4 min read October 2022 — David Yencarelli, COO of American Electrical Contracting, joined Invest: for a discussion about the robust opportunities for careers in his industry. “What is great is that all of our partners are doing similar work because this is such a connected industry,” said Yencarelli.
What inspired the American Electrical Academy, and what has been the impact on the community?
There has been a real challenge in the electrical contracting industry with a lot of the labor force retiring faster than young workers are entering. This is compounded by the fact that it is a sophisticated skilled trade that takes up to two years for new workers to really get the knowledge they need to work on job sites. While the Amazons and McDonalds of the world can train their employees in a few days, contractors need at least a year of just shadowing journeymen and foremen, while getting to know tools and materials.
It’s hard enough for apprentices to work eight hours a day then commit to a two-hour night class to complete their program, but they’re still not getting that vital hands-on experience to get right into the work. We thought of the American Electrical Academy as a means to create a pipeline of hirable applicants by way of an intensive nine week training program. Students enrolled in the Academy are paired with a licensed electrician who will mentor and guide them through the work. This is a standalone nonprofit and open for anyone interested in getting into the industry. Graduates also receive the Department of Labor’s OSHA 10 safety card which never expires. This provides a great benefit for all employees and communities. It also helps jobseekers in the sector increase their own value and leverage to demand higher wages.
What are the other challenges facing the industry currently?
Material procurement has taken a big hit with the supply constraints that are still getting worse. Just as an example, a few months ago generators had a 52 week lead time, but that is now approaching 70 weeks. Even utility companies are experiencing these delays. Hurricane season in particular keeps me up at night when these inventory concerns grow. When falling trees knock out transformers and water intrusion damages meter centers, that struggle is heavily compounded when there aren’t immediately available replacements. It’s one thing to build and keep up with construction, but the infrastructure behind it has to be prioritized for the long term. To put it plainly, a massive hurricane hitting while these supply chain problems are happening would be a literal perfect storm and an absolute crisis for the state.
How has American Electrical Contracting navigated these supply chain gridlocks?
We’ve been focused on building up our inventory because we are fortunate to be in a high liquidity situation right now. We’ve invested over $1 million in excess stock for our warehouse, including hundreds of generators and a large stockpile of meter stacks and meter centers. We are managing what is within our control.
How have partnerships shaped the company’s recent success?
We have robust partnerships with Associated Builders and Contractors, Northeast Florida Builders Association and the Northeast Florida Safety Council. More recently, we’ve gotten more heavily involved with the Electrical Council of Florida. The idea for these collaborations is to push initiatives that can impact any corner of the industry. Whether it’s residential, commercial or industrial, we are uncovering as many opportunities with trade associations and other member partner companies as we can. One of the biggest advantages is being able to share data with these organizations and it’s something we are always seeking to leverage.
We are also partnering with a lot of high schools across several counties. One of our favorite volunteer initiatives is the ACE mentorship program, which teaches and mentors students about architecture, construction and engineering careers. This is a great opportunity for our employees to take a leadership role, mentor these youth and take a big step in generating potential future contractors. What is great is that all of our partners are doing similar work because this is such a connected industry. We want to demonstrate that to young students, so they know it’s a tight knit community with ample opportunities for an excellent career with great pay and benefits.
For more information, visit:
