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 Innovation Institute: Shaping the Future of Electrical Contracting—Applications Now Open for 2025 Cohorts

Oct 14, 2024

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is proud to announce the opening of applications for the 2025 cohorts of the NECA Innovation Institute (NII). As NECA’s premier program dedicated to advancing innovation within the electrical contracting industry, the NII continues to lead the charge in transforming the future of electrical contracting through cutting-edge technology, forward-thinking strategies, and leadership development.

NII has already completed four yearlong programs (Edison, Clarke, Westinghouse and Bell cohorts) where strategic problem-solving experts have coached future executives and emerging leaders in the industry. The Da Vinci and Franklin cohorts are currently in progress, making for a total of 60 industry leaders to have either completed or are in the process of completing the NII program.

A Legacy of Success

Since its inception, the NECA Innovation Institute has been instrumental in empowering NECA contractors and industry leaders to harness the power of innovation. By focusing on key areas such as digital transformation, project management advancements, workforce development, and emerging technologies, the NII has become a platform for fostering both the technical and business acumen required for the industry’s future.

The NII takes pride in the accomplishments of its past cohorts, whose members have gone on to implement game-changing practices in their organizations. Whether it’s through adopting state-of-the-art tools that boost productivity, enhancing safety measures, or creating innovative business models that meet the demands of an evolving market, NII graduates have consistently demonstrated the power of strategic innovation.

Frank Stewart, founder and CEO of Stewart Electrical Contracting in Lawrence, Massachusetts, nominated his Operations Manager Colby Bruce for the NII program Bell cohort and has seen it pay dividends for his company. “Just being with a peer group, especially much larger companies than we are and just the knowledge he’s been able to gain and get insight from other contactors and how they do business as opposed to how we do business,” said Stewart. “I think he’s learned a lot in terms of just picking up little tricks and trying to implement that in his day-to-day operations.”

Also a Bell cohort graduate, Max Gallaway, Vice President of Max Electric Inc. in Grandview, Missouri said, “Almost all of us coming into it weren’t sure what we were getting into, and some even were skeptical and within a month, couldn’t believe the amount that we were intaking.” Gallaway continued to exclaim, “The knowledge that you get from the books, even if you’re doing some of that stuff already but being able to recognize what you’re doing, right from wrong and how you can change your own behavior and the ones around you. Also focusing on one specific portion of your industry and your company and going after that aggressively until you have the solution with the support network of people from all over the country is really special. It’s almost like a masters business class just for the electrical business! I couldn’t not recommend it enough.”

Participants in the NECA Innovation Institute gain access to a highly specialized curriculum, industry-leading resources, and mentorship opportunities that help them stay at the forefront of the electrical contracting industry. The program offers participants hands-on experience and insight into areas such as:

  • Technological Integration: Learn how to leverage cutting-edge technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM), artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced project management software.
  • Leadership Development: Refine leadership skills to manage the integration of new technology and systems while fostering a culture of innovation within teams.
  • Strategic Visioning: Develop long-term strategies to meet the demands of the electrical industry’s rapidly changing landscape and how to implement those within your specific company.
  • Collaborative Learning: Work alongside industry experts, peers and mentors to dissect complex problems and explore new ideas.

Applications for the 2025 Cohorts Now Open

Applications for the NECA Innovation Institute’s 2025 cohorts, launching in April and August, are now being accepted. NECA members who are ready to take their business to the next level and embrace innovation are encouraged to apply. With the goal of building candidates into forward-thinking pioneers, each Institute candidate is nominated by an Executive Sponsor of their company.

Interested applicants can learn more about the program, review eligibility criteria, and submit their applications by visiting the official NII website here.