WES NEWTON
Job Title: Service Technician
Company: Hill Electric Co.
Location: Anderson, S.C.
Age: 21
Years on the Job: 2
Interests: Getting outside and woodworking
Wes Newton’s professor made electrical work fun and intriguing, which inspired him to pursue a career in the electrical trade. He enrolled in the mechatronics technology program at Anderson 1 & 2 Career and Technology Center and earned his associate’s degree before joining Hill Electric, which trains on the job.
“The benefit to that is you get to see real-life situations where you and the people you are working under make important decisions in a timely manner with real-life consequences,” says Newton, who was born and raised in Donalds, S.C.
With the industry advancing at such a quick pace, he says it’s the job of electricians to inform customers about different products and ways of doing things. “Technology is paramount for today's electrical firms,” he says. “If you are not open-minded and on the forefront of new products, then you are falling behind.”
He says to succeed in the electrical industry, it also takes work ethic and a care about your work. “If you show up with a good attitude and you care about your work, people will teach you what you need to know,” he says.
As an electrician, his day usually starts in the office acquiring material, and he then goes out to work on the jobs for the day. When he first started, his responsibilities were to take care of whatever tasks were assigned to him, but now, he also focuses on communicating with customers.
Currently, he is working on a lot of interior additions, such as bonus rooms and garages as well as exterior jobs, where people are getting their flood/entry lighting upgraded or repaired for the summer. “I am providing manpower and an open mind to these projects,” he says.
Ten years from now, he sees himself still working in the field but also picking up more and more management responsibilities. He says he is excited to be part of the 2024 EC&M 30 Under 30.
“It is an honor and an incredible opportunity,” he says.
