Say Watt Podcast

We are chatting with Brennan Banks, Khadeejah Soper, and Venessa Ingalis about WIRE – Women's Initiative for Readiness in Electrical – a program committed to creating pathways for women to have successful careers in the electrical construction industry.You don't want to miss this conversation!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we are committed to enhancing the mental health and well-being of those in our industry. In this episode, we chat with Matt Louanglath and Rick Warner about Couragements– a low-barrier, two-way communication channel delivering encouragement and offering means of feedback through digital communication.

It's always good to get to know more about each other, which makes opportunities like this fantastic! In this episode, we get to chat with Taylor McCaskill, the Assistant Training Director at the Chattanooga Electrical JATC.

In this must-listen episode, we sit down with our amazing legal team—Jim Cole, Lucas Aubrey, and Rob Duston—to discuss issues affecting apprenticeships right now. We recorded this conversation on March 12, 2025, so keep in mind that some of these topics may have changed since then. Tune in for valuable insights and updates straight from the experts!

We enjoyed chatting with Deon Mayes, Treasurer of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC), about his career path and experience with the EWMC. If you've met Deon, you already know how passionate he is.

Have you heard about Electrical Workers Without Borders North America? They seek to create a world where the benefits of electricity are available to everyone, and they do this by utilizing the skills and training of professional volunteers. We are thrilled to share what they do with you! https://ewwbna.org

It's our last episode of 2024, so we are taking some time to look back at this year.

It's good to get to know more about each other, which makes opportunities like this incredible! We got to chat with Danny Van Sickle, the Training Director in Jacksonville, Florida.

Change is one of the few constants in life, yet we often resist it. Since it's inevitable in every aspect of our lives, we invited Gwen Cooper, a former CIA Officer and expert in leadership, growth, and change, to discuss how to navigate it effectively.

Many high schools offer college credit classes and career treks for college-bound young adults. Did you know we have something similar for high schoolers interested in an electrical career? In this episode, we hear from two apprentices who participated in our Interim Credential (IC) program, along with their Training Director, to learn more about their experience.

It's always good to get to know more about each other, which makes opportunities like this fantastic! In this episode, we get to chat with Renee Dozier, Business Agent and Trustee from Local 103.

To say technology has come a long way and completely changed our lives is an understatement. Our industry hasn't just been impacted; we are the agents of change, and on this episode, we are talking about that influence.

Dr. Charles is back to check in with us about taking care of our mental health, including how to deal with stress, anxiety, and depression.

Many of you have heard about VEEP, the Veteran's Electrical Entry Program, designed to provide transitioning service members the ability to begin a career in the electrical industry. https://in2veep.com. On this episode, we chat with a few Training Directors who are hosting VEEP training at their location.

This month, we are chatting with John Harriel Jr., aka Big John, about the work he is doing in Los Angeles through Big John Kares and 2nd Call. We love Big John and know you will, too!

This Women's History Month, we're spotlighting some of the incredible women right here at the etA and showcasing their dedication to our industry. Join us as we celebrate the outstanding work they do every day.

We had the pleasure of chatting with Jamell Thrower, National Secretary of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC), about his career path and experience with the EWMC. If you've met Jamell, you know his energy is contagious! Enjoy!

Happy 2024! It's that time of year when everyone discusses what's coming, so we are sticking with trends and doing the same, and we've got a few folks here to chat about what's ahead.

It's our last episode of 2023, so we wanted to take some time and look back at this year.

It's important to appreciate the talents and contributions of others. Today, we are putting a couple of behind-the-scenes folks on the mic. Our media team is magical and involved in so much of what we do at the etA, including this podcast, and we wanted to put them in the spotlight!

Teila Allmond is a JW and Instructor with a passion for helping others. That passion drove her to create Rosie's Girls, a program that offers young women an opportunity to experience what it means to be an electrician and skilled tradesperson.

It's good to get to know more about each other, which makes opportunities like this fantastic! We got to chat with Rob Cruz, the Training Director in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Safety is defined as the condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury. And it's a staple of our industry. The work we do is essential, and it's also very dangerous, making it crucial that we put safety first. Today we are chatting about this critical topic with Palmer Hickman and Scott Margolin. Just an FYI, we recorded this in March, so some updated info may be available.

What's your favorite Girl Scout cookie? That's not exactly what we are talking about in this episode, but it always makes for a good discussion! So why are we mentioning the Girl Scouts? What do they have to do with us and the work we do? Tune in and find out.

This month we celebrate with our LGBTQ+ siblings! Our industry understands pride well. The work we do gives us deep satisfaction for ourselves and those who are a part of our brother and sisterhood. And another thing we can take pride in is who we are, the communities we work in, and those we represent.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and on this episode, we are joined by Dr. Charles, a therapist with Koinonia Counseling Center, to talk about mental health and our industry and how we can take better care of ourselves and each other.

Have you heard of Jobs With Justice? They are an organization committed to working nationally and locally for workers' rights and an economy that benefits everyone. On this episode, we are joined by Erin Johansson, the Research Director for Jobs With Justice, and Nadia Salazar, the Organizing Director for DC Jobs With Justice. https://www.jwj.org

March is Women's History Month, and we have some of the most extraordinary women here at the etA. And while we wish we had time to introduce you to everyone, we have a few ladies here to chat with us.

What is the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus? Why does it exist? How do I learn more? We are glad you asked! Answers to these and other questions can be found on this episode, where we talk with EWMC President Keith Edwards and Vice President Grace Smith.

There's much to be proud of from 2022 and more in store for the year ahead. Our success lies where it always has, in working together. We are ready for 2023!

For this last episode of the year, we join Say Watt hosts Todd Stafford and Cindy Sanderfur to talk about highlights, lessons learned, and what we are most proud of.   Happy Holidays, everyone!

We are chatting about Helmets to Hardhats with Martin Helms, the Executive Director, who is also a former JATC Training Director!

At NTI 2022, members of the IBEW-NECA-etA Task Force hosted a panel to discuss what's being done to create a more inclusive industry where everyone belongs and how we can work together to empower each other and our industry.

We had the privilege of chatting with the 2022 IBEW Hour Power Apprentice and Instructor of the Year!

At our 31st NTI, we hosted a podcast recording with some conference participants as our guests. We covered various topics such as retaining instructors, recognizing outstanding apprentices, how JATCs and AJATCs are dealing with the legalization of marijuana, and much more.

We have partnered with A.M. Crawford (AMC) to develop grant opportunities for all JATCs and AJATCs and are covering the professional fees. Hear more directly from them about the process and benefits of working with AMC.

What is this grant? Why is it valuable to the local program? How do those who are participating feel about it? We've got answers to these and other questions.

Today, we are chatting about frequently asked questions and looking at ways to provide great customer service and care. 

It's April, and around here, that means it's NTI time making this a perfect moment to chat with the NTI team and some of the Advisory Committee members. What's NTI? Why NTI? Tune in and find out! 

It's Women's History Month, and our industry is full of phenomenal, inspiring women. We got to chat with a few of them about their work and experiences in the electrical trade. 

In 1979, Cassandra Banks began her apprenticeship in Augusta, GA. As the only Black woman in her class, she faced adversity, harassment, and discrimination. Fast forward a few decades to where her son, Brennan, has started a foundation in his mother's honor to inspire Black women to pursue nontraditional careers and support them on their journey. Check out our conversation with the CBF team! 

While in Vegas for the Fall Regional Seminar, we set up at the welcome reception and got to chat with some of the participants. Good times, great people! 

2021 is coming to a close making it a great time to look back over this year and at what lies ahead in 2022. 

What's it like transitioning from the military to a career in the electrical industry? We have a few VEEP graduates who share their experiences with us. 

Let's talk about one of the essential elements of apprenticeship, the instructors. They are the ones training the future of our industry and are the connection between what's done on the job and why.