Joel Munsey
Job Title: Electric Installer
Company: Connected Technology
Location: Roseville, Calif.
Age: 25
Years on the Job: 4
Interests: Spending time outdoors camping and backpacking in the mountains and along the coast
While taking electrical classes at his local junior college, a guest speaker from the Western Electrical Contractors Association spread awareness about the electrical field and the opportunities that were available.
“After learning that one could easily enter the field based on being an apprentice or trainee, it piqued my interest. From then on, I continued to pursue the trade,” he says.
At Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif., he studied and practiced all the different trades, but he took a particular interest in the electrical and photovoltaic classes. After graduation, he began working with Zigg Electric in Granite Bay, Calif., where he learned much of the skills and practices that he uses today.
“I had plenty of one-on-one training,” he says. “Steve, the owner, was literally full of information, and he wanted to teach me everything I needed to know for working in the industry.”
At the same time, he took electrical trainee classes online with WECA, which taught him theory, the Code, and workmanship. He is continuing to take classes, but even after he becomes a journeyman this year, he wants to continue to challenge himself and learn new skills and practices.
He started at Connected Technology as an apprentice in April 2020. Initially, he assisted lead techs with installations and delivering necessary parts. After a few months on the job, he was offered a position to become a lead technician.
“I am now the one calling the shots on how to proceed on installations and the best practices to keep integrity with our work,” he says.
Every day varies due to the wide range of projects. The company specializes in residential projects on existing homes, but its main focus is EV chargers and home backup systems. As such, his workdays often revolve around installing multiple car chargers and/or home upgrades.
“As a lead technician, I enjoy being able to hook up and understand all the different types of installations and be able to train others in understanding them,” he says. “Backup energy and EV options are very important, and getting involved with these systems and programs now when they are at their beginning stages gives us a leg up in understanding what it takes to conquer the challenges that arise.”
Down the road, he sees himself with his own contractor’s license or helping his current company succeed.
“It’s important to stick around with the company to continue to help it grow and have a good future,” he says.
