Pictured from (l. to r.): International President Lonnie R. Stephenson, New York State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon, Business Manager and I.E.C. Chairman Christopher Erikson, President of Kleinberg Electric and the A.E.C. Carol Kleinbergand President of Arcadia Electric and NECA Steve Gianotti cut the ceremonial ribbon on the new Training Facility.
On October 14th the Electrical Industry Training Center opened its doors to a long awaited Grand Opening. The evening began at 5:30 PM with guests entering through the 1st floor Atrium and being greeted by Director of the Educational and Cultural Trust Fund Michael Yee and Educational and Cultural Trust Fund staff.
The open house format allowed the invited guests which included rank-and-file members, Educational and Cultural Trust Fund trustees, elected å_officials and special guests International President Emeritus Ed Hill, International President Lonnie Stephenson, International Secretary-Treasurer Salvatore “Sam” Chilia, International Vice President for the Third District Don Siegel, Fourth District International Executive Council member and Business Manager Local 349 Miami William Riley from the IBEW and Secretary General of the Italian Federation of Electrical Utility Workers Dr. Carlo De Masi from the Italian Labor Federation. Mayor Bill DeBlasio and New York State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon were also in attendance and made time to visit some of the twenty-two classrooms and labs dedicated to the various skills that apprentices and journeypersons must master to become the finest electrical workers in the world. In each classroom the guests were greeted by JATC and Educational and Cultural Trust Fund instructors who have committed their time and energy to this goal.
The evening culminated in a reception in the third-floor event space where refreshments were served. As the sun was setting into the western sky, all gathered were greeted by Local 3 Sword of Light Pipe and Drum Band before being welcomed by ECTF Administrator Robert Ayello, who then introduced å_Educational and Cultural Trust Fund Director Michael Yee, Educational and Cultural Trust Fund Chairman Dr. Jerry Finkel and Educational and Cultural Trust Fund Vice-Chairman and Business Manager of Local 3, IBEW Christopher Erikson.
Brother Erikson recognized our special guests and brought NYC Mayor Bill å_DeBlasio to the podium for his remarks.
Mr. Erikson then spoke of the planning and work that went into creating the new training center. But more importantly he laid out how this building will be a critical part of our future in the electrical industry. He thanked all whose concerted efforts culminated in the evening’s success.
The electrical industry training center property was purchased by the Educational and Cultural Trust Fund of the Electrical Industry in September of 2009.
In spring of 2010, the construction committee of Educational and Cultural Trust Fund Director Michael Yee, facilities and Construction Manager for the JIB Joseph Doceti and Administrator Robert Ayello began the series of meetings with architects (Gensler) and engineers (Cosintini) to begin the design and engineering based on interviews with the various training entities that would populate the new training center.
The project went out for bidding in December 2011 and after three rounds of leveling and clarifications the project was awarded to McGovern Construction Company in May of 2012. Temporary services and exterior demolition began in July and by October the site was in the early stages of construction. Like many construction projects with strict construction standards, the project suffered unforeseen delays and required design changes as field conditions and technologies demanded.
The 75,000 s.f. Training center consists of training space on three training floors which includes specialty labs for Cisco Data, Tel/Data, Alternative Energy, Confined Space, High Voltage Splicing, Welding, a 3,500 s.f. boot camp for apprentices, RE-RW and organizing evaluations and an eight-track transit lab. The “A” construction JATC has labs for Basic Wiring, material & tool handling, Motors/Transformers/Grounding & Bonding, å_Motor Control, Low Voltage. We have set aside space for future expansion and 3,000 s.f. of public assembly event space with an outdoor patio on the third floor.
