Ken Irwin, the JATC’s Assistant Training Coordinator, has recently received his 30-year pin for his IBEW Union membership.

A Union prides itself on how well its members can stick together through thick and thin. At myriad meetings throughout the country, hats are passed for tragedy, phones are called for commiseration, and local committees exist as a way for people to support members who have other things in common.

A word that may not be used often enough in reference to tradesmen is “grace.” There is an element to what we do as skilled labor that can only be described as grace, not just in the quality of the work we produce but about how we handle hardship and adversity on the jobsite. 

Humility is an incredible asset in an apprentice. A person who is freshly introduced to our trade may find themselves swimming in all the new information. But with tenacity and hard work, even the greenest of apprentices can rise to become forces to be reckoned with.

There’s a word that can be used to truly describe what constitutes an apprentice worthy of apprentice of the month: humility. When someone thinks about this month’s apprentice, Dmitriy Isayev, that is one of the first words that comes to mind.

Each year, locals from across the western U.S. send participants to compete in the Western States Electrical Contest, a one-day grueling test of skill and knowledge. 

When a first year apprentice comes in, you hope they understand the gravity of their apprenticeship. The hallowed seats they represent, the impact it has on a young life, all these things amount to a career filled with opportunity and pride in a person’s work.

A good apprentice must be keen to learn. They must be able to follow instructions and be able to take constructive criticism. They must keep an open mind and learn to grow and be molded by their journeymen. More than anything, they have to prove they have the tenacity of spirit and humility needed to make it through an IBEW/NECA apprenticeship. 

When we think of a good apprentice, we usually imagine someone who is quick to grab a broom in slow times, someone who is always writing down directions, or someone who makes sure they ask questions about anything they don’t understand.

There is something to be said for those of us in the trade who can work hard, learn as much as possible, ands still have a smile and a great attitude at the end of the day. One such apprentice is Marcos Sanchez, who has proven himself to be an exemplary worker, terrific student, and all-around great guy.

An apprentice’s ability to learn and absorb their environment, especially when it is initially a foreign one, is one of the cornerstones of a fresh electrical worker. Crystal Martinez, a second-year apprentice who just finished school for her year, embodies all of these qualities and is the JATC’s pick for Apprentice of the Month.

Apprentices must have a certain constitution when they come through our program. They need to be of strong physical strength, good mental acuity, and, if they are really to go above and beyond, a good sense of humor and personality. This month’s apprentice of the month, fourth year Tony Nguyen, embodies these qualities.