Education
Monday, October 14
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Session: Advertising, Interviewing and Retention the Key to Lowering your Turnover
Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 120
Session Description: This session will discuss the constant changing advertising avenues such as social media and advertising boards. Hiring has gotten tougher and finding the right applicant almost impossible. Learn how to sell your business to applicants. Hiring the right employees is the easiest ways to cut down on your turnover. This session will include an open discussion on how your industry finds the right employees.
Speaker: Wendy Christie | Company: EmployerESource | Title: Owner/Developer
Bio: Wendy Christie owner and developer of EmployerESource has over 20 years of experience in the area of employee relations. EmployerESource is a software program that develops a company handbook by company requirements, state law, federal law and industry practices. This gives Wendy the opportunity to have read all 50 state laws and worked in countless industries. Wendy has handled over 100 different employee relations investigations. As a human resource consultant, she has helped countless companies develop legally compliant employee handbooks and documentation.
Wendy has developed 3rd Party Reporting. This provides employees with a 3rd party to report workplace disputes, providing company with an insurance policy against complaints and lawsuits. EmployerESource is the first line of defense in EEOC complaints and lawsuits.
Wendy has authored a number of articles in several industries on hiring practices, embezzlement, legally compliant employment practices and dress codes for today's workplace culture.
Session: Paving the Way for Artificial Intelligence, AI, in Electrical Contracting
Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 119
Session Description: AI is real, and construction is ripe for making use of it. While the industry deepens into a Workforce Shortage, MCA, Inc. has studied and predicted how AI will evolve in construction, including how Electrical Contractors prepare to embrace and benefit from the single greatest industrywide disruptor of our lifetime? Dr. Daneshgari presents AI as it appears to the contractor, and as it is poised to benefit the open-minded and progressive thinking contractor. For most people AI is more subtle than you realize, you’re already encountering AI while using your phone and your computer as part of your everyday business and personal life. Just sitting here in this session, we are all exposed to AI and some business, somewhere, is benefitting from the data we provide. Isn’t it time you began to use AI in your business?
Dr. Daneshgari will explain what AI is, and how easy it is to get data into AI software that is available to you right now. Additionally, Dr. Daneshgari will demonstrate how rich and robust the data coming out can be and how you can benefit. He will give live and industry-relevant examples for making AI “real” and a key part of your future business strategy.
Speaker: Perry Daneshgari | Company: MCA, Inc. | Title: Paving the Way for Artificial Intelligence, AI, in Electrical Contracting
Bio: Dr. Perry Daneshgari is the founder, President, and CEO of MCA Inc. MCA is a research and implementation company that focuses on implementing process and product development, waste reduction and productivity improvement of labor, project management, estimation, accounting, and customer care. MCA, Inc. has worked with various national and international companies all over the globe. Dr. Perry has taught numerous classes and conducted several presentations for three decades for IEC (including as a keynote speaker in the 2009 annual IEC National Convention), MCAA, the Electrical Contracting Foundation, NAED, NAW, and SMACNA’s New Horizons Foundation. Dr. Perry has completed over 12 research projects for construction and distribution industries and as well as published several papers and articles. He has published 5 books, most recently “Industrialization of Construction®” and notably Agile Construction® for Electrical Contractors.. He is the technical contact for ASTM E2691, Standard Practice Job Productivity Measurement and for the NEIS Standard NECA 5-2022, for Prefabrication of Electrical Installations for Contractors.
Session: Maximizing Your IEC SPARK Experience: Essential Skills for Attendees
Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 118
Session Description: Join this session to transform your IEC SPARK experience from daunting to empowering. Learn essential skills to maximize your participation during the conference, including how to meet IEC ambassadors, network with peers, and ensure you take home skills that will help you daily. Get tips on effectively planning your schedule, including selecting sessions that align with your interests and professional goals, and learn the art of making meaningful connections, from starting conversations with strangers to following up after the conference. IEC benefits go beyond just SPARK; this session will provide you with an understanding of how to leverage IEC resources to save your company time and money year-round. Discover the full range of IEC offerings, from best practice forums and discounts to workforce development. Additionally, learn about membership perks, public policy engagement, and opportunities for young professionals.
Speaker: Amy Biedenharn | Company: IEC National | Title: Membership & Chapter Senior Director
Bio: Amy Biedenharn, Membership & Chapter Senior Director with IEC National
Session: Fault Manage Power - A Brief Overview
Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 121
Session Description: Explore Fault Managed Power (FMP), its advantages, and practical applications. This session delves into FMP's role in enhancing electrical safety, efficiency, and reliability. Learn how FMP can be integrated into various systems, reducing risks and improving performance across diverse industries.
Speaker: Christopher Hobbs | Company: BICSI | Title: Director of Training Delivery and Operations
Bio: Christopher S. Hobbs, RCDD, DCDC, OSP, RTPM, CT is the Director of Training Delivery and Operations at BICSI. He has spent over 30 years in the ICT working as an installer, project manager, and designer. Prior to coming to BICSI, he was the senior project manager for a low voltage contracting company. Christopher has worked in industrial, military and commercial project all over North America and a few countries outside of the United States. He started at BICSI as a training delivery specialist facilitating courses all over the world for BICSI and has had many students successfully pass BICSI exams. He now leads the Training Delivery team at BICSI.
Session: Powerful Panels: Innovative Workforce Solutions
Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 122/123
Session Description: We all know finding and keeping qualified electrical workers is not only an electrical contractor's number one issue but also limits a contractor's growth. We've all been to sessions promoting respecting, appreciating, and assuring the right fit, but what more can you do after that?
It is no longer acceptable to place a job ad on Indeed, utilize your current workforce, or throw more money at your workers. In this session, a panel of experts will share specific tactics they have used to recruit and keep employees. From finely tuned software to one-on-one tactics to offering the correct type of benefits, this session will provide ideas, solutions, and an opportunity to build and keep your workforce.
Speaker: Niel Dawson, MS In Education | Company: IEC Atlanta/Georgia | Title: Executive Director
Bio: Niel Dawson has been the Executive Director of the Atlanta and Georgia Chapters for the last 28 years and has grown the membership from 50 contractors to 265. Under his leadership, the apprenticeship program has increased from less than 100 to nearly 1,000 in 6 locations and online. With an MS in Education, Niel has used both his education and experience to expand the services IEC Atlanta/Georgia offers the membership. More specifically, the chapters' workforce services now include two full-time workforce recruiters, a monthly Basic Skills Installers Course, monthly open house, job fairs, and employability workshops.
To enhance workforce services, he has partnered with other companies and non-profits that provide additional expertise and deliverables to the IEC membership.
He has accumulated numerous awards throughout his tenure, including Executive Director of the Year twice, multiple Apprenticeship Chapter of the Year, and Chapter of the Year.
In 2020, he created GIFT - Georgia Industry Foundation for Training, a subsidiary of IEC Atlanta/Georgia, which provides scholarships for individuals entering the electrical industry and those already in the IEC apprenticeship program who face financial challenges.
He also serves on the IEC President's Advisory Board, is an IEC Ambassador, and multiple other IEC committees. In 2020, when COVID first came on, he created the IEC Sharing Session so that IEC Executive Directors could share information about how they dealt with COVID. This sharing session still exists today, though the topic is not COVID. Last year, he created and is currently leading the IEC Flashpoint (a database) best practices sharing group.
Niel also actively serves on his church board and his local park board.
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Session: Becoming a Presenter
Time: 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 118
Session Description: We have all sat through presentations that have had great content, however have been less than engaging. This session will share a model to use for a presenter to become more engaging regardless of the content or the size of the audience. We tend to remember those sessions that connected with us versus those we had a hard time focusing on - mostly due to the delivery, not the content.
Speaker: Bruce Seilhammer | Company: SECCO | Title: Group Manager
Bio: Bruce Seilhammer has been in the electrical industry for over 41 years. He started his career in the Air Force in 1982 and spent his four years serving as an electrical apprentice in Utah. After his time in the military he moved back to his home state of Connecticut and obtained his Journeyman’s license. He now lives in Pennsylvania and is working for SECCO, Electric, where he carries his Master Electricians License. Bruce started there 31 years ago as a Foreman and then moved into the Field Superintendent position. In 2006 he became the Electrical Construction Group Manager. Bruce has a strong belief in sharing knowledge – he teaches classes on Foreman Training, Leadership, Train the Trainer, and the Master Electricians exam prep classes. There are currently (15) Licensed Master Electricians on his staff. He is very active with the IEC and has been a presenter at the National Convention for many years. Bruce has held all of the IEC board positions at his Chapter, and served as the National President on the Executive Committee in 2017. He is currently serving again as the IEC Pennsylvania Chapter President.
Session: Get a GRIP On Your Rework. Yes, There Is Rework. Are Your Teams Covering It Up Or Do You Measure It, Debrief and Mitigate?
Time: 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 120
Session Description: Rework is defined as “activities in the field (including prefabrication) that have to be done more than once, or activities which remove work previously installed as part of the project regardless of source, where no change order has been issued and no change of scope have been identified by the Owner”.
Rework can have devastating consequences to your project. In addition to demoralizing your team, it can harm your reputation, and it can be very costly to project profitability. To understand the impact of rework, it is important to understand your organizations Error Culture. Does your organization acknowledge mistakes, bring them to your attention, identify the cause and take steps to mitigate those conditions going forward? Or are they embarrassed by and fearful of admitting errors? Is it harmful for them to make errors known to others? Does your team correct errors without concern for identifying the root cause and sharing the lessons learned so that a similar error might be prevented? Is it best that they just “bury it” and move on?
The key to mitigating the causes of rework it to start with your organizations Error Culture and adjusting that culture so that it allows you to create a process that will:
-Implement a rework data collection system to document rework that does occur.
-Train teams to Analyze and Act on rework data to mitigate risks on future projects.
-Perform an Anticipated Rework Assessment prior to the start of construction.
-Contractors who practice this have seen dramatic reductions in rework through honest, blameless assessment of mistakes, allowing the field teams to be more collaborative, cooperative, productive, and profitable!
Speaker: Steve Killius | Company: Legrand | Title: VP, Contractor Industry Affairs and Programs
Bio: Steve Killius is VP, Contractor Industry Affairs and Programs for Legrand North and Central Americas Electrical Wiring Systems Division manages outreach to the electrical contractor community, providing support to and through industry associations, foundations and electrical apprenticeship programs in the US. Steves mission is to demonstrate that Legrand is a true friend and partner to the electrical contractor, the electrical professional, and the student/apprentice. With over 30 years of sales and demand creation experience primarily with the contractor community, he brings expertise in needs assessment, problem solving, solutions selection, process improvement, and productivity.
Session: Understanding and Complying with Fair Labor Standards Act
Time: 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 121
Session Description: Organizations of every size and shape can be susceptible to wage and hour violations. The last thing you want to do is violate the FLSA . Penalties are expensive and audit are time consuming. Companies are often shocked to learn that they can be on the hook for many millions of dollars for unintentional errors. This session is a cheat sheet to help you learn the FLSA rules and reduce your liability. This class will go over what exactly the FLSA is and the rules you need to follow. Including the all-important minimum wage and overtime rules, and beyond. This class analyzes state and federal law to help companies understand the correct law. Because the burden of proof for FLSA compliance lies with the employer, not the employee, it’s vital for companies to maintain accurate records. This class will go over record keeping requirements. The reality is that wage and hour law can be confusing, and most companies simply don’t know they’re non-compliant. The Department of Labor estimates that approximately 70 percent of companies operate with FLSA compliance issues. This session will help make sure you are not one of them.
Speaker: Wendy Christie | Company: EmployerESource | Title: Owner/Developer
Bio: Wendy Christie owner and developer of EmployerESource has over 20 years of experience in the area of employee relations. EmployerESource is a software program that develops a company handbook by company requirements, state law, federal law and industry practices. This gives Wendy the opportunity to have read all 50 state laws and worked in countless industries. Wendy has handled over 100 different employee relations investigations. As a human resource consultant, she has helped countless companies develop legally compliant employee handbooks and documentation.
Wendy has developed 3rd Party Reporting. This provides employees with a 3rd party to report workplace disputes, providing company with an insurance policy against complaints and lawsuits. EmployerESource is the first line of defense in EEOC complaints and lawsuits. Wendy has authored a number of articles in several industries on hiring practices, embezzlement, legally compliant employment practices and dress codes for today's workplace culture.
Session: Securing the Current: Digital Marketing and Cybersecurity Essentials for IEC Members
Time: 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 119
Session Description: Join us for an exclusive presentation tailored specifically for IEC Members to enhance their cybersecurity knowledge and digital marketing skills. Are you a business owner looking to take your digital marketing efforts to the next level? This training presentation is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to optimize your website and social media presence for maximum impact.
Whether you are a beginner looking to establish a strong online presence or an experienced marketer wanting to enhance your skills, our digital marketing training program is tailored to meet your needs. Join us and unlock the potential of digital marketing to grow your business and reach new heights of success.
In today's digital age, cybersecurity is paramount, even in the electrical industry. This workshop will cover essential topics ranging from understanding cybersecurity threats to practical strategies for securing digital assets, protecting customer data, and ensuring the integrity of IoT devices. Participants will gain insights into the latest cybersecurity best practices and learn how to mitigate risks effectively. Don't miss this opportunity to safeguard your business and elevate your cybersecurity posture!
Speaker: Manoj Tandon; Tyler Smith; Marilyn Akers Stansbury; Denise Sims
Session: Powerful Panels: Pre-Fabrication
Time: 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 122/123
Session Description: Discover the transformative potential of pre-fabrication in the electrical industry. This panel discussion will delve into the latest advancements, best practices, and real-world experiences showcasing how pre-fab can enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve project timelines. Learn from experts who are leading the way in integrating pre-fabrication into their operations and gain insights into how you can leverage this innovative approach in your own projects.
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Session: Policies, Practices & Protection. Does your Handbook Have What It Takes?
Time: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 118
Session Description: Employee handbooks are expensive for employers to develop and maintain. This session will discuss the laws, regulations, benefits and downfalls of having an employee handbook. Some courts interpret language in employee handbooks as a binding contract, so the class also covers how to avoid any unconditional promises of employment. Discuss how to make sure your handbook covers a variety of important business practices but also how to avoid an “unmanageable” handbook. The wrong employee handbook can expose you to unnecessary risks and costly mistakes this class will help you reduce those risks.
Speaker: Wendy Christie | Company: EmployerESource | Title: Owner/Developer
Bio: Wendy Christie owner and developer of EmployerESource has over 20 years of experience in the area of employee relations. EmployerESource is a software program that develops a company handbook by company requirements, state law, federal law and industry practices. This gives Wendy the opportunity to have read all 50 state laws and worked in countless industries. Wendy has handled over 100 different employee relations investigations. As a human resource consultant, she has helped countless companies develop legally compliant employee handbooks and documentation.
Wendy has developed 3rd Party Reporting. This provides employees with a 3rd party to report workplace disputes, providing company with an insurance policy against complaints and lawsuits. EmployerESource is the first line of defense in EEOC complaints and lawsuits. Wendy has authored a number of articles in several industries on hiring practices, embezzlement, legally compliant employment practices and dress codes for today's workplace culture.
Session: Implementing Business Software & Driving Adoption
Time: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 119
Session Description: The construction industry has been slow to adopt new technologies. For many years, tech was seen as an optional add-on only for the most forward-thinking firms. However, that perception is changing. To stay competitive, it's imperative for every contractor to adopt tech solutions. The trick is to ensure that any technology you bring in the door adds real value to your business (and not just absorbing time and money with little to show for it!). During this presentation, we'll walk through the most important steps to implementing the right software for your business:
- Deciding on the right time for a new tech solution
- Identifying the pain points and selling the vision
- Managing risk during implementation
- Integrating adoption into business workflows
In addition, hear how Caroline Ireland of Ireland Electric added new tech solutions to their business by developing robust processes to avoid pitfalls like choosing the wrong platforms, excessive team pushback, and ongoing confusion.
Setting up a well-planned tech adoption process is not easy, but by approaching your new tech deployment as a series of manageable, bite-sized steps, you'll set your team up for success.
Speaker: Maria Davidson | Company: Kojo | Title: CEO and Founder
Bio: Maria Davidson is the CEO and Founder of Kojo, construction’s leading materials management software. Before Kojo, Maria helped build 8VC, a venture fund with over $3.5 Billion in assets under management, and spent time as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs. She holds a BA from Oxford University. Maria has been selected to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and named one of Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Female Founders.
Session: Innovate to Elevate - Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities
Time: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 120
Session Description: Join us in this hands-on, highly interactive workshop where you will develop a basic understanding of some of the simple productivity tools that can be used by team members and leaders alike to transform challenges into opportunities. These simple tools will help you address the items that frequently make work more difficult, resulting in waste and lost productivity.
From hand-on sessions you will learn about:
-Waste
-6S and
-How to Transform your Daily Huddles into a Source of Innovation
Speaker: Alan J Gasvoda | Company: Milwaukee Tool | Title: End User Productivity - CI Leader
Bio: Alan Gasvoda. End User Productivity - CI Leader, Milwaukee Tool.
Experienced people-centric leader that builds high performing teams by developing their CI mindset to deliver amazing results. He is obsessed with helping people, teams and organizations realize their potential.
Alan has over 25 years of diverse experience including construction, software and automation systems, and manufacturing. He has held senior level roles in HR, systems, quality, project management, and Continuous Improvement.
Session: More Than “Online Shopping”: How E-Commerce Can Boost Contractors’ Productivity
Time: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 121
Session Description: Have you ever needed a copy of an invoice from your distributor after 5pm so you could complete your billing? Ever sat down at the dinner table, only to remember you need an extra roll of wire tomorrow and your distributor closed an hour ago? And my favorite: ever been sitting at the jobsite wondering, “When is that delivery going to show up?”
Almost all of us shop online all the time in our private lives. According to Forbes magazine, 78% of US citizens also do their banking online. Yet only 18% of electrical distribution business is done through an ecommerce platform. Why don’t electrical contractors place orders or manage financials with their distributors online?
Ecommerce has huge potential for contractors as a productivity tool and labor-saving solution. Grabbing a missing invoice at any hour of the night, making a last-minute order, and getting a delivery estimate are just a few clicks away through your local distributor’s website.
Speaker: Kevin Massey | Company: World Electric Supply | Title: Director, Lighting Solutions
Bio: Kevin Massey currently works at World Electric as a Lead Solutions Specialist for Lighting. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Salisbury University and Master of Science in management from Wilmington University. Kevin began his career as a service electrician with Phillips Signs in 1992 and entered the electrical distribution industry in 2003 with Tristate Electric Supply in Maryland. Kevin’s 10+ years of field experience, from truck driver to job site laborer, project manager, and regional sales manager, allow him to understand the daily needs of electrical contractors. Kevin was tasked with rolling out an ecommerce platform in the late 2000s. He found his passion in coaching and mentoring and has continued to promote the benefits of online platforms for saving contractors time and money. Kevin has been active with the sales program at Salisbury University and became an adjunct professor in 2020. When he isn’t working with the next generation of electrical professionals, he enjoys fishing, spending time at the beach, and spoiling his grandchildren.
Session: Powerful Panels: Working with General Contractors
Time: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 122/123
Session Description: Developing the next generation of foremen and leaders within your organization is vital for long-term success. This panel discussion will focus on strategies for internal development, including mentorship programs, leadership training, and career progression planning. Learn from industry experts how to cultivate talent, foster professional growth, and build a strong pipeline of future leaders.
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Session: Keynote: Thinking Inside the Box: How Tough Times Fuel True Creativity and Innovation
Time: 12:45 PM - 2:00 PM | Location: Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom BC
Session Description: We’ve all said it: “If only I had ________, then I could do __________.”
We’re convinced that the only thing standing between us and our best work is more money, more time, more resources, more buy-in, a better team, a better boss, a better piece of software… the list goes on.
But the truth is, real creative work thrives within constraints.
True creative work exists in the gap between what you have and what you think you need. After all, if you had everything you needed, you wouldn’t need creativity at all.
True creativity showed up when the Apollo 13 astronauts had to make square filters fit round tubes. It showed up when a global pandemic made in-person work a liability. And it’ll show up for you too, once you let go of your misguided beliefs about what true creativity requires.
During this session, Kyle will:
• Show how constraints are the breeding ground for creativity.
• Identify the difference between constructive constraint and restrictive constraint.
• Help reframe the constraints in your organization and find the solutions you’ve been searching for.
• Walk through tools and exercises to break through creative blocks.
Speaker: Kyle Scheele
Bio: Kyle Scheele has been called "the patron saint of crazy ideas". Whether he's having a Viking funeral for the regrets of 21,000 people, hosting the world's first fake marathon, or gaining a million TikTok followers in just 25 hours, Kyle is always on the lookout for crazy ideas that produce wildly outsized outcomes. Over the last decade, his projects have been featured in outlets like Fast Company, WIRED, The Washington Post, Yahoo!, BuzzFeed, UpWorthy, Goalcast, and more. His videos have been viewed over 250 million times, and he has spoken to hundreds of thousands of audience members across the United States. More than anything, Kyle hopes that his story can inspire others to chase their own crazy ideas and become the people they were meant to be.