Two IBEW and St. Louis Chapter NECA minority contractors are spotlighted in the latest issue of St. Louis Construction News and Review.  In an article examining the growth and sustainability of minority enterprises, BRK Electrical Contractors CEO Marion Hayes advises budding entrepreneurs to understand what they do best and stick with it. “Construction is such a cash-intensive business, so you’ve got to choose wisely in terms of whom you do business with and for.” Meanwhile, TD4 Electrical President and CEO Tommy Davis notes “My advice to MBEs is to understand your market. Know who the players are. Who is truly looking for MBE participation?  Many companies that talk about diversity don’t do a lot of new construction. My motto is ‘if you can captured the buyer first, the seller is easy to find.’”  Learn more.

Meanwhile, this week, Aschinger Electric president Emily Martin participated in the inaugural Construction Inclusion Week at the Proctor and Gamble job site in Jackson, Mo. At an event, Martin joined other Turner Construction trade partners in learning more about advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the building industry and on job site.  Aschinger is one of Turner Construction’s trade partners performing plant and line upgrades at the P&G Jackson, Mo. manufacturing facility.

On Oct. 18^th, 2021 Missouri lawmakers toured the IBEW/NECA Electrical Industry Training to learn firsthand how the labor management partnership was playing a critical role in 21^st century skilled workforce development.  They learned more about the pacesetting skills developed at the training center and its 78-course curriculum that is delivering advanced electrical and communication technology to serve the state’s needs.  Taking the tour were Missouri representatives Marlon Anderson St. Louis, Gretchen Bangert, Florissant; Mike Person, Ferguson; Tracy McCreery, St. Louis County; Sarah Unsicker, minority caucus policy chair, representing parts of St. Louis county and city; Donna Baringer, St. Louis; Doug Clemens, minority whip, St. Louis County; Joe Adams, University City/Pagedale; Rasheen Aldridge, St. Louis; and Bridget Walsh Moore, Lemay.