Industry Report


by Tony Enger,
Chair of the MEA Board

MEA had a great set of meetings in April. It is a privilege to serve as your Chair of the MEA Board of Directors for the coming year and I want to thank Tim Zinniel for doing such a great job during his term. The association is in strong shape financially and has an excellent staff working hard for members and the industry. The following are the most important items to pass along to you.

Available Soon! 24/7 training for unlicensed electricians who want to pass their journeyworker exam. MEA’s Exam Prep Class is now fully computer based so your employees can study independently online 24/7. Once your unlicensed electricians take the online simulated exam—they can dig in and study those areas where they need the most help.
For more info, call Jamie Zelinski or Jeff Keljik at the MEA office.

MEA’s Strategic Plan has been updated with the top priorities being:

  • MEA’s website: This goal is to make it easy for contractors to schedule classes for employees, find compliance information quickly, find important rebate, distributor and industry links, and keep us informed about time saving apps and software.
  • Workforce Development: This goal is to help members obtain, retain, motivate and communicate with employees. MEA is continuing to develop tools for contractors to use in attracting people to the trade and retaining them with excellent employer practices and quality training. An April 25th article in the StarTribune highlighted the need for promoting the value of working for mid-sized and smaller companies in Greater Minnesota.
  • Government Action: This goal is to maintain MEA’s strong government action programs at the legislative and regulatory levels and continue to strengthen our grass roots contact program between electrical contractors and their legislators. Encouraging members to join MEA and to support their legislators are important parts of creating this strength.
  • Training for Electricians and Contractors: Bringing quality training to electrical contractors and their employees where ever they choose to live and work has always been one of MEA’s top priorities. It will continue to be as MEA brings more training online and available to you 24/7.

 We are fortunate to have an excellent team of contractors leading the association and I want to thank the following people for their willingness to serve the industry:

  • Vice Chair, Jason Seanger, Melrose Electric
  • Treasurer, Karen Maine, Karen’s Electric
  • Secretary, Joe Gatewood, Gatewood Electric
  • Advisor, Tim Zinniel, Zinniel Electric
  • Director/Advisor, Clayton Schenck, Magnum Electric
  • Director, Shawn Hasskamp, Dutch’s Electric
  • Director, Andrew Javens, Javens Electric
  • Director, Jeff Kunkel, Kunkel Electric
  • Director, Jay Malstrom, Malstrom Electric
  • Director, Pat Vlaminck, Vlaminck Electric

Thank you to Tom Freetly, Warren Olson, Steve Hoskins, Steve Hahn and Michelle Klein for serving in leadership roles and we are pleased that they will continue to participate in other areas.

MEA members are invited to join us on Sat., May 7. . . for MEA’s Annual Building Day. We have a great time as we do small projects in the building and gather to swap stories over a great lunch. Plus, you will get a tour of the recently finished renovations on the building.