EC&M On Air

In Episode 46, Ellen Parson had the chance to sit down one of the authors of FMI's 2023 Labor Productivity Study to discuss how the ongoing workforce shortage continues to plague the nation's construction industry. Tyler Paré, who leads FMI's Performance practice, dissects the most important data/trends and shares how contractors can establish sound operating procedures.

This conversation is based on a popular article we published in our March 2024 print issue. You can read the special report here. 

In Episode 45, Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson is highlighting some of the most popular technical content we’ve been running recently, but this time brought to you in audio-only form. In case you missed it, this content was originally brought to you in our EC&M Asks Q&A video series. This week, we’re featuring subject matter expert Randy Barnett, who addresses some of our readers’ most pressing questions about temperature limitations, general requirements in the NEC as well as the confusion that often surrounds grounding electrodes. 

In Episode 44, Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson sits down with Denise Green, Midwest regional sales manager and national breaker specialist with Group CBS, to cover common questions about how circuit breaker condition affects arc flash safety.

Denise presented a very popular webinar on this topic last summer, which is available on demand on the EC&M website for you to listen to in its entirety. 

In Episode 43 of “EC&M On Air,” Ellen Parson, editor-in-chief of EC&M, is highlighting highlight some of the most popular technical content we’ve been running recently, but this time brought to you in audio-only form. This week, we’re featuring subject matter expert Don Kiper, who addresses some of our readers’ most pressing questions about electrical estimating. He answers one of the most common questions he is asked: Do you need to average branch wire estimating?

In Episode 42, we're back with Part 2 of our discussion with Rosendin's CEO Emeritus Mike Greenawalt and Edward Cota with Arizona's Department of Education and chief strategy officer and chairman of the Arizona Education Economic Commission. In today's section, EC&M Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson continues this fascinating discussion with more information on how construction leaders can benefit from public-private partnerships like this, how to develop similar models to teach in middle schools and high schools, and how to help shift the perception of the skilled trades in not only students’ minds but also their parents. They also cover ways they’re thinking outside the box by harnessing an immersive technological experience to attract kids and create greater interest in a career in the electrical field.

And in case you missed Part 1 of our conversation, you can listen to it here. 

 

 

In Episode 41, we're highlighting Part 2 of Electrical Trainer Harold De Loach's explanation of Art. 100 definitions from the 2024 NEC, which originally ran as a video but is presented in this podcast in an audio-only format. This discussion centers around additional terms every electrician needs to know, including authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), how to recognize key definitions when they’re formed in a question on an electrical exam,  and the difference between bonding and grounding. 

 

 

In Episode 40, Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson discusses solutions to the nation's ongoing construction workforce shortage with Rosendin's CEO Emeritus Mike Greenawalt and Edward Cota with Arizona's Department of Education and chief strategy officer and chairman of the Arizona Education Economic Commission (AEEC). They discuss the new, groundbreaking partnership between Rosendin and Arizona state educators; background of the pre-apprenticeship program created for Grand Canyon University (GCU); and how it works hand in hand with the AEEC. We also dive into Mike's background as a C student to apprenticeship to head of a $3-billion electrical contracting company.

In Episode 39 of “EC&M On Air,” Ellen Parson, editor-in-chief, is highlighting some of the most popular technical content we’ve been running recently, but this time brought to you in audio-only format. In case you missed it, this content was originally brought to you in our EC&M Asks Q&A video series. This week, we’re featuring subject matter expert Harold De Loach, who addresses some of our readers’ most pressing questions about which definitions in the National Electrical Code should be mastered first, including technical terms and how to apply them in real-world applications; what specific language can be confusing and why; and what terms every electrical apprentice should have a basic understanding of in order to be successful. He also go over best practices for navigating the Code book most effectively.  

In Episode 38, Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson talks with a panel of experts to deconstruct trends in the electrical construction industry surrounding artificial intelligence (AI). We cover how this technology is already being used in the industry, what areas are in development that may maximize productivity, big things to watch going forward, and why — despite many people's fears — this technology isn't going to take your job anytime soon. 

Our experts include:

• John Guilfoyle, chief of technology and innovation, Stanley Consultants
• Josh Gillespie, director of BIM/VDC, Interstates
• Dustin Schafer, chief technology officer, Henderson Engineers
• Aaron Szymanski, Chief Product Officer (CPO), Augmenta

To learn more about AI in the electrical construction industry, read the full report by Tim Kridel. 

In Episode 37 of “EC&M On Air,” Ellen Parson, editor-in-chief of EC&M highlights some of the most popular technical content we’ve been running recently, but this time brought to you in audio-only form. In case you missed it, this content was originally brought to you in our EC&M Asks Q&A video series. This week, we’re featuring subject matter expert Eddie Guidry, who addresses some of our readers’ most pressing questions about listing requirements for code compliance with electrical equipment. The main question is must all electrical items be listed, NRTL listed (which is a nationally recognized testing laboratory), or UL listed to be NEC and OSHA compliant? Eddie breaks down those questions and provides practical answers. He also discusses some of the errors made in language when it comes to specifications on electrical equipment, why there are no “blanket” requirements, examples from the field, and common misconceptions in this area.