The site navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. Left and right arrows move across top level links and expand / close menus in sub levels. Up and Down arrows will open main level menus and toggle through sub tier links. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items.

News

NECA Celebrates Many Prolific Firsts at NECA 2024 San Diego Convention & Trade Show


Oct 10, 2024

A plethora of ‘firsts’ helped to make NECA 2024 San Diego one of the most impactful events that the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) has ever hosted! From September 28 to October 1, 2024, more than 350 exhibitors and over 10,000 participants attended, marking a milestone event. Key highlights included educational sessions, networking opportunities, and keynote speeches from Navy SEAL Commander Rorke Denver, Olympic Gold Medalist Katie Ledecky and Pro-Golfer Rocco Mediate. NECA's Adopt-A-School program also made a significant impact, and about 800 apprentices participated in Apprentice Appreciation Day.

"We couldn’t be prouder of the overwhelming success of NECA San Diego 2024,” said Pete Mastrorocco, NECA's Senior Vice President of Education, Events and Partnerships. “From the impressive turnout of attendees to the engagement of our exhibitors and speakers, this year’s event exceeded all expectations. It’s a true testament to the strength of our industry and the collective dedication to advancing electrical construction. The knowledge shared, connections made, and innovations showcased will leave a lasting impact, and I’m excited to see how these experiences shape the future of our members and the industry as a whole."

For the first time ever, the NECA Trade Show expanded across two floors between the main exhibition hall and the upstairs Sails Pavilion. The Emerging Innovation Hub was brand-new this year, it housed an EV Resource Network powered by Fuser, the NECA services booths, and the Innovation Zone where the Innovation Overload podcast was hosted live. Another first of its kind was the Product Demonstration Area, an interactive zone where companies could showcase their latest innovations and garner business opportunities. The Product Demonstration Area also included a live presentation theater with demonstrations from companies on their emerging technologies. This live presentation theater held NECA’s first ever social influencer/content creator panel discussion.

Also in the Sails Pavilion was the NEC Escape Room Challenge, which was another NECA first in 2024. This interactive experience was designed to test the knowledge and skills of apprentice attendees on the National Electrical Code (NEC) in a fun and engaging way.  In addition to the more than 65 education sessions and over 100,000 sqft of industry exhibition, these NECA ‘firsts’ elevated the already premier experience that one experiences by attending a NECA Convention and Trade Show.

The event culminated with a concert by Kool & The Gang on the USS Midway where attendees could explore the pilot house to the engine room and the aircraft deck.

"I want to sincerely thank our attendees, exhibitors, speakers, and sponsors," said Mastrorocco. "Their involvement and contributions didn’t just make this event possible—they made it exceptional. It's their passion and commitment that drive this industry forward, and I’m deeply appreciative of their ongoing support."

NECA is excited to host its next annual convention and trade show in Chicago from September 12th - September 15th, 2025.