ST. LOUIS – Jim Curran, executive vice president, Electrical Connection, has been appointed to a Missouri task force charged with strengthening workforce development in the state.  The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).  For more than 75 years, the partnership has produced more highly skilled electricians and communication technicians than any other education program in the state.

“Jim is known for developing good relationships across the breadth of state leadership, in both the private and public sectors,” said Steven T. Oslica, executive director, Hawthorn Foundation. “He has gained a good deal of respect statewide.“

The Electrical Connection unites more than 150 NECA electrical contractors and more than 5,000 IBEW electrical workers.  IBEW/NECA perform highly complex electrical and communications installations for commercial, industrial, technology, R&D, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, residential and other industries. 

The task force is the focus “Talent for Tomorrow” initiative launched by the Hawthorn Foundation, the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) and the Missouri Department of Higher Education.  It is the cornerstone of a comprehensive suite of initiatives, including DED’s Best in Midwest economic development strategic planning effort and an upcoming Hawthorn Task Force focused on statewide branding, that will position Missouri to excel in a global economy changed by trade, technology, and other dynamic forces.

Guiding the initiative will be a task force of thought leaders from business and industry, education, trade, the public workforce system, state and federal government, and the legislature. There will also be opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, scholars, and others to engage in the process through regional workshops in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, and Cape Girardeau.

Curran is board member and member of the executive committee of the Hawthorn Foundation.  His board service also includes the Missouri Partnership and the Missouri Energy Initiative, which sets Missouri’s energy policy. 

The new workforce development task force will be meeting throughout the summer with the goal of presenting a report that will be being unveiled at the Governor’s Conference on Economic Development September 5-7, 2018.  

The Hawthorn Foundation is a highly diverse group of Missouri leaders in business, education, economic development, healthcare and labor dedicated to making the state of Missouri stronger, thus developing a vibrant economy for the state of Missouri. Hawthorn was created as and remains a non-partisan, non-political organization of Missouri-based businesses and community leaders in statewide business recruitment, retention, and development efforts. Hawthorn also supports the State of Missouri government’s efforts to improve its effectiveness and efficiency to better serve its citizens.

For more information, visit the Hawthorn Foundation's website

Electrical Connection members provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  For more information visit www.electricalconnection.org.