Why the electrical industry is entering a decades-long boom.

Ryan sits down with Pennsylvania Transformer Technology’s Bart Gaskey and Todd Davis inside one of North America’s largest transformer manufacturing facilities to explore the growing demand for power infrastructure and why the future of the electrical industry has never looked stronger.

Bart is a strategic manufacturing leader with decades of experience across transformer manufacturing, grid infrastructure, and large-scale energy projects. Todd is a longtime manufacturing leader who has worked across multiple transformer manufacturers and now helps lead operations at Pennsylvania Transformer Technology.

Together, they break down the myths surrounding American transformer manufacturing, explain why massive investments are flowing back into domestic production, and reveal how AI, data centers, electrification, renewable energy, and grid expansion are creating one of the biggest opportunities the electrical industry has seen in decades.

The conversation explores why transformers are far more complex than most people realize, what it takes to build equipment that powers millions of homes and businesses, how Pennsylvania Transformer Technology is preparing for the future with major facility expansions, and why hundreds of new careers are opening for the next generation of skilled tradespeople.

Whether you’re an apprentice, journeyman, engineer, contractor, manufacturer, student, or simply curious about the future of North America’s electrical grid, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most important industries most people never get to see.

Topics covered:

• Why the electrical industry is entering a decades-long boom

• The truth about manufacturing transformers in America

• Why AI, data centers, and electrification are driving unprecedented demand

• How large power transformers are designed and built

• Why every transformer is custom engineered

• The nearly 100-year history of Pennsylvania Transformer Technology

• What it takes to manufacture 765 kV transformers

• The logistics of transporting equipment weighing hundreds of thousands of pounds

• How Quanta is expanding domestic manufacturing capacity

• Why skilled trades offer one of the most secure career paths today

• Hundreds of career opportunities available in transformer manufacturing

• The future of North America’s electrical grid

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📱FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SOCIAL MEDIA📱

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Powerline Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Powerline-Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@PowerlinePodcst⁠⁠⁠⁠

⚡️GUESTS: BART GASKEY, TODD DAVIS & PENNSYLVANIA TRANSFORMER TECHNOLOGY LLC (PTT)⚡️

BART GASKEY

LinkedIn: Bart Gaskey

TODD DAVIS

LinkedIn: Todd Davis

PENNSYLVANIA TRANSFORMER TECHNOLOGY LLC (PTT)

Instagram:@patransformer

TikTok: @pennsylvania.transformer

YouTube: @PATransformer

LinkedIn: Pennsylvania Transformer Technology LLC (PTT)

Facebook: @PATransformer

Website: https://www.patransformer.com/

🎙️HOST: RYAN LUCAS🎙️

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ryan Lucas⁠⁠⁠⁠

💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥

Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

What does it take to become the kind of leader people actually want to follow?

Ryan sits down with Randy Smith and Brian Allen, two leadership development professionals with decades of experience helping organizations build stronger teams, develop future leaders, and create lasting workplace cultures.

From coaching supervisors and designing leadership programs to working alongside field operations and preparing the next generation of leaders, Randy and Brian share the lessons they’ve learned about earning trust, developing people, and leading with intention.

The conversation explores why leadership should begin long before a promotion, how engaged leaders create stronger crews, why mentorship and communication matter more than ever, and how AI can become a valuable tool without replacing the experience, judgment, and relationships that define the trades.

Whether you’re an apprentice, journeyman, foreman, supervisor, contractor, or executive, this episode offers practical insights on developing leadership skills, building stronger teams, and preparing the next generation of the workforce.

🔔 If you work in the pipe, sheet metal, or mechanical trades, be sure to follow The Pipeline Podcast as Randy and Brian launch their new show dedicated to sharing stories from the field, celebrating their people, and developing the next generation of leaders. Going live with Episode 1 in the next few weeks! 🔔

Topics covered:

• Why leadership isn’t defined by a job title
• Developing leadership skills before the promotion
• What engaged leadership looks like in the field
• Building trust and stronger workplace cultures
• Why mentorship and communication still matter
• Preparing the next generation of trade leaders
• How AI can support, not replace, skilled workers
• Embracing technology while keeping people first
• Leadership lessons for every stage of your career
• Why Randy and Brian are launching The Pipeline Podcast

✌️SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE ✌️

📱FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SOCIAL MEDIA📱

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Powerline Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Powerline-Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@PowerlinePodcst⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎙️HOST: RYAN LUCAS🎙️

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ryan Lucas⁠⁠⁠⁠

💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥

Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

What responsibility do we have to the next generation entering the trade?

In this special episode, Ryan shares a live recording from the Perspectives Panel at the 2026 Infrastructure Safety Symposium (ISS), where he moderated a discussion on one of the industry’s most important challenges: generational knowledge transfer.

Featuring two father-son duos from the utility industry, the panel brings together leaders, journeymen, and apprentices to explore how experience, leadership, and safety knowledge can be passed down as skilled workers retire and younger crews step into larger roles earlier in their careers.

Carey Kostyk, President of Valard Construction, joins his son Pat Kostyk, Journeyman Lineman at Valard Construction, alongside Jeff Ziemba, Manager of Contractor Safety at Pepco Holdings Inc., and his son Jeffrey Ziemba, 4th Year Apprentice Lineman at Delmarva Power.

Together, they discuss the realities of entering the trade, the importance of mentorship, why communication and trust matter, and how organizations can help bridge the experience gap while building a safer future for the next generation of lineworkers.

Whether you’re an apprentice, journeyman, supervisor, contractor, or industry leader, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on developing future leaders and ensuring critical lessons aren’t lost as the trade evolves.

Topics covered:

• Generational knowledge transfer
• Bridging the experience gap
• Mentorship and workforce development
• Leadership at every level
• Safety culture and communication
• Creating environments where people can speak up
• The changing role of apprentices and journeymen
• Retaining and transferring institutional knowledge
• Developing the next generation of lineworkers
• Building a safer future for the trade

✌️SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE ✌️

📱FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SOCIAL MEDIA📱

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Powerline Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Powerline-Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@PowerlinePodcst⁠⁠⁠⁠

⚡️GUESTS: CAREY KOSTYK, JEFF ZIEMBA & VALARD CONSTRUCTION⚡️

CAREY KOSTYK

LinkedIn: Carey Kostyk

JEFF ZIEMBA

LinkedIn: Jeff Ziemba

VALARD CONSTRUCTION

Instagram: @valardconstruction

LinkedIn: Valard Construction

🎙️HOST: RYAN LUCAS🎙️

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ryan Lucas⁠⁠⁠⁠

💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥

Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

What does it take to turn a simple idea into something that could change an entire industry?

Ryan sits down with Matt Ferguson, a journeyman lineman, storm worker, and inventor who spent years working in the field before developing a safer approach to one of the most common tasks crews perform every day.

From chasing opportunities to break into the trade, to working long hours on storm restoration, to surviving early setbacks as an apprentice, Matt shares the experiences that shaped both his career and his perspective on safety.

The conversation explores why some of the best innovations come from the people doing the work, how a chain from Home Depot and an old set of pole tongs sparked an idea in his dad’s garage, and why challenging “the way it’s always been done” is critical to moving the industry forward.

Whether you’re an apprentice, journeyman, supervisor, contractor, or someone looking to make a difference in your trade, this episode is a reminder that small ideas can have a big impact.

Topics covered:

• Breaking into the line trade and earning opportunities
• Lessons learned from storm work
• Working through fear and setbacks as an apprentice
• Why experience creates better solutions
• The problem with accepting “the way it’s always been done”
• How Matt developed his pole tong safety innovation
• Innovation, safety, and improving the trade
• Why workers should share their ideas and challenge old assumptions
• Matt’s vision for the future of the industry

✌️SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE ✌️

📱FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SOCIAL MEDIA📱

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Powerline Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Powerline-Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@PowerlinePodcst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⚡️GUEST: MATT FERGUSON⚡️

LinkedIn: Matthew Ferguson

🎙️HOST: RYAN LUCAS🎙️

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ryan Lucas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

What happens before a single power line ever goes up?

Ryan sits down with Jake Brown, Brad Minerick, and Jonathan Pipsair to pull back the curtain on foundation drilling, one of the most important and least understood trades in the utility industry.

Jake is a VP-level drilling operations leader overseeing projects across North America. Brad is a superintendent who has spent years balancing road life, family, and leadership in the field. Jonathan brings more than 40 years of experience in foundation drilling, including marine and amphibious projects throughout the Everglades and Louisiana.

Together, they share what decades in the trade have taught them about road life, family sacrifice, career growth, leadership, and the hidden work that happens long before the lights turn on.

The conversation explores why drilling is more art than science, what most people never see behind reliable power, the realities of spending years on the road, and why the higher you climb the ladder, the more you should understand what you're asking for.

Whether you're an apprentice, journeyman, supervisor, contractor, or simply curious about the people who build the infrastructure around us, this episode offers a rare look into the foundation of line work.

Topics covered:

• The hidden trade behind every power line
• Why drilling is more art than science
• The realities of life on the road
• Family sacrifice and career growth
• The generation gap in the trades
• Leadership, ambition, and climbing the ladder
• Pride in building something tangible
• What decades in the field teach you about success

✌️SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE ✌️

📱FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SOCIAL MEDIA📱

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Powerline Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Powerline-Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@PowerlinePodcst⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎙️HOST: RYAN LUCAS🎙️

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ryan Lucas⁠⁠⁠⁠

💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥

Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

What does it actually take to become a good powerline apprentice in 2026, and why are so many young apprentices feeling behind before they’ve even really started?

Ryan sits down with Shayla Gaffney, a final-year powerline apprentice and content creator, sharing a more honest look at what apprenticeship actually feels like for the next generation entering the trade. From line school and storm work to learning under pressure and finding the right crew, Shayla speaks openly about the reality of becoming good at something that takes years to master.

They dig into why apprentices can’t rush the process, the pressure of constantly feeling behind, the importance of crew culture and mentorship, and how the right foreman can completely change an apprentice’s confidence and future in the trade. Shayla also shares lessons from storm work, learning by watching experienced linemen, and why good apprentices focus less on chasing the title and more on earning trust over time.

Topics covered:

• Why so many apprentices feel behind in today’s trade culture
• The reality of learning under pressure on a crew
• Why becoming good at line work takes years, not months
• The difference the right crew and foreman can make
• Learning by watching experienced linemen work
• Why rushing the process hurts more than it helps
• The mental side of apprenticeship nobody talks about
• Storm work, confidence, embarrassment, and growth
• Crew culture, mentorship, and earning trust over time
• What young apprentices actually need to hear entering the trade

✌️SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE ✌️

📱FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SOCIAL MEDIA📱

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Powerline Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Powerline-Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@PowerlinePodcst⁠⁠⁠⁠

⚡️GUEST: SHAYLA GAFFNEY⚡️

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@shaygaff.co

TikTok: @shaygaff.co

🎙️HOST: RYAN LUCAS🎙️

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ryan Lucas⁠⁠⁠⁠

💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥

Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

Why are so many good foremen burning out?

Ryan sits down with Andrew Morgan, a Texas distribution foreman lineman who came up working backyards, reconductors, and storm work. From climbing poles as an apprentice to leading crews in the field, Andrew speaks from years of experience building and maintaining the power grid.

Together, they dig into the controlled chaos of line work, why today’s foremen are losing the time needed to mentor the next generation, what “bodies in the bucket” really means for the trade, and the leadership burden most people outside the industry never see. Andrew’s reflection on the Quanta Elite call: “I didn’t turn those wrenches. I didn’t sag that wire. I just gave them a path.” reframes leadership in the trades in a way every crew leader will recognize.

Topics covered:

• The foreman's time trap: paperwork, planning, and the mentorship gap
• Why time-based apprenticeships create "bodies in the bucket"
• Complacency, decision-making, and getting the crew home safely
• "Looks good from my house." The phrase every lineman knows, but hates
• The Quanta Elite call and my first thought: "What did I mess up?"
• Why building the next generation matters more than titles

✌️SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE ✌️

📱FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SOCIAL MEDIA📱

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Powerline Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠@Powerline-Podcast⁠⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠⁠@PowerlinePodcst⁠⁠⁠

⚡️GUEST: ANDREW MORGAN⚡️

Instagram: ⁠⁠@andrewmorgan19

🎙️HOST: RYAN LUCAS🎙️

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠Ryan Lucas⁠⁠⁠

💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥

Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]

What does it actually take to make it in the trades?

What is the industry getting wrong about the next generation coming up behind us?

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Josh Nieves, a New York City-raised IBEW Local 3 master electrician and the youngest card-carrying superintendent in the local's 15,000-member history. Josh's father, a Light Heavyweight Golden Glove champion turned signatory contractor, had maintenance contracts inside both World Trade Center towers on 9/11 and survived only because of a doctor's appointment that morning. Years later, at 24 years old, Josh got the call to be sub-foreman on the Freedom Tower while standing on top of the Empire State Building looking directly at the build.

Together, Josh and Ryan dig into what a real union meeting looks like when brotherhood is alive and well, the leadership gap that's quietly eroding organized labor from the inside, why Josh sold his brand new house to buy a 160-acre farm in search of purpose, how he built a coaching practice and workforce development career from a single LinkedIn post, and what every contractor needs to hear about recruiting the next generation.

Topics covered:

• The Freedom Tower call that came in while Josh was standing on the Empire State Building
• What an IBEW Local 3 union meeting felt like at 18: "a scene out of Goodfellas"
• The CBA gut check Josh ran with 80 field leaders, and what it revealed about union leadership today
• Why the skills gap is really a leadership gap and what the difference looks like in practice
• The boxing analogy every aspiring leader in the trades needs to hear
• Why "construction workers don't want another pizza party", and what they actually want
• How to flip the recruiting question from "why should I hire you?" to "why should I come work for you?"
• Mental health in the trades and why the industry can't keep sitting back

✌️SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE ✌️

📱FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SOCIAL MEDIA📱

Instagram:  ⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠

TikTok:  ⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠

LinkedIn:  ⁠⁠⁠Powerline Podcast⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠@Powerline-Podcast⁠⁠

X:  ⁠⁠@PowerlinePodcst⁠⁠

⚡️GUEST: JOSH NIEVES⚡️

LinkedIn: ⁠Josh Nieves⁠

Instagram: ⁠@joshnieves_

🎙️HOST: RYAN LUCAS🎙️

Instagram: ⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Ryan Lucas⁠⁠

💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥

Email: ⁠[email protected]

What does it really mean to be union, and what does it take to make the brotherhood worth fighting for?

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Lori Maclean, a former BC Hydro HR professional and IBEW Local 258 staff member turned business manager candidate, who brings a rare dual perspective from both sides of the table. As a mother of two journeyman linemen, Lori's connection to the trade runs deep, and she doesn't hold back on what it takes to strengthen the union from the inside out.

Together, they dig into what a strong hall really looks like, why brotherhood and community are the IBEW's greatest assets, how mental health support needs to become a bigger priority for the union, and why showing up for your members has to mean more than just showing up at contract time.

Topics covered:

• What a strong union hall actually looks like
• Why the Brotherhood is the IBEW's most important brand asset
• How community and connection have eroded, and how to get it back
• Mental health in the trades and why the union needs to lead the charge
• The unique perspective of raising two journeyman linemen
• Communication in the line trade and why unclear communication costs lives
• What the IBEW does well and where the real opportunity lies

✌️SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE ✌️

📱FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SOCIAL MEDIA📱

Instagram:  ⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠

TikTok:  ⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠

YouTube: ⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠

LinkedIn:  ⁠⁠Powerline Podcast⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠@Powerline-Podcast⁠

X:  ⁠@PowerlinePodcst⁠

HOST: RYAN LUCAS

Instagram: ⁠@ryanwlucas⁠

TikTok: ⁠@ryanwlucas⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠Ryan Lucas⁠

💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥

Email: [email protected]

April 18th is National Lineman Appreciation Day.

This episode is for the ones who got the call at 2 in the morning.

The ones who kissed their sleeping kids on the forehead and drove toward the storm.

This is a solo episode, no guest, just Ryan. Short and intentional.

Because some things don't need to be long. They just need to be true.

Ryan draws on 15 years in the trade, responding to storms across North America and performing barehand work on energized 500kV lines, to talk about what linemen actually do, what they give up, and why the trade gets into your blood and stays there.

He also speaks directly to the linemen listening, the ones who never needed a parade, but deserve to hear it said clearly: thank you.

If you're a lineman, or you love one, share this.

✌️SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE ✌️

📱FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SOCIAL MEDIA📱

Instagram:  ⁠@powerlinepodcast

TikTok:  @powerlinepodcast

YouTube: @powerlinepodcast

LinkedIn:  ⁠Powerline Podcast⁠

Facebook: @Powerline-Podcast

X:  @PowerlinePodcst

HOST: RYAN LUCAS

Instagram: @ryanwlucas

TikTok: @ryanwlucas

LinkedIn: Ryan Lucas

💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥

Email: [email protected]