Marc Spitzer, Commission to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), will speak at the upcoming 2011 Energy Forum in San Diego, Oct. 22. Spitzer replaces FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, who was unable to attend due to an overseas meeting. He joins Allen Breeze, Senior Vice President for Schneider Electric – Power Business USA, as a keynote speaker for the event.

The NECA Energy Forum is the only event that specifically addresses the numerous opportunities available for electrical contractors and their customers in renewable power technology and integrated, energy-efficient building systems.

“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. “We’re very excited that Commissioner Spitzer will be able share his perspective in these areas with Energy Forum participants.”

Commissioner Spitzer will focus on how FERC is working to ensure America’s ratepayers have safe, economic, and reliable supplies of electricity and natural gas; and transparent, robust and competitive wholesale energy markets.

Spitzer was nominated as a FERC Commissioner by President George W. Bush.  Prior to joining FERC, Spitzer was elected to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) in 2000 and in 2002 was elected Chairman by his colleagues. He received recognition for his leadership of the Arizona Commission from 2003-2005. At ACC, Spitzer worked on policies encouraging expansion of natural gas infrastructure, specifically distribution and storage; creating a demand side management policy; enhancing the ACC’s renewable energy standard; and advancing consumer privacy concerns in telecommunications.

At the FERC, Commissioner Spitzer is building on his record in Arizona on environmental issues. Demand response, energy efficiency, and access to the grid by alternative resources were major focuses of Spitzer in retail rate cases and policy decisions before the Arizona Commission.

In 1992, Spitzer was elected to the Arizona State Senate for District 18. There, he served in the Legislature as Chair of the Judiciary and Finance Committees and was elected by his peers to the position of Senate Majority Leader in 1996.

An attorney since 1982, Spitzer represented taxpayers in proceedings involving the Internal Revenue Service. After graduation from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he attended the University of Michigan, School of Law.

Online registration is still open for the NECA 2011 Energy Forum; learn more and register here.

The NECA Women’s Peer Group will be holding a roundtable discussion at NECA 2011 San Diego on Monday, Oct. 24, 3-4:30 p.m. with special guests panelists Kristen McDonough, Director, Legislative Affairs, NECA; Rebecca Clark, Government Contracts Specialist, U.S. Dept. of Labor; and Alexandra Harrison, Executive Vice President – Marketing and Strategic Accounts, Ontility. (We’ve also invited Kathy Mazzarella, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Graybar who inspired so many women at the 2010 NWPG Roundtable to join us for this year’s program.)

The NWPG Roundtable will be a wide-ranging discussion, covering the how NECA women can get involved in legislative action, Davis-Bacon enforcement, and strategies for moving into executive management. NWPG’s Roundtable strives to cover both issues affecting our businesses and the challenges NECA women face in the industry. Each panelist will share her unique expertise and insight, and women attending NECA 2011 San Diego are encouraged to offer their perspectives as well.

NWPG’s Roundtable is an opportunity to meet your fellow women working in the industry and discuss the issues and challenges we all face. If you’re a woman involved with the electrical contracting industry, the NWPG Roundtable wants you to join us for this once-a-year event! Following the NWPG Roundtable, participants are invited to join the Future Leader’s Reception already in progress.

The NECA Women’s Peer Group (NWPG) was established in 2009 and is currently led by the Women’s Peer Group Task Force.  Participation in the peer group is open to all women affiliated with NECA member companies, NECA Chapters and National office, and LMCCs.

The mission of NECA Women’s Peer Group (NWPG) is to offer a forum for women working in all aspects of the electrical contracting industry to discuss the issues they face and facilitate mentoring relationships between emerging and established industry leaders.  The NWPG also works to recruit new talent and demonstrate opportunities available to women in electrical contracting.  NWPG members come together to discuss the issues they face as professional women working in a traditionally male-led industry and association.

Please join the NECA Women’s Peer Group on Facebook or LinkedIn, or stop by the NECA booth #941 on the Show floor and let us know how we can help you be your best in our industry! And make your plans to join us for the 2011 NWPG Roundtable, Monday, Oct. 24 at 3 p.m. at the San Diego Convention Center. Room assignment will be noted in the on-site program.

Early registration for NECA 2011 San Diego has been extended by one week, to Monday, Sept. 5, but that doesn’t mean you’ve got time to spare!

Register now to make sure you’ve got a place with your fellow industry leaders to share best practices, new market intelligence and scope out new tools and technology, all in one location, all for the year’s most affordable event!

Spaces are nearly filled, and San Diego hotel blocks will close soon. You need to be with NECA in San Diego, Oct. 22-25! So don’t delay – register now!

NECA 2011 San Diego’s Labor Relations session is all about pension plan burden and liability.

Join us for an in depth presentation on the future of the Pension Protection Act (set to expire in 2014); actuarial considerations in the light of the recent Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) efforts to impose more stringent reporting requirements on contractors; and an update from president-elect Dennis Quebe, chairman of NECA’s Labor Relations Task Force, on what NECA is doing to educate and prepare member contractors about the current and future state of local pension funds and potential options and actions that can be taken to remain competitive.

The Labor Relations Special General Session at NECA 2011 San Diego will be presented Monday, October 24, 10:00-11:30 a.m. at the San Diego Convention and Exposition Center. It’s open to everyone who is registered for the full Convention.  Early registration ends Monday, September 5!

There’s never been anything like the Energy Forum for the electrical construction industry that kicks off NECA’s 2011 Convention and Trade Show in San Diego. Making sense of the range of opportunities in green energy will be the focus of this all-new event which will be held on Saturday, October 22, 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Speakers and session leaders will discuss the many ways electrical contractors can enter this market and what questions they need to ask.

In addition to hearing an exciting keynote address from Jon Wellinghoff, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Energy Forum participants will hear from industry experts on energy economic modeling, the electric vehicle market, and innovative energy storage technology. An informational brochure is provided through the link to “Related Documents” at the end of this article.

Here are four good reasons to attend:

1. To Understand What the Opportunities Are

According to ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine, alternative power and energy efficiency upgrades are the next boom market for contractors. We don’t want to lose what could be the largest game-changing trend to hit our industry in the past two decades. Right now, there is tremendous momentum and incentives for sustainable construction. With those new energy markets come services like installing and maintaining electric vehicle supply equipment, designing “net-zero energy” buildings with integrated systems, and energy storage.

Energy work is “counter-cyclical” — meaning, that in tough economic times, your customers want and need to save money on operating costs. Energy work is a revenue opportunity independent of the construction market. For building owners and operators, the savings and tax credits energy solutions deliver are very desirable. When an electrical contractor can help them save money, it doesn’t matter how healthy the rest of the construction market may be.

Whether it’s utility-grade wind power, solar PV installations or helping a customer save on his electric bill by swapping out old ballasts for energy-efficient LED drivers, NECA’s 2011 Energy Forum will cover all the options and opportunities in the new energy economy.

2. To Hear from Colleagues about the Different Ways They’ve Reached Out For Business in These New Markets

The good news is that many electrical contractors already have the technical knowledge to engage with these markets — but most don’t know how to integrate energy services into their existing businesses or market their capabilities to existing and potential customers.

There isn’t one right way to incorporate energy efficiency, conservation and renewable power into an electrical contracting company. Moderators and presenters at the Energy Forum all come from the front lines of the industry to help contractors answer when and how they can add new energy services to their traditional business models.

3. Because NECA’s 2011 Energy Forum Is the Most Comprehensive Energy Education Forum Available, at the Lowest Cost in the Least Amount of Time

These days, everyone is doing more with less. If you want to minimize the time and money you spend away from the office, while maximizing your education and experiences in San Diego, the Energy Forum will give you the biggest potential gain for your business.

4. Because NECA’s 2011 Energy Forum Was Created Specifically for NECA Contractors by NECA Contractors

The Energy Forum was proposed by NECA’s Energy Solution Task Force members who are electrical contractors just like you. And like you, we are each trying to determine what our place in the emerging energy solutions market can and should be.

The Energy Forum was developed to help contractors answer some of those questions. We understand that there isn’t a single path of entry for all NECA member companies to pursue this work. But we also know that if we don’t begin immediately offering our expertise and services, customers will go elsewhere to get their renewable and energy-efficiency needs met.

The Energy 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?

“Electrical contractors are the vital link between energy-efficient technology and cost-efficient construction,” said Stan Lazarian, President, Electric Service & Supply Co., Pasadena, California, 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.

DOWNLOAD THE 2011 ENERGY FORUM BROCHURE TO LEARN MORE! >>

The contractors in the San Diego County Chapter, NECA and their workers in IBEW Local Union 569 have adopted an impressive and community-friendly way to promote their skills in installing and maintaining electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE): They simply invite all their neighbors who drive electric vehicles to come over and charge their rides — any time, at no cost whatsoever — with their brand-new solar-powered electric vehicle power station.

The charger is located at the San Diego Electrical Training Center, which is jointly supported by the NECA chapter and the IBEW local. The 32,000 sq. ft. facility in Clairemont Mesa is powered by a rooftop solar array built and maintained by union electricians and trainees. The charging station ties into the building’s electrical supply, so both are running on solar power. Read more about the NECA San Diego Chapter and Local 569′s EVSE on NECA’s website >>

These days, everyone is doing more with less. We know it, our NECA contractors know it, and everyone who has to ever travel for business knows it.

Which is why NECA 2011 San Diego is featuring our first-ever weekend and a la carte registrations. Weekend and a la carte registrations are exclusively available to NECA members. If you want to minimize the time and money you spend away from the office, while maximizing your education and experiences in San Diego, these are the best choices for you.

WEEKEND PACKAGE #1 – $549

Includes registration for the NECA 2011 Energy Forum (Saturday, Oct. 22, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., including final judging for the Green Energy Design Challenge); the Opening Reception (Saturday, Oct. 22, 7-9 p.m., aboard the USS Midway); your choice of any Management Seminars on Sunday, Oct. 23; the Opening General Session, Sunday, Oct. 23, 10:15-11:30 a.m. with retired Gen. Stanley McCrystal; Grand Opening of the 2011 NECA Show, plus lunch and Technical Workshops on the Show floor (Sunday, Oct. 23, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.); and admission to the NECA Showstopper Showcase (Sunday, Oct. 23, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.)

WEEKEND PACKAGE #2 – $449

Includes everything from Weekend Package #1 (Energy Forum and Green Energy Challenge, plus all Sunday Convention and Trade Show events), with the exception of admission to the Saturday, Oct. 22 Opening Reception aboard the USS Midway.

Items on the A La Carte registration menu are single-sessions only, without any of the Full Registration events (General Sessions, Opening Reception and Closing Celebrations). You can sign up for multiple a la carte items – just make sure your sessions don’t overlap!

Pre-Convention Workshops, Friday, Oct. 21-Saturday, Oct. 22: One of NECA’s more popular educational offerings at the annual convention, Pre-Convention Workshops are multi-hour, hands-on programs developed for electrical professionals who want in-depth training. Prices vary by session; a full listing of course descriptions and prices is available here.

NECA 2011 Energy Forum, Saturday, Oct. 22: Our first-event program created for electrical contractors working in or want to explore the energy solutions market

• NECA Member  – $249
• NECA Member with Full Convention Registration (additional program) – $129
• Non-member – $599

Opening Reception, Saturday, Oct. 22: Just want to join your colleagues for a grand adventure and evening out aboard the USS Midway? Be our guest! – $200

Management Seminars Only, Sunday, Oct. 23, Monday, Oct. 24, and Tuesday, Oct. 25: No need to register for individual seminars, just register for the day you wish to attend seminars – $525

JUST ANNOUNCED! Safety Track Session Pass, Sunday, Oct. 23, Monday, Oct. 24, and Tuesday, Oct. 25: Includes all “Safety Track” management seminars and technical workshops, plus the Safety Roundtable. Perfect for professionals who want to build on what they learned at NECA’s first Safety Professionals Conference – $500

Trade Show Admission: Includes Technical Workshops and NECA Showstopper Showcase – $85 for three days

Daily Lunch on the Trade Show Floor – $28 per day

>> REGISTER NOW!

Few leaders can claim to have overcome obstacles as large as those faced by retired four-star General Stanley A. McChrystal. McChrystal has been praised for creating a revolution in warfare that fused intelligence and operations, retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal is the former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan and Director of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) that captured Saddam Hussein and killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq. With McChrystal at the podium, NECA’s 2011 Opening General Session, Sunday, Oct. 23, 10:15 a.m., promises to be an insightful and frank discussion on what it makes to be an honorable leader in difficult times.

Earlier, during the Persian Gulf War, he served in a Joint Special Operations Task Force and later commanded the 75th Ranger Regiment. In between, he completed year-long fellowships at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Council on Foreign Relations.

McChrystal, a West Point graduate and former Green Beret, retired from the military in August 2010 after 34 years of service. He now serves on the board of directors for JetBlue Airways and the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a new advisory board to support military families. He also inspires with stories from his extraordinary career. At NECA’s opening general session, McChystal will explain his four-star management strategy – stressing openness, teamwork, and forward-thinking.

>> Learn about all the General Sessions at NECA 2011 San Diego

When he’s not busy with his duties as NECA District 9 Vice President  and Chairman of NECA’s Energy Solutions Task Force, Stan Lazarian is running his company, Electric Service & Supply Co., in Pasadena, CA.  ESSCO was founded in 1949 by Stan’s father, Steve Lazarian, who had served as an electricians mate in the Navy during WWII. Throughout its history, ESSCO has performed a variety of construction projects including commercial, industrial and design build. A large percentage of ESSCO’s work has been public works contracting and public buildings.

But Lazarian is also looking towards the future of electrical contracting – and he sees energy efficiency and alternative energy moving from the industry’s fringes to its center.

“We don’t want to lose what could be the largest game-changing trend to hit our industry in the past two decades. Right now, there is tremendous momentum and incentives for sustainable construction,” he said.

Lazarian and members of the Energy Solutions Task Force proposed  a one-day event to introduce NECA contractors to the opportunities available in this growing market. The result is the NECA 2011 Energy Forum.

“As electrical contractors, we are each trying to determine what our place in the emerging alternative energy solutions market can and should be,” Lazarian said. “The Energy Forum can help NECA contractors answer some of those questions. We know there isn’t a single path of entry for all NECA members to pursue this work. But we also know that if we don’t begin immediately offering our expertise and services, our existing and potential customers will go elsewhere to get their renewable and energy-efficiency needs met.”

>> Learn more about the NECA 2011 Energy Forum and register now!

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.