JESSE MITCHELL
Job Title: Apprenticeship Coordinator
Company: Claypool Electric
Location: Lancaster, Ohio
Age: 30; Years on the Job: 13
Interests: Spending time with his wife and one-year-old daughter, hanging out with friends, and watching sports
Jesse Mitchell says his parents are a large reason why he got into the electrical industry. His father attended a high-school electrical trade program, which paved the pathway for his successful multi-craft maintenance career. His mom attended the same school at the same time, and she took a program that led her to HR and accounting roles.
“My sister and I graduated from the same trade school our parents did, and I attended the same electrical program that my father did,” Mitchell says.
Born and raised in Ohio, he completed four years of electrical apprenticeship training followed by a motor controls program and an instructor certification training program.
“The training I received allowed me to develop into a critical thinking, well-rounded electrician and allowed me to succeed in many scenarios and environments,” he says.
Mitchell is now attending the Builders Exchange of Central Ohio Executive Leadership Experience program and pursing his associate’s degree in construction management. His job-site leadership role has grown with increased responsibility and project size, but his core values have always stayed the same.
“My philosophy has always been to train the individuals now — reap the benefits a year from now,” he says. “My role allows me to focus on coaching, mentoring, and training the next generation of electricians.”
As an apprenticeship coordinator, his key responsibilities are to construct, manage, and grow the 5,500-sq-ft training lab; focus on apprenticeship course content in the classroom; design/build hands-on mock scenarios. His favorite part of his job is coordinating outreach and recruiting to local high schools, trade schools, job fairs, and education centers.
“I am a product of one of these programs, and I feel that my story sits well with the students about what the trade has to offer and what Claypool Electric could provide them in their career,” he says.
