The 2012 Skills USA Career Expo was held at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park from March 15-16. This annual event introduces students to careers in construction and also gives contractors looking to recruit a first look at the upcoming talent. Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) hosted the Industrial Motor Control contest, where students competed to properly wire industrial motors. The winner received books and a four-year scholarship to IEC's apprenticeship program, a national travel sponsorship, and a tool package from Klein Tools. There were also second and third place winners who received books and tuition for two years and books and tuition for one year, respectively.
IEC's Workforce Developer Lana Frye entranced prospective electrical apprentices with an experiment on static electricity transfer involving only a plasma ball and a light bulb. IEC was joined by IEC members Brian Geary of Ace Electric, Tony Varamo of Metro Power, Kristen and Mitch Williams, Danny Fowler, and Jay Paxton of Penco, Fred Straton of Gaines Electric, Todd Donaldson of Donaldson Electric and Michael Gunter of ECI. In addition to IEC members, IEC Instructor Jeremy Durkin, and Training Director Todd Hawkins were on hand.
You can see pictures from the event at www.iecgeorgia.org.