David Ashcraft
David Ashcraft has delivered high-content, entertaining and engaging presentations for over 25 years. His expertise is converting dry forgettable data into educational and inspiring training sessions. He received his BA in Communications from Washington State University and is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School, where he was elected class president and later served as an associate director. He has taught at Graduate School of Banking Colorado and Graduate School of Banking at LSU.
Josh Bone
Josh Bone is Executive Director of ELECTRI International, where he leads the foundation's research and education initiatives to help electrical contractors address today's challenges and prepare for the future. A recognized industry leader in construction technology and innovation, Josh brings extensive experience advancing practical solutions that strengthen the electrical construction industry.
J. Nathan Cole
J. Nathan Cole is the founding partner of Cole Law Partners, P.C., a Massachusetts construction, commercial litigation, and employment law firm. He has tried and argued construction cases in the Massachusetts courts for more than twenty years, and in 2026 argued J.C. Cannistraro, LLC v. Columbia Construction Co. before the full Supreme Judicial Court, the Court's leading decision under the Massachusetts Prompt Payment Act. He is President-Elect of the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association, Chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association's Real Estate Development and Construction Law Practice Group, and a Boston Magazine Top Lawyer in Construction Law.
Dr. Mark Federle, P.E., CPC
Dr. Mark Federle, P.E., CPC is a professor and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Marquette University, where he teaches Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering. He does extensive research in strategic planning, along with individual behavior and leadership, and has published several works on these topics.
Matt Firestone
Matt Firestone is the Chief Estimator for Commonwealth Electric Company of the Midwest, based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Firestone started as a project estimator in 1997 and assumed his current duties in 2001. As Chief Estimator, Firestone and his staff assist Commonwealth's various locations with their estimating needs and bidding all types of projects. In addition to leading the corporate estimating department, he was instrumental in developing Commonwealth's in-house estimating training program, now used companywide to educate new estimators as well as project managers.
Patrick Lynch
Patrick Lynch of Dominion Consulting LLC is a construction industry expert and management consultant. He believes that the construction industry has tremendous room for growth and works to contribute to that end.
He works with clients to improve project delivery methods, build effective teams, research, educate and resolve complex disputes and litigation. Prior to starting his own consulting practice, Lynch worked for large general contracting companies in both New York City and Boston.
Wesley L. Wheeler, SMS, CESCP, MSP
Wesley L. Wheeler, SMS, CESCP, MSP, is NECA's Executive Director of Safety. Wesley joined NECA in 2013 and has over 44 years of electrical experience. Prior to NECA, he was a safety consultant in his own business, Wheeler Safety Services, Inc. and has been a Safety Director and OSHA Safety trainer for a large industrial based electrical contractor in Florida. Wesley is a qualified OSHA Construction Outreach Instructor and has assisted in OSHA Instructor classes for Electrical Training Alliance, formerly known as the NJATC. He also has assisted etA in textbook development, having recently contributed to their OSHA workbooks. Wesley has served in many capacities in his career from electrician, foreman, superintendent, estimator, project manager to safety director.
Carl Britton Jr.
Carl Britton Jr. of Iron Thread Consulting bridges the gap between hard hats and artificial intelligence. With 20 years of construction experience and 15 years in tech, Carl brings a rare combination of dirt-under-the-fingernails credibility and cutting-edge AI expertise that resonates with contractors. As a three-time published author and seasoned speaker, Carl has delivered hundreds of workshops and keynote presentations to major industry organizations including NECA National, multiple NECA chapters, SMACNA, MCA, and various professional associations across the country.
Dr. Heather Moore, MCA
Dr. Heather Moore, MCA is Vice President of Customer Care & Support for MCA Inc. and has taught numerous courses for the construction industry while contributing to research initiatives for ELECTRI, MCAA, NHF, and NAW. She holds a Ph.D. in Construction Management from Michigan State University, along with an MBA and a B.S.E. in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. A recognized expert in process design and operations research, Dr. Heather coauthored four books on the Industrialization of Construction, including the industry's Prefabrication Handbook, and contributed to the NECA 5-2022 Standard, Prefabrication of Electrical Installations for Construction. She works with contractors and distributors nationwide on process improvement and productivity.
Herling D. Romero Adrianza
Herling D. Romero Adrianza of Cole Law Partners is a business and construction litigator who helps companies prevent manageable legal problems from becoming business-threatening disputes - and takes decisive control when litigation becomes unavoidable. He represents contractors, subcontractors, developers, business owners, and employers in complex matters where the contracts are detailed, the financial exposure is substantial, and the legal strategy must remain aligned with the client's broader business objectives.
Jay B. Jones
Jay B. Jones earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 2000. While there, Jay was named Captain of his Football Team and then went on to coach the Offensive Line for one season following graduation. After college, Jay took his leadership off the football field and into the Electrical Construction Industry. After completing his Apprenticeship, Jay became a Journeyman Wireman with IBEW Local Union 456 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where he worked for 11 years as a Journeyman Wireman, Foreman, and General Foreman. He then worked with the National Electrical Contractors Association as a NECA Field Representative covering the NECA Eastern Region.
Lonnie Maxwell-Cook
Lonnie Maxwell-Cook is a partner at Plante Moran, specializing in financial and tax strategies for closely held businesses, with a focus on contractors, manufacturers, and A&E firms. He leads the firm's national heavy civil construction practice and Taft-Hartley Employee Benefit Plan group, and serves as the real estate and construction regional leader for Greater Michigan, helping drive growth and deliver a consistent client experience across the industry.
Anson Martens
Anson Martens is a partner at Plante Moran, where he advises construction companies on financial performance, strategic planning, and banking and bonding readiness. He works with owner-managed, family-owned, ESOP, and private equity-owned contractors, providing expertise in mergers and acquisitions, revenue recognition, employee benefit plans, and executive financial consulting to help firms achieve long-term growth and operational excellence.
Sean Sampson
Sean Sampson, Founder & CEO of Sean Sampson Training, is a highly sought-after industry thought leader and mentor within the Electrical, Mechanical, Service, and Construction arena. Sean has addressed audiences worldwide on Sales, Service, and Maintenance, and Strategic Planning and has personally trained, scaled, and consulted over 300 contracting organizations in 16 countries.