Electrical Association

Community News

Sympathy

Our condolences to the family of MEA Past President, Delmer "Bud" Weaver... Bud passed away on January 12 at age 87. We offer our condolences to the family and friends who will miss him greatly. He was a WWII vet and opened his electrical business in 1962. He was active in MEA and NECA for many years and served as MEA President in 1972. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, horses, antique cars, golfing, various hobbies and especially his family and grandchildren. The family asked that any donations be given in his name to the American Lung Association or to the Kidney Foundation.

Congratulations

Bob Anderson of Federated... Bob was welcomed to the Quarter Century Club.

Gary Menke... Gary received a Field Services Commitment to Excellence Award. Gary is a Regional Risk Consultant in Minnesota and continues to be involved with MEA in its safety programs.

Andrew Hanson takes Gold at National SkillsUSA Championships... He is a student in the Electrical Construction and Maintenance program at Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) who won first place in the Related Technical Math event at the college level. DCTC instructor, Mike Buck, Electrical Construction and Maintenance Technology Department also attended the Conference.

Border States Electric awarded supply contract... Border States Electric (BSE) has been awarded an integrated supply contract to support Xcel Energy's material requirements in transmission, substations, and gas and electric distribution. Border States will service this contract from several of its existing branch locations and establish new branch locations in Colorado, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. BSE provides products and services to the construction, industrial, and utility markets.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Doug Seaton... Doug continues to do ongoing pro bono work for MEA and the Electrical Training Network of Minnesota. The Seaton, Beck & Peters firm has been a member of the association for many years and dedicates its practice to advising and representing employers in handling every type of labor, employment, and human resources law issue, problem, planning need, audit, dispute, complaint, charge or lawsuit.

Thank you to all of our sponsors, hosts, distributors & manufactures who help make all of the MEA CE classes EXCITING, FUN & EDUCATIONAL!!

• Werner Electric and Burndy... Mystic Lake Class. Thank you to our table top sponsors who help make the Mystic Lake class possible; Deb Ricci and the Werner Electric Team; and Jim Grahek, Burndy for demonstrating their products at lunch.
• Viking Electric... Rochester Class. Thank you to Scott St. Marie and the Rochester Viking Electric Team for stopping by class on Friday and sponsoring the coffee breaks!
• Werner Electric... Mankato Class. Thank you to Mark Stelter and the Werner Electric Mankato Team for hosting the class at their location!
• United Electric... New Brighton Class. Thank you to Rob Olson and his team at United Electric for hosting the class at their location! John Sterne, Panduit, for having products available to demo at lunch.
• Minnesota Electric/BSE & AJB... Bemidji Class. Way up in Bemidji thank you to Joe McMocoppin and MESCO Team. Also thanks to Mike Podgornik, AJB for demo-ing some of their products at lunch.
• Wright Hennepin Co-Op... St. Cloud Class. Thank you to Michael Hofmann from Wright Hennepin for introducing their new low-voltage in-floor heating system at lunch.
• Joe Yeske and his Team at Echo Electric Supply... Worthington Class. Thank you to them for all of their help promoting the class! Always a great class!

Moves and New Locations

Crescent Electric Announces Leadership Changes... The Crescent Electric Supply Company Board of Directors announced that effective immediately Richard Cody has been named Vice President, Supplier Management. Mr. Cody has been with the company 5 years and most recently served as Vice President, Sales. Richard Schmid was named Senior Vice President. Mr. Schmid started with the company officially in 1977 and remains a member of the company Board of Directors. Crescent Electric Supply Company is a privately held distributor of electrical, electronic, voice data and industrial automation equipment.

Education & Meetings

Solar PV Installation Courses... Synergized Solar is offering Solar PV Installation Courses facility at 719 St Croix Street, River Falls, WI 54022. All classes begin at 8:00am. For more info or to register call (877) 600-4757 or go to www.synergizedsolar.com.

401 Solar PV Installation for Electrical Professionals:

• March 1-5 (8 people max)
• April 12-16 (8 people max)
• May 3-7 (8 people max)
• June 7-11 (8 people max)
• July 12-16 (TBD)

201 Solar PV Fundementals:

• March 26 (10 people max)
• April 30 (10 people max)
• May 28 (10 people max)
• June 25 (10 people max)
• July 30 (10 people max)

MEA Spring Conference... April 12-14. Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Minneapolis

NCEL Upper Midwest Electrical Expo... April 14-15. Minneapolis Convention Center.