• Thoughts from a First-Time NECA Show Attendee

    Dion Jones, an electrical apprentice in training, talks with Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson about his experience at this year’s NECA show in Philadelphia.
    Oct. 12, 2023

    For anyone who attended the recent NECA 2023 Show in Philadelphia, you could feel the energy — the show seemed much larger, attendees were engaged, and the promise of new technology was definitely in the air. After the final numbers came in from the National Electrical Contractors Association, that feeling is now a reality, considering that more than 370 exhibiting companies and nearly 10,000 participants flocked to the Pennsylvania Convention Center from September 29 to October 2 — making it the largest trade show in the Association’s history.

    Given this year’s record-breaking attendance, it was a great time to attend your first NECA show. In this quick video, meet Dion Jones, an electrical apprentice in training, to see what observations he took away from his very first NECA show. One of EC&M Contributor Harold De Loach’s students in The Academy of Industrial Arts (TAIA)  program in Philadelphia, Dion shares tips for other apprentices looking to transition into the electrical industry as well as discusses his non-traditional path to the electrical trade.

    About the Author

    Ellen Parson

    Editor-in-Chief - EC&M

    Ellen Parson is the Editor-in-Chief for EC&M. She has a journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She's been a business-to-business writer and editor for more than 25 years, most of which have been covering the construction and electrical industries. Contact her at [email protected].

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