Complete Story
09/16/2025
NECA Convention & Trade Show
The event was held on September 12 - 15, 2025
NECA Convention & Trade Show
September 12 - 15, 2025
McCormick Place
Chicago, IL
The NECA Convention & Trade Show was held in Chicago on September 12 - 15, 2025. The Chapter had over 90 registrants for the Convention, along with numerous Trade Show only attendees. This was the largest NECA Convention with over 10,000 registrants. The Chapter had numerous activities.
Highlights of the local and national program include the following:
NECA Adopt-A-School: Chicago Hope Academy
3M Safety Roadshow / Volunteer Day (nearly 40 from ECA member firms participated).
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.
NECA Convention - Apprentice Appreciation Day
Don Finn, Business Manager, IBEW Union Local 134 with Gene Kent, Executive Director, IBEW-NECA Technical Institute and Mark Thomas, ECA Executive Vice President were panelists. An Apprentice Challenge was also held on the Trade Show Floor.
Chicago Chapter Events
A “Welcome to Chicago” event had over 600 registrants. This was a Reception open to a national audience of Chapter Presidents, Governors, Chapter staff, NECA representatives, Local 134 representatives, the ECA Executive Committee, ECA Young Professionals Committee and numerous sponsor representatives, including Powering Chicago. The program was held at the iconic Old Post Office in Chicago. The Chicago Fire Department Pipes & Drums led off the evening as a tribute to First Responders, as the event was held on September 11th. Many Chicago traditions, neighborhoods, food, even the “Chicago Handshake” were featured in unique ways. A truly memorable event.
A number of reservations at a number of area restaurants were made available to the Chapter attendees.
Joint Chapter Reception / Dinner with Northeastern IL NECA
Over 200 guests at The Planetarium in Chicago.
Pre-Closing Event Reception) / Jerry McGlynn - Academy Inductee Reception
Over 150 registrants for the reception at Navy Pier Beer Garden in Chicago
Student Chapter of The Year Award
The NECA-IIT Student won the “Student Chapter of the Year” Award for the 4th time!
The NECA Opening Reception was held at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.
The Opening General Session featured Academy of Electrical Contracting Chairman, David Hardt, Hardt Electric, Inc., as he acknowledged the Academy of Electrical Contracting Inductees – Congratulations, Jerry McGlynn, McWilliams Electric Company, Inc.! The Student Chapter was also recognized during the session. Also featured was Scottie Pippen, one of basketball's most talented, versatile and successful players.
NECA Prayer Breakfast – “Connecting by Faith and Prayer”
This year’s event was sponsored by Federated Insurance. Chapter members: Terry Carr, Connelly Electric, Inc., Mike Katzenbach, Skitch Electric Company, and Alberto Rocha, Rocha Electric Company, along with Tim Taylor, ECA Assistant Manager, assisted with the session.
Special General Session – Labor Relations Fireside Chat with David Long, NECA CEO and Kenneth W. Cooper, IBEW International President.
NECA Project Excellence Award winners were recognized during the Convention: Continental Electrical Construction Company – Commercial/Institutional Under $1,000,000 – SCB Headquarters; Gurtz Electric Co. – Design Build over $1,000,000 – 1000M Luxury High Rise & Residential / Mixed-use – 4600 Marine Drive; and Sharlen Electric Company – Commercial Industrial over $1,000,000 – Wind Creek Casino.
The Closing General Session featured the CALS graduates – Congratulations, Jerry McGlynn, McWilliams Electric Company, Inc. and Karen M. Dinkins, Taylor Electric Company. The session also featured Henry Winkler who has had more than 50 years of success in Hollywood and continues to be in demand as an actor, producer, and director.
The NECA Closing Celebration was held at Navy Pier’s Aon Ballroom and had two of the most iconic Motown groups of all time – The Temptations and The Four Tops – that went head-to-head in an unforgettable night of music, dancing, and Motown magic.
The Association congratulates all those recognized during the Convention, and thanks all that were able to participate in representing the Chicago & Cook County Chapter!
Clearing the path for the Chicago Fire Department Pipes and Drums for the
"Welcome to Chicago" event at the Old Post Office in Chicago.
A portion of the Chicago Fire Department Pipes and Drums.
The Indigo Band - Arlen Music
Unique appetizer options
More unique appetizer options
Pictured from left to right just before the Board of Governors (BOG) Meeting are:
Mark Thomas, ECA Executive Vice President,
David Hardt, NECA Academy Chair, Hardt Electric, Inc.,
Bob Fimbianti, ECA President, Linear Electric, Inc., and
Rick Jamerson, NECA Governor, Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc.
Rick Jamerson, NECA Governor, Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc.
Pictured from left to right at the BOG meeting are:
Don Finn, Local 134 IBEW Business Manager and
Bob Fimbianti, ECA President, Linear Electric, Inc.
Pictured above is Don Finn, Local 134 IBEW Business Manager.
Opening NECA Convention Celebration at the Griffin Museum of Science & Industry.
Opening NECA Convention Celebration at the Griffin Museum of Science & Industry.
Pictured on the left is David Hardt, NECA Academy Chair, Hardt Electric, Inc.,
as he introduced the Inductees for the Academy of Electrical Contracting.
Pictured on the right is Jerry McGlynn, McWilliams Electric Company, Inc.,
as he was recognized as being a new member of the Academy of Electrical Contracting.
Pictured above are two examples of various seminars during the Convention.
Sitting from left to right are:
Peter Mastrorocco, NECA Education,
Don Finn, Local 134 IBEW Business Manager,
Gene Kent, IBEW-NECA Technical Institute Director, and
Mark Thomas, ECA Executive Vice President during the NECA Apprentice Appreciation Day.
Chapter representatives with Chicago Hope Academy representatives as Hope Academy received a sizeable donation from the NECA Adopt-A-School-Campaign.
A clip from the Chicago Hope Academy 3M Roadshow Day / Volunteer Day video.
Pictured are IIT students with Josh Bone, ELECTRI Director (on far left) with Dr .Dan Tomal, IIT Facilitator (middle), as the Student Chapter received the "Student of the Year" Award.
Pictured from left to right are the NECA Project Excellence Award winners from the Chapter:
Frank and Mallory Gurtz, Gurtz Electric Co.,
John Vertuno, Continental Electrical Construction Company, and
Bill Cullen, III, Sharen Electric Company.
Pictured above are the CALS graduates.
Pictured is Alberto Rocha, Rocha Electric Company, during the NECA Prayer Service.
Pictured above is Terry Carr, Connelly Electric, Inc.
Pictured is Mike Katzenbach, Skitch Electric Company.
Pictured is Jason Kerr, Federated Insurance.
Pictured from left to right are:
Nick Renkosik and Morgan Taylor
Pictured is Tim Taylor, ECA
Pictured from left to right in middle of dance floor are:
Carl Ehr, NEIL Chapter President, Kelso-Burnett Co., and
Bob Fimbianti, ECA President, Linear Electric, Inc.
during the Joint Chapter Dinner at the Planetarium in Chicago.
Guests enjoying the Reception at the Planetarium.
Views from the Planetarium.
Pictured from left to right are:
Bob Fimbianti, ECA President, Linear Electric, Inc.,
Jerry McGlynn, McWilliams Electric Company, Inc., and
Mark Thomas, ECA Executive Vice President,
as Jerry received a special recognition plaque from the ECA.
Guests enjoying the Reception at the Navy Pier Beer Garden.
The NECA Convention Closing event.
