IAN PETERSON
Title: Journeyman Wireman/General Foreman
Company: IBEW Local 48
Location: Vancouver, Wash.
Age: 26
Years on the job: 6
The electrical industry attracted Ian Peterson, a first-generation wireman, like a magnet. He was searching for a field in which he could combine design and application, and the trade was a perfect fit. While he was serving as a member of the Air Force National Guard, he entered the Local 48 electrical apprenticeship program.
“Serving in the military and being in the Local 48 apprenticeship program was a challenge at times, but being a part of both simultaneously helped prepare me for a full career,” Peterson says.
Over the last six years, he has worked with more than 10 different contractors. As one of the current general foremen for the special projects division of Sturgeon Electric, his typical day starts with a task assessment, followed with a procedure planning session. Next, his crews set poles, perform trenching, operate equipment, and work closely with the customers. Because Sturgeon Electric is predominantly a line company, it allows Peterson and the other members of his team to get exposure to line work.
“Our inside wiremen get to dabble in both worlds, always deferring to our line brothers for their specialty,” says Peterson, a Vancouver, Wash., native.
While performing work in the field, he says technology plays a significant role. For example, he’s currently using apps and tablets to track milestones on a project, and he says without PLC controls and BIM modeling, most modern structures would not exist.
Throughout his career, Peterson has had the opportunity to gain experience in residential, commercial, and industrial work, exposing him to a wide array of technology and work practices. While most wiremen have a defined skillset, Peterson has had the opportunity to work on diverse projects from constructing an oil refinery to building electrical rooms.
“My drive and interest in learning many skill-sets in the various styles of electrical work has given me a distinct advantage,” Peterson says.
After working for the special projects division for a few years and passing his administrator’s test, Peterson plans to open his own shop in the Vancouver, Wash., metropolitan area. He says while construction isn’t for everyone, those who love their jobs will be successful.
“As long as what we’re doing is fun, I would be happy to be part of a bigger team,” says Peterson, who enjoys barbecuing, crabbing, hanging out on the river, and playing video games in his free time. “I enjoy a lot of the critical function aspects, big picks, and strategic wire pulls — anything with heights. I was a lead rock climber for a little bit, so getting paid to do what I enjoy fits the bill. If adrenaline is involved, I want to be a part of it.”
