2026 Construction Ready Career Expo, Industrial Motor Controls Competition
By: Jeff Rogers, IEC Atlanta and GA Deputy Executive Director
As part of the 2026 Career Expo hosted by Construction Ready at the Georgia World Congress Center, students showcased their technical skills during the Industrial Motor Controls Competition.
Eight contestants representing high schools and technical colleges participated in the competition, demonstrating their knowledge of electrical controls and installation techniques. Each contestant was required to follow a ladder logic diagram and complete a hands-on wiring project that included installing and wiring two motor starters, timing relays, and multiple indicator lights.
In addition to the controls portion, contestants were tested on their conduit-bending skills. Participants were required to complete a conduit project consisting of a four-point saddle and two box offsets, demonstrating precision and practical field skills commonly required in the electrical trade.
All contestants performed exceptionally well and represented the future of the electrical industry. Participants were awarded prizes provided by Milwaukee Tool, while the competition winners received scholarships from the Independent Electrical Contractors Atlanta & Georgia Chapter to support their continued training and education in the electrical field.
The competition highlighted the importance of hands-on learning and provided students with an opportunity to demonstrate the technical skills needed for successful careers in the electrical industry.
IEC 2025 Christmas Party & 60th Anniversary Celebration: An Event to Remember
By: Marie Thornton, IEC Atlanta/GA Membership and Marketing Coordinator
The 2025 Christmas Party and 60th Anniversary Celebration of IEC Atlanta and Georgia was an event of reflection, recognition, and joy. As the organization marked six decades of excellence in the electrical contracting industry, attendees were reminded of the hard work, dedication, and collaboration that has shaped IEC’s success.
Hosted by IEC Atlanta Board President, Darren Hodge, the evening kicked off with gratitude toward the generous sponsors, including Federated Insurance, the Overall Event Sponsor. Their support, along with many others, made the event possible.
The heart of the celebration was the recognition of outstanding individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to IEC and the industry.
Award Winners:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Tom LeMay for his extensive service, including his role as Board President, instructor, and committee member.
Industry Award: Joel Wiggins of the Southern Group, for leading the successful passage of SB 180, resulting in a $50,000 grant for IEC.
President’s Award: Greg Holloway, Secretary/Treasurer of IEC and President of EC Services, for his crucial work in renovating IEC’s new building.
Manufacturer Partner of the Year: DeWalt and Sean McGuiness for providing 125 backpacks for graduating apprentices, supporting the next generation of electricians.
Distributor of the Year: Lade Electric Supply and Adam Aspinwall for their 20 years of support, including a $10,000 donation for training materials.
Specialty Partner of the Year: On Electrical Services and Andres Hernandez for their consistent support and involvement in IEC events.
Contractor of the Year: Dan Lareau for his contributions to IEC’s classrooms and his role as an instructor at the Kennesaw location.
The evening also included the Length of Membership Awards, recognizing 27 contractors for their long-term dedication, including companies with 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 years of membership.
See pictures of these winners below.
As the event drew to a close, the crowd enjoyed a 60-year video montage and participated in a lively Paddle Raffle, raising funds for IEC’s ongoing initiatives.
The 2025 Christmas Party and 60th Anniversary Celebration was truly an event to remember, highlighting the remarkable achievements of IEC members and partners. With the same commitment to excellence, IEC looks forward to another 60 years of success and collaboration.
IEC Georgia Chapter Takes Golf and Networking to Macon, GA.
By: Marie Thornton, IEC Atlanta/GA Membership and Marketing Coordinator
On Monday, October 20th, IEC Georgia Chapter held its 1st annual Macon Golf Tournament at the Southern Landing Golf Club in Warner Robins, GA. This course offers five sets of tees with up to 7,000 yards. Let’s see how the greens worked out for competitors.
Team Metropower came in 1st place with a score of 53. Congratulations to Duane Howell, Brandon Anthony, Scott William and Bubba Kierce.
2nd place went to Team CED/ Legrand with a score of 63. John Chirpetta, Shannon Gilstrap, Tony Morales and Tom Kobe hold this rank.
Finally, 3rd place was Team Mayer/ Legrand coming in close with 6
3 as well. Ricky Mixon, Tom Gorman, Ronnie Adkins and Dan Lulicucci put up a great battle.
There are always a couple of golfers who stand out in this team sport, with an impressive individual performance. Congrats to Duane Howell on getting closest to the pin at hole #9 and Brandon Anthony on making the longest drive all the way to hole #18. Excellent job gentlemen! See pictures of winners below.
As always, IEC is appreciative of the sponsors who support IEC networking events. Coastal Electric of Georgia shines bright as the Master Level Sponsor for the tournament. Thanks to Electrician Level Sponsor CED and Apprentice Level Sponsor, Eaton. Ace Electric sponsored drinks and Copperweld Building Wires sponsored the Longest Drive. See full list including the hole sponsors here.
Our 2026 schedule of events is out with a great line up for next year. Watch for details!
2nd Annual Georgia Clay Shoot on Target for IEC Networking By: Marie Thornton, IEC Atlanta/GA Membership and Marketing Coordinator
1ST Place: Team Ace
On Friday, October 3rd at the 17 South Rod and Gun Club in Fleming, GA; IEC Georgia held its second annual Sporting Clay Shoot. 13 teams of IEC contractors, partners and guests met in southeast Georgia for a continental breakfast, lunch, clay shooting and prizes.
An engaging sporting clay course with tactical bays, trap fields, skeet fields and more, created a competitive outdoor networking adventure! Everyone vying for the prize, but only a few reached their goal. Congratulations to the winners!
1st Place: Team Ace Statesboro division scoring 140! Jonathan Taylor, Josh Pevey, Matt Purvis & Michael King
2nd Place: Team Gaskin Electric Company scoring 136. Suttle Payne, David Dixon, & Chris Gaskin
3rd Place: Team Bob Cat scoring 128. Brent Martin, Ashley Sittle, Chelsey Dixon and Ray Webb
High Shooter: Matt Purvis of Ace Statesboro Division. His shooting accuracy gained Matt a high score of 42.
Dead Ass Last: Nikkie Kaufman walks away with this honor scoring a 7.
The event wrapped with raffle prizes, awards and lunch. See pictures of shooters, winners and more below.
Thank you to all the competitors for participating in an amazing event, and to our event Sponsors, because spectacular IEC events do not happen without you. Our Gunslinger Sponsors are Coastal Electric of Georgia and Lowe Electric Supply, getting top billing during the clay shoot. Thanks to CED/ Legrand for coming aboard as Drink Sponsors, and to SoleSource for the Station Sponsor.
IEC’s 4th Annual Augusta Golf Tournament By: Marie Thornton, IEC Atlanta/GA Membership and Marketing Coordinator
On Friday September 19th, IEC Georgia hosted its 4th annual Augusta Golf tournament at the Bartram Trail Golf Club; the only golf course in Columbia County open to the public.
It was a beautiful day for 64 players to embark in a competitive golf experience on a just as beautiful rolling golf course. 14 teams set out to bring home the coveted IEC trophies and cash prizes.
At the end of the day, team City Electric Supply with Will Rogers, Scott Burnett, JP Pitzer and Christopher Knecht took home 1st prize, scoring with 48 strokes. Thanks for an impressive game! Congratulations to all the winners;
2nd place, team United Rentals with Chad Muns, Jeff Cason, Alec Watts and Chad Mims scoring with 50 strokes.
3rd place, team CED with Christopher Ainsworth, Donald Cockerham, Donald J. Cockerham and Matt Erickson with 55 strokes.
Longest Drive Winner- Price Dodd of Sesco.
Closest to the Pin- Allen Baxley of GEXPRO
As always at an IEC golf tournament, the evening wraps up with a delicious meal, raffle prizes and some newly developed and reinforced friendships! See pictures from this event below.
Thanks for coming out for an IEC networking experience and we hope to see you at some of our upcoming events!
This summer, we had the privilege to watch IEC Apprentices be awarded their Journeyworker certificates. A few days later we joined high school students, college students, instructors, and industry professionals from all over the country at the National Skills USA Competition. IEC contractors and staff set up, administered, and judged the Residential Wiring competition, with 72 student competitors, and the Industrial Motor Controls competition, with 41 students.
IEC staff/contractors attended and provided hands-on training at Camp T&I in Brunswick (6/3) and Calhoun (7/16). Camp T&I is a yearly summer camp for high school construction instructors where they hear from industry stakeholders and learn various hands-on construction skills.
In addition to supporting Camp T&I, IEC staff/contractors spoke at and hosted a field trip for Georgia Tech’s “Electrical Systems and Sustainability” summer camp (7/17). IEC Atlanta also hosted a parent’s night, to provide valuable information to candidate stakeholders, like the use of the 529 Plan to cover apprenticeship costs.
With high school students returning to classes soon, Marcus Benson and Hance Joiner are making plans for fall visits, Skills Challenge competition support, and more! Make sure you stay connected with your local Workforce Coordinator to stay tapped into IEC’s workforce services!
Georgia Chapter contractors, please take a minute to respond to the 2025 Wage Survey. Responses are due by July 31 and will assist the IEC in setting an accurate minimum wage scale, as is required by the DoL. The responses also help your Workforce Coordinator when providing accurate and up to date data for candidates and stakeholders.
IEC Atlanta Congratulates the 2025 Apprentice of the Year, Miguel Lara Mejia
By: Marie Thornton, IEC Atlanta/GA Marketing and Communications Coordinator/ Todd Hawkins, VP of Membership
IEC announced the winner of its 2025 Apprentice of the Year on June 21st, during its 55th IEC Apprenticeship graduation. Congratulations to Miguel Lara Mejia of Wiring Solutions!
There was a total of 11 Apprentice of the Year competitors. These 4th year apprentices competed in the annual IEC Wire- Off competition during the 2025 Power Show in April. The competitors demonstrated their IEC acquired skills in the following areas:
Precision Pipe Bending • A Motor Control Project • A rigorous written exam
The winner isn’t announced until graduation and the 2025 IEC Apprenticeship Graduation revealed the long-awaited winner of the 2025 Apprentice of the Year!
All competitors received prizes from Milwaukee Tool, DeWalt, Southwire, and other IEC Partner Members in recognition of their achievement and professionalism.
Thank you to Milwaukee Tool for providing tools and tool pouches to the winners.
Winners: • 1st Place and our 2025 Apprentice of the Year: Miguel Lara Mejia, Wiring Solutions • 2nd Place: Gabriel Hernandez, TH Mize Electric Company
3rd Place: Jonathan Hanson, Pat Murphy Electric, Inc.
Great job competitors! IEC and your contractors are extremely proud of you!
Federated Insurance awarded the Apprentice of the Year a $500 cash prize, Southwire awarded him with the Top Gun award and he will represent the IEC Atlanta Chapter at the IEC National SPARK Conference in Phoenix, AZ in September! Good Luck Miguel! IEC Atlanta will be cheering for you!
By: Marie Thornton, IEC Atlanta/GA Marketing and Communications Coordinator/ Todd Hawkins, VP of Membership
IEC hosted its 55th Apprenticeship Graduation on June 21st at the Crowne Plaza in Norcross, Georgia. With a total of 137 graduates classifying as either 4-year IEC Apprenticeship Program or the Professional Electricians Program (PEP) graduates, not only is this the largest graduating class yet, but a total of 623 family, friends, contractors, partner members and IEC staff were in attendance for this momentous event!
Graduates and guests were welcomed by IEC’s Executive Director, Niel Dawson. Congratulatory and inspiring messages were delivered throughout the ceremony. Recorded messages from Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner, Rivera Holmes and IEC National President, Troy Corrigan, to the onstage presence of the author of newly passed IEC Bill 180 and President of Southern Electric Company, Mahsa Poorak; who introduced the keynote speaker for the evening, Georgia State Representative of District 99, Matt Reeves. Mr. Reeves emphasized the importance of the electrical industry and the important work that each graduate completed to become part of it. Congratulations on doing the important part first!
In this graduating class is another first; a special group that began their IEC journey with IEC Atlanta and Georgia chapters Pre-Apprenticeship Program (PAP). 8 graduates without any experience, first completed the PAP and were hired by IEC contractors who took a chance on them. On this day, they are the first from the PAP to graduate from the IEC 4- year apprenticeship program. More are expected to follow in their footsteps soon! IEC Atlanta and Georgia Deputy Director, Jeff Rogers had the honor of recognizing this trailblazing group of graduates.
24 graduates received an Academic Achievement award for maintaining a 90% or higher GPA throughout the program. 5 graduates were presented with the Academic Excellence Award (Top Graduate in each program.)
Congratulations to the following Top Graduates:
Justin Barton, Jordan Electric Co – 4-Year In-Person, Georgia Chapter • Nathan Ellington, LMI Systems – PEP Online • Miguel Lara Mejia, Wiring Solutions – 4-Year In-Person • Richard Medrano Gonzalez, Meer Electrical Contractors – PEP In-Person • Nickolas Wallace, Wallace Electric Company – 4-Year Online
IEC recognized a special IEC Instructor, Melissa Slate on receiving the Mike Gunter Achievement Award for her dedication to teaching and mentoring at the IEC. Great teachers are a key part to making the apprenticeship program successful.
The anticipated announcement of the 2025 Apprentice of the Year recognized Miguel Lara Meija of Wiring Solutions! Miguel will represent the Atlanta chapter at the National Spark conference in Arizona in September as he competes nationally for the Apprentice of the Year!
Finally, congratulations to all of the graduates who walked across the stage to receive their certificates and earn the title of Electrician in all 50 states from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship and IEC.
Thank you to Milwaukee Tool and DeWalt for providing gifts to all the 2025 graduates!
If you missed this program, or you want to re-live the moment, the video will be posted on IEC’s YouTube account. Thank you for joining the celebration of the graduating IEC Apprenticeship Class of 2025!
IEC Columbus Golf Tournament Connects GA Chapter Members and Guests
By: Marie Thornton, IEC Atlanta/ GA Marketing and Communications Coordinator
On Friday, June 13th, IEC Georgia chapter hosted its 2025 Columbus Golf Tournament at the Maple Ridge Golf Club in Columbus, Georgia. 15 teams assembled of Contractor members, partner members and guests, joined in a competitive and fun networking opportunity at this 18-hole championship golf course! They came to play hard, and that’s exactly what the IEC Columbus golfers did!
Congratulations to those who would rise to the occasion and leave this event with their well-deserved trophies.
1st Place- Team Interstate with Andy Robbins, Justin Gordon, Tracey Hurst and Brandon Summers
2nd Place- Team Smith Gray Electric with Trip Reynolds, Troy Davis, Eddie Mitja, and Joey Barfield
3rd Place- Team Brasfield and Gorrie with Sean Meguiness of Dewalt, Tyler Martindill, Blake Riley and Kyle Henry
Closest to the Pin- Ashley Bell of Interstate Electrical
Longest Drive- Chaz Willbon
Thank you for coming out and being a part of an IEC event! See pictures from this event here.
Special thanks to the sponsors that make IEC golf tournaments next level! Tournament and hole sponsors, Lowe Electric Supply Company, SM Ellis Company, Smith Gray Electric Company, Interstate Electrical NetPlanner Systems, Inc., McNaughton-McKay Electric Company and Marsh McLennan Agency, IEC appreciates your partnership and support! Longest Drive award was sponsored by BenSource, and Closest to the Pin award was sponsored by Interstate Electrical! See full list of sponsors here.
Please check our event page or social media pages for upcoming events. We would love to have you join us at the Augusta or Macon Golf tournaments, and our monthly luncheon meeting on August 6th!
