The national construction trade publication Engineering News Record (ENR) spotlighted IBEW/NECA’s award-winning efforts to help St. Louisans recover from the May 2025 devasting tornado. “Guarantee Electrical CEO Rich Ledbetter initiated the all-hands-on-deck recovery effort when he called Mayor Cara Spencer and offered assistance,” noted ENR. “During a panel discussion at the Frontenac Hilton award ceremony, Ledbetter praised the restoration team, including the NECA contractors engaged in ReConnect STL and the IBEW Local 1, which deployed its skills to help conquer the enormous challenges that included clearing debris and repairing internal damage to electrical infrastructure. Guarantee also offered $100,000 in services and materials free of charge. ArchKey Solutions, PayneCrest, GrayBar and IBEW made similar commitments.” Read the full article.

A 2022 study from the Center for Construction Research and Training showed 17,100 construction workers died from opioid overdoses and 5,200 died by suicide compared to 991 who died because of a work-related injury. Resolving mental health and addiction issues in the construction industry is a prime goal of our IBEW/NECA partners.  That was reflected in Guarantee Electrical’s donation of $10,000 to the STL Building Trades Wellness Coalition’s efforts to address mental health, suicide prevention and addiction in the industry. Speaking at the Wellness Coalition’s recent meeting on recovery friendly workplaces, Guarantee CEO Rich Ledbetter called the donation “a drop in the bucket” toward what is needed. “We’ve got to get to $100,000 and a million next year. That’s what this effort needs to look like.” Learn more.

And a tip of the cap from the national IBEW Journal which spotlighted the career of Dave Roth, who retired after 47 years of service to IBEW Local 1 and the Electrical Connection. The publication noted “Beginning in 1979, he threw himself into this union, becoming active in the apprenticeship committee in the field as foreman/general foreman before serving as the local’s treasurer, business representative and financial secretary.

Dave’s passion was coordinating membership and contractor volunteer efforts with Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together St. Louis from 2010 until 2022. He also conducts tours and manages maintenance at the sacred grounds of the Henry Miller Museum.” Learn more.

Dave Roth signing floor of the St. Jude Dream Home, one of the IBEW/NECA charitable projects he helped orchestrate.