St. Louis – On Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, St. Louis Post-Dispatch business columnist Dave Nicklaus took an in depth look at the Electrical Connection’s workforce development and diversity initiatives in an examination of President Trump’s plan to invest in apprenticeships. For the interviews, Nicklaus visited with Frank Jacobs, IBEW Local 1 business manager; Doug Martin, CEO of the St. Louis Chapter, NECA; Dennis Gralike, director, IBEW/NECA Electrical Industry Training Center; Jim Curran, executive vice president, Electrical Connection and Trisa Newburn, an IBEW apprentice.

The story explored concerns about the accountability of President Trump’s taxpayer-funded plan through the eyes of the leaders of a time-tested program that requires no taxpayer expense and has produced high-tech careers in the electrical industry. Read more.