Bob LaLumiere To Be Recognized For Distinguished Service
The NECA Association Executive Distinguished Service Award was established to recognize that NECA staff executive or chapter manager who, in the opinion of NECA’s Executive Committee, has made the greatest contribution to the National Electrical Contractor Association’s advancement. The 2009 award goes to Robert G. LaLumiere, who has been busy with NECA chapter management since 1986, serving our American Line Builders Chapter for the past 19+ years. The award will be presented to him during NECA’s national convention at NECA 2009 Seattle in September
The chapter represents NECA-member utility/line construction contractors in eight states working with 15 different IBEW local unions. Mr. LaLumiere is involved in negotiating about 40 different labor agreements every year. He also carries out management-trustee responsibilities with respect to a number of union funds and is particularly noted for his role in helping restructure one insolvent health & welfare fund so that it now has assets in excess of $30 million.
He was also instrumental in establishing several innovative programs for chapter members. These include substance abuse screening and education for their employees, a reimbursement program to help electrical contractors pursue management eduation at all levels, and a financial assistance program enabling electrical contractors to hire college students as summer interns. In addition, he led the American Line Builders Chapter to invest in ELECTRI International – The Foundation for Electrical Construction, Inc., and to gain representation on NECA’s Politcal Action Committee via involvement in legislative affairs and support for ECPAC.
One of his most valuable services to the industry commenced in 2007 when Mr. LaLumiere spearheaded a project involving the chapter staff, the IBEW, ALBAT (the American Line Builders’ apprenticeship and training arm) and outside consultants. The point was to develop recommendations to assure that the most qualified candidates are recruited into the training program designed to produce highly skilled workers. The countless hours Bob LaLumiere spent in this pursuit are beginning to pay off.
