Spark The Trade

I grew up in a very small Appalachian town where nobody talked about investing. Now I'm a new dad and a union electrician, and I'm sharing how I started investing for my daughter's future. If you work in the trades, you know you're beating up your body. We have to take care of ourselves and our families, in retirement and for the next generation.I opened a UTMA (Uniform Transfers to Minors account) through Fidelity in about 10 minutes. I'm putting in $50–$100 a week, mostly into the VTI ETF. In this video I also explain how a UTMA differs from a 529, what ETFs, stocks and mutual funds are, and why I believe boring is beautiful for long-term investing. Plenty of tradespeople earning $100K–$200K+ still live paycheck to paycheck. Even $5 a week adds up with compound interest.I'm not a financial advisor. This is for entertainment and education only, so always do your own research.#BlueCollar #SkilledTrades #InvestingForKids #UTMA #ETF

Want to join the IBEW but don’t know where to start?

In this video, I break down the IBEW apprenticeship process from start to finish — finding your local, applying, submitting transcripts, taking the aptitude test, interviewing, getting ranked, and ultimately getting the call to go to work.

I started non-union, entered the IBEW as a CW, completed the apprenticeship, became a journeyman, and eventually worked my way into foreman and superintendent roles. This is the process explained from someone who’s actually been through it.

Every IBEW local operates a little differently, so always verify the specific requirements with the local in your area.

If you’re considering a career as a union electrician, start here.

#IBEW #Electrician #IBEWApprenticeship #SkilledTrades #UnionElectrician

The electrical industry is changing faster than ever—and AI is becoming part of that future.In this episode of Spark The Trade, Noah sits down with David Long, CEO of NECA, to discuss how artificial intelligence, digital training, and emerging technologies are reshaping electrical construction, apprenticeship programs, and the future of the skilled trades.

From AI-powered troubleshooting to the next generation of workforce development, this conversation explores what contractors, electricians, apprentices, and industry leaders should be paying attention to as technology continues to evolve.

In this episode:

How AI is changing the electrical industry

Why technology is creating new opportunities for skilled trades

The future of apprenticeship and workforce training

How NECA is preparing contractors for what's next

The importance of labor-management collaboration

What electricians can do today to stay ahead of industry changes

Whether you're an apprentice, journeyman, contractor, or simply interested in where construction is headed, this episode offers an inside look at one of the biggest shifts the industry has seen in decades.If you enjoyed this conversation, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share it with someone in the electrical industry.

#NECA #ElectricalTrades #Electricians #AI #Construction #SkilledTrades #Apprenticeship #ConstructionTechnology #WorkforceDevelopment #SparkTheTrade

BP's dispute with USW Local 7-1 is about far more than a contract. Union President Eric Schultz explains why workers believe the company's planned lockout is a calculated attempt to weaken organized labor—not just at one refinery, but across the industry.

We discuss BP's proposal, national oil bargaining, the use of replacement workers reportedly earning up to $127 per hour, and what's at stake for the more than 800 union families involved. Schultz also shares how community support, labor solidarity, and strategic organizing are shaping the fight.

Whether you're a union member, work in the trades, or simply want to understand what's happening inside one of the country's most significant labor disputes, this conversation offers an inside look at the issues driving the conflict.

Eric Schultz is the president of United Steelworkers Local 7-1, representing refinery workers in Northwest Indiana and leading the local through one of the most closely watched labor disputes in the U.S.

HELP SUPPORT USW 7-1:

Sign the petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stand-in-solidarity-with-locked-out-union-workers-at-bp/

Support page: https://supportoilworkers.com/

#UnionStrong #WorkersRights #OrganizedLabor #BlueCollar #Construction #SkilledTrades #RefineryWorkers #USW #LaborMovement #Solidarity

Most people still think of union labor as a relic of the past. The reality is a lot different. In this episode, Frank Callahan, President of the Massachusetts Building Trades Unions, breaks down how organized labor is a massive economic engine driving more than $75 billion into Massachusetts alone and why union labor consistently delivers stronger productivity, better training, and long-term value on major projects.

We talk about why union apprenticeships remain one of the strongest career paths available today, with many young workers earning six figures before 25 without the burden of college debt. Frank explains the real cost of labor, how apprenticeship programs create elite-level training pipelines, and why so many people still misunderstand the true value unions bring to contractors, taxpayers, and entire communities.

We also get into the political side of the industry, from offshore wind projects and federal policy shifts to Massachusetts PLA mandates that are reshaping public construction. Frank shares how union leaders strategically educate elected officials, what is at stake in upcoming elections, and why your vote can directly impact billions in investments, wages, and job opportunities across the country.

With over 75,000 members across more than 63 local unions, Frank gives a real inside look at how organized labor is adapting, growing, and staying relevant in modern society. This is not just about jobs, it is about economic power, infrastructure, healthcare, training, and the future of the American workforce.

If you want to understand where the trades are headed and why union labor continues to be one of the strongest forces in construction, this is an episode you do not want to miss.

#UnionLabor #BuildingTrades #Union #ConstructionIndustry #Apprenticeship #SkilledTrades #UnionStrong #LaborMovement #PrevailingWage #PLA #ConstructionCareers #IBEW #TradeLife #BlueCollar #SparkTheTrade

Everyone keeps saying there’s a labor shortage in the trades… but the reality on the ground tells a different story.After speaking with IBEW Local 291, it’s clear the work is there. Locals like 291 are staying busy and actively looking for people.So what’s the real issue?It might not be a lack of opportunity… it might be a lack of visibility.We break down how unions empower workers, what organizing actually looks like, and why having a stronger online presence could be the key to connecting the next generation to careers in the trades.#IBEW291 #IBEW #UnionStrong #SkilledTrades #ConstructionCareers #BlueCollarLife #UnionJobs #Electricians #Apprenticeship #TradeCareers

Most people think the trades are just about hard labor. They’re wrong.In this episode, we break down the real journey of John McLaughlin — from getting laid off as an ironworker to becoming a leader in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

This isn’t just a career switch story. It’s about stability, benefits, leadership, and what actually happens when you get involved in your union.If you’re in the trades, thinking about joining, or wondering if it’s worth it… this is the conversation people aren’t having.

Real experiences. Real lessons. No fluff.

#IBEW #UnionStrong #ConstructionCareers #BlueCollar #SkilledTrades #ElectricianLife #UnionTrades #Apprenticeship #TradesLife #LaborMovement

The data center boom is here and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers District 7 is right in the middle of it. With Texas set to become the largest data center hub in the country, thousands of projects are on the table and billions of dollars are being spent. The real question is simple. Who’s going to build it?

In this episode of Spark The Trade, we sit down with District 7 leadership to break down the strategy behind organizing, workforce development, and how unions are positioning themselves to capture this massive wave of work. From apprenticeship pipelines to the growing threat of reduced training standards, this conversation gets into what’s actually happening on the ground.

If you’re in the trades, thinking about joining, or paying attention to where construction is headed, this is the conversation you need to hear.

#IBEW #UnionStrong #ConstructionJobs #DataCenters #SkilledTrades #Electricians

What does it actually take to go from apprentice to leading one of the strongest unions in the country?In this episode, I sit down with Lou Antonellis — Business Manager of IBEW Local 103 in Boston, journeyman wireman, and a 35-year union member — to break down what’s really happening inside the trades right now.We get into leadership, the disconnect between the hall and the field, and why trust and communication matter more than ever in today’s labor movement. Lou also talks about navigating a modern social media world as a Gen X union leader, and what it takes to fight for real opportunities, strong apprenticeships, and long-term careers in the trades.This isn’t surface-level talk. This is boots-on-the-ground perspective from someone who’s lived it, led it, and is still pushing it forward.If you’re in the trades, thinking about joining, or just want to understand how unions actually operate behind the scenes — this one matters.Based on insights and leadership principles shared by Lou Antonellis and IBEW Local 103.#IBEW103 #BostonUnions #UnionStrong #ElectricianLife #ConstructionCareers #SkilledTrades #Apprenticeship #LaborMovement #BlueCollar #SpankyTheSparky

What’s really going on inside the skilled trades right now — and why do so many workers feel unheard?

In this episode, I sit down with an IBEW electrician from Local 322 — NIC Electric — to talk about apprenticeship, union leadership, and the real truth about working in the trades today.

From starting out as an apprentice to stepping into leadership, NIC breaks down what he saw early on that pushed him toward advocacy — and where the disconnect between workers and leadership actually exists.

We get into what most people in the trades feel… but don’t always hear talked about. Drop your thoughts in the comments — where do you think the biggest disconnect is right now?

#ibew #Electrician #SkilledTrades