ERMCO, Inc. Chairman and NECA Central Indiana Chapter Governor, Darrell Gossett, presented his white paper, titled “Partnerships and Joint Ventures – A Business Strategy for Success” to The Academy of Electrical Contracting at their annual meeting in Jackson Hole, WY on July 10, 2017.

 

The Academy of Electrical Contracting was established by the NECA Board of Directors in 1968 to recognize exceptional and outstanding service to the electrical contracting industry. Darrell Gossett was inducted as a Fellow into the Academy in 2013. Fellows of the Academy participate in issue analysis to determine trends within the industry and make recommendations, as well as participating in long-range studies to ascertain future requirements of the electrical contracting industry. Another requirement of Fellowship is the preparation and delivery of a paper on any subject relevant to the electrical contracting industry. Gossett fulfilled this requirement by preparing and presenting his paper at this year’s meeting.

 

Meetings are held in May or June of each year. A reception is also held annually at the NECA National Convention to honor newly inducted, as well as existing Fellows in attendance. This year’s annual meeting in Jackson, presided by Academy Chairman and former NECA National President Dennis Quebe of Chapel Electric, drew a record number of attendees with over 120 Fellows in attendance along with their guests. Fellows in attendance included some who were inducted as far back as 1981, along with 12 new Fellows inducted in 2016 and attending their first Academy meeting. In addition to Gossett, the Central Indiana Chapter was also represented by Jeff Cardwell of Huston Electric, who was inducted into the Academy in 2015.

 

Mike Joyce, 2014 Inductee, from Zenith Electric, Greater Cleveland Chapter NECA, also presented his paper on “The Evolution of Technology in the Electrical Construction Industry.” Guest speakers at this year’s meeting included Peter Phillips, Professor of Economics at the University of Utah, and John “Boomer” Stufflebeam, retired U.S. Navy two-star Rear Admiral and Director, Navy Staff, and former NFL player.

 

Thirteen new Fellows were announced at the meeting and will be inducted into the Academy in 2017 (names are withheld pending their official notification). It was also announced that David Long, of Miller Electric, Jacksonville, FL and current NECA District III V.P., will be the next NECA President, beginning in 2018. Finally, it was announced that next year’s Academy meeting will be held at Laguna Beach, CA on June 7 – 9, 2018.