Michael Brotherton | Turned Out in June 2022 & Now at Blue Arc Electric
“Before I was in the trades, I was a part-time mechanic, worked at a grocery store, and was going to school for mechanical engineering. I was looking at pay rates and saw that electricians made the same amount or more than engineers who needed more schooling. I talked to my grandfather, who was a 40-year electrician, and it just made more sense for me to go into the trades.
“The apprenticeship was awesome. You get what you put into it. You’ll learn a lot no matter what, but there’s a lot more available than just the basic curriculum. You can take extra classes, take advantage of tutoring, and tap into resources you just won’t get anywhere else.
“A few months ago, I got a call from Robert Chon at the training center asking me if I’d like to come in and train for the Western States Electrical Contest. There were two other people, but I was the only one available to go.
“The competition was fierce, and clearly the other contestants had really put in months of training. Their practice showed because the events were all about speed, and they were faster than me. The pipe bending was the most fun: you had to be exact, take every measurement, and it got me back into doing things correctly. Though I didn’t win anything, I had a great time, did my best work, and I was proud to represent Local 332.
“I think the best part about being an electrician is being able to wire my house and not have to call anyone. There’s a lot of opportunity and freedom in the trades. In my spare time, I like to build race cars. It’s challenging doing all the engineering and troubleshooting to make your car do what you want. Whether it’s cars or electrical work, I like being able to step back and be proud of what I’ve built. It’s really the best the feeling.”
Robert Chon | ETA-SV Apprentice Coordinator
“We always tell our apprentices that this is a profession, and you are highly-paid professionals. We encourage them to reach past the bare minimum and strive to achieve. It’s an honest industry, and whatever you invest, it’ll come back to you.
“You never improve if you stay in your comfort zone; you have to push yourself. We recruit for the Western State Electrical Contest among the graduates and usually get just a few volunteers to train. As the deadline gets closer, we choose the strongest competitor.
“It’s a commitment to put yourself out there and invest your time. You reap the benefits as it’s a springboard to career success. All of our past competitors have gone on to have excellent careers.
“Next year, we’ll be hosting the contest at the ETA-SV. We hope it will be the most successful competition ever, drawing 30 participants. And we’ll be hosting at our brand new facility, which is something all the members can take pride in.”
