 | Uncategorized
It was a great day at the Detroit Electrical Industry Training Center with over 100 area high school students, educators, counselors and parents having an amazing day exploring the Electrical Industry! #YourFutureIsElectric Lamphere High School Clarkston High School Melvindale High School Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative StudiesL’Anse Creuse Public...
by franz | Mar 21, 2019 | Interviews, Uncategorized
Victor Del Toro – Detroit EITC Apprentice 1.How did you get started in the Trade? One day I was working at a neighbor’s helping him build a deck. I noticed his work service truck and mentioned to him that my grandfather was an electrician. From here the conversation just grew. My neighbor is with the IBEW Local 58. He started telling me all about his job, the schooling he went through, the whole process of getting into the Trade, the benefits it offered, all the details, so I decided to apply to the apprenticeship program. 2.Tell me what you did before joining the Trade and/or assuming your current role in the Organization? School/other jobs? In High School I ran track and field and received a scholarship to a school in Louisiana. Then Katrina happened and wiped out the area. It derailed my plans. With the help of school placement due to the hurricane I went to Indiana University. Here I took general education classes and wanted to work toward a business degree. I spent two years at IU. With student loans and what it would take to stay at IU I decided to enroll in a local community college in north west Indiana. I worked odd jobs while going to school, not even really knowing if I wanted to still pursue a business degree. I met some friends who were headed to Chicago so I decided to go with them. Big mistake. It was a mess, a real struggle. I decided to move back home to Michigan with my parents and attend Macomb Community College focusing on marketing this...
by franz | Mar 6, 2019 | Interviews, Uncategorized
IBEW Local 58 Registrar HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE TRADE? Jeannette first applied in 1999 after her dad suggested she go into the trades. She did not pass the math requirements on the test, even though she was an honors student in high school where she went to a college prep high school. In January 2001, she applied again, in February she took her test, in April she had her interview. During this waiting period she was really getting burned out working in retail and quit her retail job the first week in June, and on June 26th she got the call from IBEW!! She made it into the program! 2. WAS THERE SOMEONE WHO INFLUENCED YOU IN THE TRADE? Jeannette’s mom and dad were both influential. Her dad was a carpenter by trade, and her mom worked for Mobile Oil for the corporate owned stations, where she trained franchise Mobile gas stations. Her father told her, “You need to have a skill no one can take away.” These words of wisdom have stuck with her ever since. Her grandfather was also in the union and was a home builder. 3. WHAT SHE DID BEFORE THE TRADE, SCHOOL? Jeannette was a retail manager while attending Wayne State University for one year. She wanted to be a geologist, but she knew school was just not working out so she decided to join the Navy in 1995 and did go through boot camp but did not make it. She met a Marine, got married in 1997 and moved out of state, was divorced and returned to Michigan. Jeannette’s life experiences working,...
by franz | Mar 6, 2019 | Interviews, Uncategorized
IBEW Local 58 – Business Agent HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE TRADE? My brother-in-law, who is a union mason said he would help me do some things around the house. Together we redid my driveway and carpentry work on the garage. I always helped him with projects around the house and learned. I love working with my hands. One day my brother-in-law brought over a booklet about the trades and the union. He wanted me to go into masonry. I looked at all the trades and programs, all the qualifications, including which ones got paid the most and said I know I can do this and became an electrician. 2. WHAT SHE DID BEFORE THE TRADE, SCHOOL? I was a youth counselor and went to college to get my Business Administration Degree. At age 28, I decided I needed a change from being a youth counselor and the opportunity presented itself when my brother-in-law gave me the information booklet on the Trades and how to sign up and I just “took a chance.”3. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PLACES YOU’VE WORKED? I will never forget my very first job was on a January 5th in the middle of winter. Freezing cold out. I was assigned to the MGM Grand temporary Casino and was going to class at this same time with the IBEW. I worked with one contractor for a year at the casino and then moved on to an auto plant, then a steel mill doing big heavy industrial jobs. I’ve also worked at airports, oil refineries, schools, department stores doing a variety of jobs and many...
