Summer Closes with a Spotlight on Annese Electrical, Release of the 2026-27 Education Schedule, and a Preview of NECA’s 125th Anniversary
August has been a busy month for NECA Boston, with opportunities to connect nationally, learn from fellow contractors, and celebrate our members. We also got a glimpse of what lies ahead for our industry.
We kick things off with this month’s Contractor Spotlight on Annese Electrical Services, currently engaged in the ambitious new Revere High School construction. The company holds an approximately $28 million electrical contract on the 422,600-square-foot facility. The story also traces Annese’s growth since becoming signatory with IBEW Local 103 and joining NECA Boston, and the impact those relationships have had on its workforce, capacity, and direction. It is a strong example of how access to skilled labor, industry relationships, and professional resources can help a contractor grow strategically.
NECA Boston’s 2026–27 education brochure is here! The updated brochure/website looks fabulous and boasts an all-new curriculum, developed and curated to help our members elevate their skills and build their businesses for today’s challenges. I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to review the offerings, identify the programs that can support your teams and your business, and register early for the sessions that best fit your needs.
Meanwhile, the Boston JATC has announced an exciting new partnership with Rowan University. JATC graduates will receive 65 credits toward Rowan’s 120-credit bachelor’s degree in construction management, creating a streamlined online pathway for Local 103 members who want to continue their education and advance their careers.
We recently traveled to Buffalo, NY, with Governor Kathy Guinee for the combined NECA District 1 and District 2 Council Meeting. Buffalo holds special significance as NECA's birthplace, founded there at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901. It was a fitting setting to hear updates on national initiatives, exchange ideas with Chapter leaders, and represent our region’s contractors' priorities within the national organization. To that end, we’re especially proud that Mike McDonald of McDonald Electrical Corporation serves as NECA District 1 Vice President and on NECA’s Executive Committee. His leadership gives our region a strong voice at the national level.
One important discussion in Buffalo focused on the future of apprenticeship training through the IBEW-NECA Electrical Training Alliance. Nearly 1,000 courses have now been converted to CML, creating fresh opportunities to deliver knowledge-based instruction through the platform while preserving more time at training centers for hands-on learning. The ETA is also piloting new pre-apprenticeship approaches and standardized hands-on skill evaluations; all aimed at better preparing apprentices to perform at high levels on the job from day one.
These are national developments, not changes to our local JATCs. Training decisions remain local, and contractors in Boston, Maine, and New Hampshire are fortunate to have four strong apprenticeship programs with strong leaders in our Training Directors.
We also had the opportunity this month to visit Modular Power Solutions and Rosendin for a firsthand look at how contractors are industrializing electrical construction, a potent reminder of how quickly our industry is evolving, particularly with regard to data centers, energy, and other high-growth markets. Contractors are no longer simply installing systems; we are innovation partners and manufacturers, redefining how projects are built.
ELECTRI International continues to play a significant role in helping contractors navigate that evolution. Under Josh Bone’s leadership, ELECTRI is creating valuable opportunities for contractors to share challenges, compare solutions and learn from one another. That willingness to exchange ideas strengthens every quadrant of our industry. Check out the latest Electri reports here: https://www.electri.org/research-overview/research/
Closer to home, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued a unanimous ruling allowing the White Stadium redevelopment to move forward. The decision clears a major hurdle for a significant Boston public project where several NECA contractors are already at work. The $325 million redevelopment will serve Boston Public Schools athletics and Boston Legacy FC, representing another major investment in the city’s public facilities and construction pipeline.
Talent continues to rise within our ranks, and we are proud to celebrate this year’s Fran Angino Scholarship recipients and our 2026 NECA Project Excellence Award winners. Together, these honors reflect the future of our industry: supporting the next generation while recognizing the craftsmanship, innovation, and execution our contractors deliver today.
Finally, I hope many of you will join us in Las Vegas, October 4–7, for the 2026 NECA Convention. This year carries special significance as NECA celebrates its 125th anniversary. So much has changed over the decades, but NECA’s priorities remain constant: our commitment to workforce development and education, business growth for our contractors, and the health and advancement of our industry. Our tradition of progress continues …
It’s been a great month for our members with much to look forward to this fall.
I look forward to seeing many of you in Las Vegas.
Kristen Gowin, Executive Manager, NECA Boston