NECA has provided superior workforce training almost from the association’ s very beginning. However, NECA also has a responsibility to meet the management-oriented educational and training needs of its member contractors.
In 1948, NECA launched the first format management education program for electrical contractors and their key employees, with course in estimating, job management, marketing, accounting, and “self-appraisal.” In the early 1950’s, NECA established a management education department to develop and deliver such programs as “Effective Foremanship”, “Basic Estimating”, and “Executive Finance”.
Since then, NECA’s educational offerings became increasingly varied and complex in order to meet the changing needs of electrical contractors. In 1998, NECA created its Management Education Institute to develop and deliver these courses through NECA Chapters to member contractors around the country. Over 50 different programs in electrical project supervision, estimating, marketing, financial management, and a range of business and job management topics are delivered at the NECA-chapter level, with NECA field staff, industry experts and scholars serving as instructors. Courses are developed in consultation with these experts, along with the researchers working on projects for ELECTRI International-The Foundation for Electrical Construction.
The MEI curriculum is focused on the business, technical, and project management skills essential for success in the electrical contracting industry, from those managers starting out as supervisors on through their careers as decision making executives with corporate responsibilities. The curriculum is under constant review; courses are kept up-to-date, and new programs are continually under development. A complete listing MEI courses can be found in the printed or online Catalog of Courses.
Management Education Institute Instructors are available to provide consulting services to NECA-member firms in their respective areas of teaching expertise and as their schedules permit. On request, MEI courses can be arranged for presentation within NECA member companies. Member companies can contact the MEI Office at 301-215-4523 to learn more about consulting or in-house training.
MEI plays an instrumental role in developing and presenting educational programs at NECA’s annual Convention and other association events. MEI is also responsible for producing many of NECA’s management reports and materials that contractors use for self-study or in-house training.