Amazing how fast the 2010 NECA convention is approaching. It’s hard to believe it will be here in just a couple months. What always impresses me about the NECA convention is the amount of valuable information for our members and the industry, on top of some of the best social events and networking opportunities in the industry.

Being born and raised in the New England area, I maintain a continuous following of the Boston Red Sox and wouldn’t you know it, this convention has been coordinated to allow attendees to experience a contest between old rivals – the NY Yankees and Red Sox ! The opening reception at Jillian’s should be a great time for all with plenty of entertainment, food and drink, and yes, cheering on the Sox next door with a great view of all the action at Fenway Park.

Being so active in electrical safety and training related to codes and standards, I was totally impressed in the line-up of offerings put together for this NECA convention. It seems NECA just builds on this year after year.

What is really exciting is the expansion of programs being offered that address the outside line industry. I’m really looking forward to the programs on the ETD Partnership Best Practices, EEI’s Electrical Contractor Safety Initiative Program and NJATC’s Outside Line Construction Training Program. Wow! NECA is even providing an OSHA 10 course for the outside line workers. So not only will these attendees get to take in the excellent trade show exhibitors, they can gain training credits needed by completion of this training program.

The 2011 National Electrical Code® is scheduled to be published in September of this year. NECA has left no stone unturned as far as bringing the latest and greatest information that provides exceptional educational value for attendees. I’m so excited to be teaming with Jim Dollard to provide a 4-hour session that highlights the significant changes that have been accepted in the 2011 NEC.

The general sessions are outstanding this year and promise to provide all the inspiration one could manage. The undersea exploration presentation by Dr. Ballard and the sharing of Michael Durant’s experiences will intrigue us all. Based on past experiences, the labor relations session once again, promises to take on difficult issues and provide valuable insight into ways to meet the challenges we face in daily operations.

I mentioned the social events, keynote speakers, training events, and networking opportunities, but I was also really blown away at entertainment provided at this NECA convention closing celebration. A tribute to the Beatles music couldn’t be more appropriate or popular, in my opinion, but then again, I love Beatles music! The Fab Four: A Tribute to the Beatles will be performing at the NECA and will certainly provide all the musical entertainment that the all can relate to.

Without question, NECA has pulled out all the stops as far as assembling the functions for this year’s convention and trade show. I’m so excited to be part of it and look forward to seeing you there at the NECA Show!

Blind adventurer Erik Weihenmayer offered today’s keynote speech. He shared some great stories about his quest to climb the world’s seven highest summits – a quest made even more challenging by his lack of sight.

“You can’t retreat and just focus on survival when times are tough,” he told attendees. “I believe there is something inside each of us – a light that feeds on frustration and setbacks. And it’s that light that gives us the power to be stronger and better.”

Weihenmayer likened his own pioneering spirit to the work done by NECA contractors. “You have to embrace new ways of doing more with less and transforming how you do business. The adventure lies in building new strategies.

“There’s a direct correlation between innovation and adversity,” he continued. “You have to square off with adversity to achieve greatness.”

2009 NECA Award Winners

Coggeshall Award: Ben W. Nevers, Sr.

Comstock Award: Dillard R. “Rod” Borden

James H. McGraw Award: Max L. Landon

NECA Association Executive Distinguished Service Award: Robert G. LaLumiere

ELECTRI International Wendt Award: Jack McCormick, McCormick Systems and Giovanni Marcelli, Accubid

Rex Ferry, NECA President, John Negro, NECA Vice President, District 7, and Geary Higgins, NECA Vice President, Labor Relations, opened the session with reports on NECA’s work to improve and promote positive labor relations on the national level. NECA and the IBEW have held two joint NLMCC retreats this year, focusing on where the industry is, and where it needs to go.

“[IBEW International President] Ed Hill gets it,” Ferry said. “Together we’ve been able to create programs like the Code of Excellence and agreements to recapture small work. However, he’s not going to force anything on his members. So we have to work at the local level to make any real impact.”

To discuss those local efforts, chapter managers and contractors from the four NECA regions each described the own LMCC activities.

Jeff Collins and Dan Neal described the community outreach programs the Western Ohio LMCC has sponsored and the how they have united labor and management outside of work in service projects. “You have to include everyone,” Neal remarked. Neal also advised getting professional public relations help on communication projects. He reports that the area has seen a 12 percent increase in market share.

Dan Schaeffer and Doug Martin portrayed the St. Louis LMCC, the Electrical Connection, as the public face of the industry. The organization’s +5 homeowners protection plan led to greater involvement in community building and service projects, at the mayor’s request. “Such projects helped erase negative impressions that people had about union contractors,” Martin said.

Gary Neil and Chase Pendergraft explained the importance of both doing good work and then telling people about the good work you’ve done. Pendergraft played a radio ad that the East Tennessee LMCC produced that named the NECA member contractors who had worked in the community’s Habitat for Humanity program and how they could be trusted to do work for home and building owners, too.

Jeff Zuniga and Don Campbell reported that  Northern California LMCC efforts on meeting very specific local, regional and statewide needs. “We reach out to local school districts with information,” Campbell said. “We are the best and first resource for electrical construction information, and we do whatever it takes to things right for the client.”

Q&A followed the brief presentations, with many NECA members praised the high level of organization and collaboration the profiled LMCCs activities demonstrated.

A download of the special session slides will be available on NECA’s website following NECA 2009 Seattle.

Following his second retirement as Starbucks’ president in 2003, Behar put nearly 50 years of lessons on business leadership he’d learned into a book, It’s Not About the Coffee. He brought those insights into an industry-tailored message for NECA members.

Given the tough economy so many NECA members are currently working in, Behar’s message of putting people first was especially timely.

Behar pointed out that Starbucks made the commitment to its workforce early in the company’s history. “People are the glue that hold an organization together,” he said. “You have to care about every person in your organization, and every person you serve.”

He encouraged NECA members to define their values – the ideals that define their businesses – and then be prepared to pay the prices to remain true to those values.

One of Behar’s key points was “the person who sweeps the floor should pick the broom.” He echoed the same commitments NECA members make to workforce training and learning from other companies’ best practices, but encouraged the audience to not walk away from new ideas, especially new ideas that come from the field.

“Leading with compassion never stops,” Behar said. “As leaders, we must show we care about the people first, not protecting our own backsides. It’s a non-stop responsibility, but it’s worth it.”

What do you think about Behar’s message that real business leaders care about people? How do you show this in your own company?

Edited to Add: Check out PaulsonElectric’s tweet about the session!

Couldn’t make it to Seattle? Check out over 100 products in the virtual New and Featured Product Room online. Ginger Wilson is also tweeting some of the exhibitors that catch her eye on twitter.com/NECAConvention. Subscribe to her tweets today — she gets the first scope on cool prize giveaways at the booths, but you need to be on Twitter first!

This Labor Relations Special Session will demonstrate what can be done through a local LMCC to build your relationship with the IBEW and to create positive marketplace reaction for your chapter and individual businesses.

The Labor Relations Special Session will be Monday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. Make your plans to be there!

But the most touching part of the morning was the video and personal tribute to outgoing NECA President Milner Irvin. Here are just a few of the things that his friends and colleagues said:

“Milner’s most important contributions have been in the area of labor relations. He’s led the association through a period of increasing and improving our communication with the IBEW.” – Bob Bruce

“He’s one of the most important presidents we’ve ever had. I’ve never had a thought that Milner hasn’t already had.” – Jerry Nixon

“He makes you feel important and valued in a room full of people.” – Brad Giles

Incoming President Rex Ferry presented Irvin with a plaque commemorating his service and announced that Irvin had been awarded an Honorary Membership in NECA, one of the highest tributes the association gives its leaders.

Sportscaster Bob Costas wrapped up the session with anecdotes and insights from his 30 years in sports journalism. He had a few thoughts on the Cubs quest for the playoffs: “Waiting for the Cubs to win is like leaving a porch light on for Jimmy Hoffa. It’s a nice gesture, but you feel like it’s probably futile.”

2008 NECA National Award Winners

Larry Cogburn — James H. McGraw Award
Greg Stewart – Coggeshall Award
Jerrold H. Nixon — Comstock Award
Glenn W. Kingsbury — Association Executive Distinguished Service Award
Robert J. Bruce — Wendt Award

The audience at today's general session on labor relations

While some attendees were enjoying Art Smith’s cooking presentation, today’s General Session focused on labor relations and highlighted the need for local control and local opportunities for partnership.

Ed Hill, IBEW International President, spoke about the importance of 8-hour days and responsible use of CW/CE classifications. Both Hilland NECA Vice President for Labor Relations (and newly inducted Academy Fellow) Geary Higgins underscored the value of communication and action at the local level to the future of building market share.

Eric Nixon of Maron Electric Company, Chicago, raises a question from the floor.

Higgins stated that it is critical to the future of the NECA/IBEW working relationship that as NECA leadership pushes for changes and cooperation at the national level, they are able to demonstrate the value of these initiatives at the local level. To the extent that local chapters and members have success stories and data to share, I hope you will keep in touch with Geary and his team. NECA members can also read and subscribe to Geary’s labor relations column Between the Lines here. Feel free to leave a comment (anonymous if you prefer) to this blog post as well.

NJATC Executive Director Mike Callanan also highlighted some of the changes at NJATC to increase local market specialization and to provide responsive flexible skill training programs in addition to increased use of technology for national curricula.

And lastly, the Ps seem to have it: members of the NECA Task Force on Labor Relations, along with Geary and Mike, all spoke on a panel and fielded questions from the audience about what issues are primarily percolating across the country. Two problems (or perhaps opportunities for change) seemed to affect members across the country: portability and pensions. Political Leadership Council leaders pushed for increased participation in future pension planning and policies at the federal level.

Maybe I’m getting punchy from trying to see everything going on here at NECA 2008 Chicago!

Members of the Labor Relations Task Force and guest panelists field questions from members.

While I wasn’t sure how many people would make it dutifully to this morning’s General Session after last night’s spectacular opening party on the Navy Pier—complete with fireworks! I was impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of the full house at Arie Crown Theatre this morning.

NECA President Milner Irvin addresses the opening general session.

NECA President Milner Irvin spoke about the many initiatives he and NECA’s staff have taken on to improve the NECA member experience during his tenure as president, most notably the leadership conference call series and advances in labor relations. Many NECA members will also miss Milner’s “From The President’s Desk” column published monthly in ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. As he so aptly put it, progress has been made and progress will continue to be made under incoming president Rex Ferry’s leadership.

Speaking of progress, the rest of the program included presentations by Jerry Nixon, NECA’s Political Leadership Council Chairman, about the impressive growth of NECA’s political action committee, ECPAC, to nearly $2 million, making ECPAC one of the Top 50 Federal PACs and amplifying the voice of NECA’s Government Affairs program. Jerry, the ever consummate fundraiser, invited interested NECA members to visit with Lake Coulson and the Government Affairs Team at the NECA booth throughout the convention and to consider a gift to ECPAC as an investment in their business’ operations.

And the highlight of today’s general session was of course the truly titillating performance by The Second City, complete with NECA-inspired sketches about competing bids and apprentices.

Second City players share the stage with willing(?) NECA volunteers

They had contractors laughing hysterically with their skit about the project manager dealing with his delinquent boss, who was willing to do anything to win the job, even if it meant dropping three zeros from the overall cost. Second City even offered crowd participation as part of their performance, in which audience participants Chris and Jean added a little bit of their own improv to the show.

The Second City group was established in Chicago in 1959. It was the starting point for some of the most famous comics of our time, including John Belushi, Mike Myers, Bill Murray, and Gilda Radner. The next time I get roped into playing charades, I hope I get a member of Second City on my team!

Second City players make convincing electrical contractors.