For this last episode of 2025, we are talking highlights, lessons learned, what we are most proud of this year, and what’s ahead.

What happens when apprenticeship programs partner with the communities they serve? In this episode, we chat with Tim Garcia, Training Director at the St. Paul Electrical JATC, about how working with two local organizations is transforming outreach, recruitment, and retention and creating real impact across the city. Tim also shares how they’re using Interim Credentials to strengthen their approach and support apprentice success from day one.

When the power goes out, lineworkers suit up - facing storms, accidents, and extreme conditions to keep our communities connected. But their work goes far beyond emergencies. From installing and maintaining the infrastructure that powers our homes and businesses to learning the latest technologies shaping the future grid, lineworkers are essential. In this episode, we’re joined by Danny Haddad, a dedicated Training Director preparing current and future lineworkers for the demands of this critical and rewarding career.

Becoming an electrical apprentice is just the start of a career filled with endless possibilities. And for some, that journey leads to shaping the future of the trade itself. That’s exactly what our guest, Summer Zachary, an instructor at the Electrical Training Institute in Commerce, California, chose to do. In this episode, Summer talks about her path, her passion for the trade, and what it means to train the next generation of electrical workers.

We are talking budgets with Mark Cerulla, former etA Director of Operations and Comptroller, now with the IBEW International Office. A good budget helps set goals, control spending, prioritize investments, and align resources with long-term success. For JATCs and AJATCs, budgeting isn’t just helpful—it’s critical.

We love any chance to get to know our community better—and this episode is one of those special opportunities! Join us as we sit down with Kennitha Wade, an instructor at the NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center in Portland, Oregon, for a fun and insightful conversation about her journey, her work, and what inspires her in training new apprentices and guiding them along their career path.

We are chatting with Brennan Banks, Khadeejah Soper, and Venessa Ingalis about WIRE – Women’s Initiative for Readiness in Electrical – a program committed to creating pathways for women to have successful careers in the electrical construction industry.You don’t want to miss this conversation!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we are committed to enhancing the mental health and well-being of those in our industry. In this episode, we chat with Matt Louanglath and Rick Warner about Couragements– a low-barrier, two-way communication channel delivering encouragement and offering means of feedback through digital communication.

It’s always good to get to know more about each other, which makes opportunities like this fantastic! In this episode, we get to chat with Taylor McCaskill, the Assistant Training Director at the Chattanooga Electrical JATC.

In this must-listen episode, we sit down with our amazing legal team—Jim Cole, Lucas Aubrey, and Rob Duston—to discuss issues affecting apprenticeships right now. We recorded this conversation on March 12, 2025, so keep in mind that some of these topics may have changed since then. Tune in for valuable insights and updates straight from the experts!