~ Press release provided by Rosendin
LURAY, May 23 — Last month following a signing ceremony, six graduates studying electricity at the Page County Technical Center in Luray, committed to furthering their education by signing to work with Rosendin and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 26. The graduates are working toward the IBEW’s Inside Wireman ‘A’ Apprenticeship Program, a 5-year program consisting of on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
Starting in June, all six students began working for the electrical contractor at Rosendin’s regional office in Sterling, Va. They will receive supervised, hands-on training while working full-time in Rosendin’s pre-fabrication facility and job sites building data centers. Rosendin provides new employees with excellent training opportunities, good hourly wages and health benefits, and pay increases based on the number of work hours they complete.
Three students will also be starting the IBEW’s apprenticeship program in Fall 2023 and will get paid to attend two days of classroom instruction each month through the IBEW’s Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC). Throughout the 5-year apprenticeship program, students will continue to learn new skills towards becoming a Journeyman Electrical worker.
All the students graduated in May from Page County Technical Center’s Electricity Level 2 program. Under the direction of teacher David Williams, students practiced essential skills such as basic wiring, conduit bending, electrical formulas and basic construction fundamentals.
“We are preparing second year students for careers in the real world, so we focus on safety, electrical theory, and hands-on learning like running electrical wires up a wall, running pvc, and setting up duct banks,” the PCTC instructor said. “Once they learn the key concepts, we add obstacles to teach them how to use critical thinking skills to solve problems on job sites.”
Williams finished his fourth year of teaching students this spring. In that time, he has prepared 60 students for a career in the electrical trades. A former electrical worker, Williams is dedicated to making sure students understand they are responsible for carrying their weight and acting safely to protect everyone on a job site.
“We use NCCER, a nationally recognized training guide, so students entering the workforce and the IBEW apprenticeship program have a head start,” Williams said. “They can walk onto a job site and start being productive from day one while making over $20 an hour.”
Students attend a traditional high school in the mornings, and in the afternoons they attend PCTC where they focus on earning their electrical trade school diploma. They enter the program as juniors learning safety techniques and residential electrical concepts, as well as practical skills such running wires, putting up switch boxes, and craftsmanship. In their senior year, second year PCTC students learn commercial electrical techniques such as alternating current theory, formulas, and hands-on skills they can use to secure entry-level positions in the electrical industry.
PCTC’s Electrical program has become so popular, there are now two teachers and most of the 30 slots for the Fall school year have been taken. Students interested in joining for the 2024-25 school year should sign up at Page County and Luray High Schools in August.
Rosendin is a proud partner of PCTC and has been working with David Williams for three years. In that
time, the electrical contractor has hired 14 PCTC students and helped them get into the IBEW Local 26
union.
Rosendin General Superintendent Shannon Turner has also presented to the senior class about the workforce to explain what they can expect and describe career options in the electrical trade. In addition, Rosendin has donated conduit pipes, wiring, and other equipment to the school to ensure students have access to materials for hands-on learning.
“As a 104-year old electrical contractor, Rosendin is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment where entry level workers can feel comfortable learning the satisfaction of building while earning a good paycheck,” Turner said.
Rosendin, headquartered in San Jose, is employee-owned and one of the largest electrical contractors in the United States, employing more than 8,000 people, with $3 billion in revenue. Their customers lead some of the most complex construction projects in history and rely on them for their knowledge, ability to scale, and dedication to quality. Rosendin works to ensure that everyone can reach their full potential by building a diverse, safe, welcoming, and inclusive culture.
“We value our partners at the IBEW and the Page County Technical Center and look forward to meeting students each year to explain what they can expect from a career in the electrical trade,” Rosendin’s general superintendent said.
“We talk about the type of work they’ll do, tell them about pay and benefits, and explain how Rosendin works to identify people’s strengths to put them in jobs where they can thrive,” Turner continued. “The PCTC program sets up students for success, and we are proud to provide opportunities for people in the local community who want a career as a craft worker.”
Below are the Page County students hired by Rosendin in June 2023:
Kyle Nicholson
Robin Hernandez
Cole Shifflett
Jacob Sours
Jacob Williams
Aaron Wright
For more information about the Page County Technical Center, visit https://www.pagecounty.k12.va.us/o/pctc
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