03/07/2025

2025 NECA Association Executives Institute (AEI) - March 3 - 5, 2025

The conference was held at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Hotel.

2025 Association Executives Institute (AEI)
March 3-5, 2025
Fairmont Chicago Millennium
Chicago, IL

The Association Executives Institute (AEI) is an educational meeting of national and chapter NECA staff in the city where the NECA Convention will be held. This year, Larry Bell, Chapter Manager - Alaska Chapter, NECA served as the Chair of AEI. In addition to the educational aspect, staff had an opportunity to begin making preparations for their members' visits to Chicago.

Mark Thomas, ECA Executive Vice President lead the assembly with the "Pledge of Allegiance" and gave a “Welcome Address. ”  He showed a brief "Welcome to Chicago!" video highlighting the City – the great work that our members do, the great restaurants, attractions, nightlife, etc.  Mr. Thomas also participated with two panels: “Chapter Executive as a Leader” and the “NECA Adopt-A-School Initiative” as moderator.  Tim Taylor, ECA Assistant Manager assisted with a “Best Chapter/Member Service Practices” panel.

The institution featured for this year’s NECA Adopt-A-School is the Chicago Hope Academy.  Ike Muzikowski, Chicago Hope Academy President and Principal (www.chicagohopeacademy.org) gave a brief background of Chicago Hope’s role in the community during the Adopt-A-School panel discussion.  Chicago Hope Academy is taking workforce readiness to a new level for their students.  By introducing the trades as a viable career option, the school hopes to see families break the cycle of inter-generational poverty through skill building and home ownership.  The school has a 2-Year Trades Pathway program – students will be granted the opportunity to immediately begin an apprenticeship with one of their three union partners:  Local 134 IBEW, Local 150 Operating Engineers and the Laborers.  Kevin Walters, Local 134 IBEW electrician, 2025 CISCO Educator of the Year is the Career and Technical Sciences Instructor.  Mr. Walters is an experienced union electrician with over 20 years of experience in residential, industrial, and commercial electrical installations, maintenance, and repair. He has a proven track record of successful projects and various infrastructures with a commitment to safety and efficiency. His goal at Hope is to prepare students for a registered apprenticeship program by offering structured pre-apprenticeship training.  We hope that contractor members will be able to offer their support to Chicago Hope Academy through this year’s NECA Adopt-A-School Silent Auction to be held during the upcoming NECA Convention September 12 – 15, 2025.

Plans are underway for all to experience a successful NECA Convention & Trade Show!

Pictured at the stage for the "Pledge of Allegiance" is Mark Thomas, ECA Executive Vice President and
Larry Bell, Chapter Manager - Alaska Chapter, NECA.

Pictured is Mark Thomas as he began the "Adopt-A-School" panel discussion.

Pictured above is Ike Muzikowski, Chicago Hope Academy President and Principal.