AEC JOURNAL - Association of Electrical Contractors

AEC JOURNAL
June/July 2006 www.aecnyc.com
Inside
this
issue
THE
New Era Vets Receive Industry Support
President Michael Castellano Spotlight on Robert J. White 35th Annual Scholarship Program
Page 2
Pages 4 & 5
Photo by Richard Wishnie
Representatives of the electrical industry presented a contribution of $62,000 to the New Era Veterans, Inc. on Saturday, July
29, 2006. The organization based in the Bronx, houses mostly Vietnam veterans and other war veterans who require housing
and support services.
The electrical industry support will provide much needed replacement furniture for the 150 residents. Accepting the contribution
were President John Laguna and CEO Dr. Ruth Schaeffer. Present at the festivities were AEC President Michael Castellano, AEC
Executive Secretary Richard Wishnie, JIB Chairman Dr. Jerry Finkel, Business Manager Thomas Van Arsdale, NYECA Executive
Secretary Edwin Lopez, NYECA member John Villafane, and Business Representatives, Joseph McSpedon and Ray West.
Pages 6 & 7

June/July 2006
President’s Corner
Michael J. Castellano
has received an initial report
from Dr. Perry Daneshgari, a consultant
Theindustry
to the Joint Industry Board of the
Electrical Industry, regarding market size and share. It is the
first step in our quest to recover lost market share and to
determine a successful strategy for future marketing activities.
The JIB Business Development Committee has approved the
resources required to proceed with additional analysis and
assistance from Dr. Daneshgari at its last meeting on July 25,
2006.
In addition to NECA efforts to increase market share and regain lost work opportunities, the IBEW has
established a new web site devoted to IBEW professionalism and productivity. The site is a continuation
of the effort of IBEW President Ed Hill to change the attitudes of his members through his “State of Our
Union” address that has been shown throughout the country by local unions and by NECA contractors to
their employees.
You can access the site at www.ibewhourpower.com. Employers can promote the site by printing flyers or
handbills that can be distributed to your employees. When on the site, go to the “Promoting Hour Power”
at the bottom of the home page to access the materials.
A meeting was recently held with representatives of the New York City Fire Department’s Bureau of Fire
Prevention. Attending the meeting were John Mannino, Sam Pace, Richard Sobel, Richard Wishnie, Edwin
Lopez and Bruce DeShay. The purpose of the meeting was to review the operations of the Bureau and to
discuss the difficulty that electrical contractors are experiencing with requests for inspections and related
communications with the Fire Department.
We have requested that a committee be approved by the Fire Department that would meet regularly to
review problems and assist in finding solutions to ongoing issues.
We learned of a serious shortage in personnel within the Bureau that makes it difficult for this professional
and dedicated staff to meet the demands being placed upon them.
We have pledged to assist in getting more resources to the Fire Department to hire additional inspectors
that will not only be cost efficient but help ensure the public’s safety.
Michael J. Castellano
President
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June/July 2006
Apprentice Interviews Continue
Interviewing 3233 applicants for acceptance into the JIB
Apprentice Training Program is a task that has taken dedication
and commitment by many industry volunteers.
Each week, representatives of Local Union No. 3, IBEW, employer
members of the AEC and NYECA, and JIB staff come together
twice per week to interview 40 applicants per day.
The sessions have been held since April of 2005 and are continuing
throughout this summer. To date, more than 2,900 interviews
have been held, with 400 still to be completed.
While many of our AEC members have participated in the interview
process, of particular note are the following members who
have given an extraordinary amount of volunteer time to the
process:
The first classes of an educational forum funded by a $40,000 grant from the Building Trades Employers
Association were held at the AEC headquarters in Long Island City.
Two groups of participants successfully completed an 8-hour course held over a two-day period titled
“Developing a Successful Electrical Contracting Team”. The course was developed by a committee made up
of local NECA contractors along with NECA representatives Stuart Binstock, Executive Director of the NECA
Management Education Institute and William H. Jones III, Field Representative.
Mr. Binstock and Mr. Jones are the course instructors. The sessions are open to both field and office employees
and emphasize team building, communications, and customer service.
The next session is to be held on August 14 to 15th in the New York City NECA offices. Additional classes
will be held over the next few months to accommodate a total of up to 250 participants.
Special thanks to: Steve Anzalone, Howard Braunstein, Andrew
Drazic, Stephen Gianotti, Dan Hernandez, Raquel Nunez, Steven
Smith, Dave Spindell and Robert White.
NECA Classes Held at AEC Headquarters
BTEA and Building and Construction
Trade Council Agreements
The Building Trades Employers’s Association and the
Building and Construction Trades Council have tentatively
agreed upon facets of a plan to recover lost market share in the
New York City area. Although additional negotiations are necessary,
major important components have been reduced to writing,
paving the way towards a final agreement.
Representatives from both organizations have met several
times to help develop a draft that will be considered by their
respective memberships. All participants in any final Market
Recovery Plan will be required to be participants in the New
York Plan.
Steve Anzalone Andrew Drazic Stephen Gianotti Dan Hernandez
Raquel Nunez Steven Smith Dave Spindell Bob White
William H. Jones
Upcoming Conventions
The AEC Fall Convention will be held in Orlando,
Florida from November 2-7, 2006.
Reservations can be made by contacting Donna L. Falk of
Travel Concepts at 1-800-245-2330 or 1-732-222-1400.
The 2006 Annual NECA Convention will be held from
October 7-10, 2006, in Boston, Massachusetts. New
York City members will be housed at the Marriott Hotel.
Reservations can be made on line at the NECA Website at
www.necaconvention.org.
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June/July 2006
ELEMCO
SPOTLIGHT
ROBERT J. WHITE
ROBERT OBERT White began his career
with Elemco as a technician in
1978. In 1985, his journey
brought him to the leadership of
Elemco Testing and Elemco Electrical
Construction as President and CEO.
Under agreement with Local Union No. 25,
IBEW, the organization signed a collective
bargaining agreement with Local Union No.
3, IBEW, in 1995 and with Local Union No.
1049, IBEW in 2000.
Bob entered the electrical industry as an
apprentice electrician in Local 25, IBEW, in
1966. He became a skilled welder and
splicer and also was a shop steward. As a
Journeyman electrician he also took on additional
responsibilities as a foreman.
From 1995 through 1997, Bob served as
President of the International Electrical
Testing Association (NETA) after serving on
the organization’s Board of Directors beginning
in 1990.
NETA is an accredited standards developer
for the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) and defines the standards by which
electrical equipment is deemed safe and reliable.
NETA Certified Technicians conduct the tests that ensure equipment meets the association's stringent
specifications. NETA is also the leading source of specifications, procedures, testing, and requirements,
not only for commissioning new equipment but for testing the reliability and performance of existing
equipment.
Elemco Testing and Electrical Construction has a long list of clients including the New York Times, the
New York Post, Hofstra University, Stonybrook University, the Empire State Building, Verizon, and the
Nassau University Medical Center. Bob says, “Our business philosophy is to provide and distribute outstanding
product and services in a manner that meets or exceeds the expectations of our customers and
the industry, and that company integrity is foremost.”
TESTING
Cont’d on Page 5
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June/July 2006
“Our business philosophy
is to provide and distrib-
ute outstanding product
and ser vices in a manner
that meets or exceeds the
expectations of our cus-
tomers and the industr y,
and that company integrity
is foremost.”
AEC MEMBER
Bob White is a member of the
Board of Directors of the AEC
and has served with distinction
for the last several years as the Vice
President of the AEC Scholarship and
Educational Fund.
The Scholarship Fund provides opportunities
for deserving students that are
entering the electrical industry to complete
their college education.
In addition to being a strong believer in
education, Bob also has dedicated his
time and resources to serving the less fortunate
through numerous community
service organizations.
He is a Board Member of the Irish
Repertory Theatre and a member of the
Friendly Son’s of Saint Patrick, Hour
Children, The Cleary School for the Deaf
Golf Committee, the Irish American
Building Society and The Davis Park
Volunteer Fire Department on Fire
Island.
Married to Gladys(Gigi), Bob has two
grown sons, James and Sean and a grandson,
Harrison Rhys White and a stepdaughter,
Delina.
He graduated from North Babylon High
School, received a LLA Degree from
Cornell University and an Electrical
Construction Technology Degree from
Suffolk County Community College.
His personal interests include golf, skiing,
boating, and travel.
Bob’s Volunteer Work
Board of Directors of the AEC
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Vice President of the AEC
Scholarship and Educational Fund
Board Member of the Irish
Repertory Theatre
Member of the Friendly Son’s of
Saint Patrick
Board Member of Hour Children
Board Member of the Cleary
School for the Deaf
The Irish American Building
Society
The Davis Park Volunteer Fire
Department

June/July 2006
35th Annual Scholarship Dinner
35th Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner was
Theheld on June 21, 2006, at Terrace on the Park.
The AEC Electrical Scholarship and Education Fund
Corporation had another very successful program
awarding $50,000 to deserving students entering professions
in the electrical industry.
This year’s Honoree was
Jerome. J. Rosenberg of JJ
Rosenberg Electrical
Contractors, Inc. Mr. Rosenberg
was honored for his dedication
and commitment to the AEC and
the Electrical Industry for over a
50-year period.
Mr. Leonard Taubenblatt, Esq.,
AEC Counsel, presented the welcoming
address and included his experienced advice
and counsel to the award recipients.
Scholarship recipients included Nicholas Powell who
received the Steven Smith Award; Tamzid Nabi, the
Joseph Barbaro Scholarship; Jefferson Lin, the Carol
Kleinberg Scholarship; and Sergy Dinershteyn, the
Herbert Tipperman Memorial Scholarship.
Awards were presented for the 3rd Annual Apprentice
Achievement Grants to Lina Belliard, 1st year; Jennifer
Matteson, 2nd year; Joseph Crispino, Jr., 3rd year;
Kimberly Marchant, 4th year and John Pusinelli, 5th
year. The apprentice recognition was for high scholarship
achievements and outstanding written essays.
A Presidents Cup Award listing the apprentice award
recipients was presented to Director George Schuck for
prominent display at the Joint Industry Board.
President Michael Castellano and Vice-president Robert
White thanked the members of the Scholarship
Committee for the excellent work they performed in
developing a very well organized event.
Michael Castellano Jerry Rosenberg Bob White
Barbara and Jerry Rosenberg
Amongst the guests attending the program were JIB Chairman Gerald Finkel, JIB Counsel Vito Mundo, JIB Apprentice
Director George Schuck and Assistant Apprentice Director Timothy Calascibetta. Also attending were JIB Pension Director
Salvatore Bruzzese, Local Union No. 3, IBEW Business Representative Robert Nichols and BTEA President & CEO Louis
Coletti.
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Cont’d on Page 7

June/July 2006
Wednesday, June 21st, 2006
Front Row-Seated from L to R: Frank Paolino, Walter D. Whitelaw, Carol Lifton, George Cecala, Leonard Taubenblatt, John Gruja and Michael Navarrete.
Back Row from L to R: Steven Smith, George Schuck, Barry Teger, Nicholas Stefanou, Stephen Gianotti, Richard Wishnie, Michael Castellano, John
Broxmeyer and Bob White.
Apprentice Recipients: Front Row- L to R: Joseph Crispino Jr., Kimberly
Marchant, Jennifer Matteson and Lina Belliard.
Back Row- L to R: Michael Castellano, Georgian Mannino(Mother of John
Pusinell), George Schuck and Tim Calascibetta.
Award Recipients
Scholarship Event
Past Scholarship Recipients: Front Row- L to R: Nicholas Powell,
Tamzid Nabi, Sergey Dinershteyn and Jefferson Lin.
Back Row- L to R: Steven Smith, Beth Tipperman, Barry Katzen and Bob
White.
Steven Smith, Jason He and Bob White Jerry Rosenberg and Mahesh Deep S. Gianotti, M. Castellano, Herb Flaum, Phuc Dang, W. Whitelaw, B. Katzen, J. Rosenberg
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June/July 2006
Richard G. Wishnie
Association of Electrical Contractors, Inc
11-51 47th Avenue, PO Box 1707
Long Island City, NY 11101
Tel: 718-752-0800
Fax: 718-752-0805
Website: www.aecnyc.com
Email: rwishnie@aecnyc.com
Email: debbie@aecnyc.com
Email: alewis@aecnyc.com
Photos by Miller Photography and Richard Wishnie
OFFICERS DIRECTORS OBSERVERS
Michael J. Castellano Robert Amabile Andrew Drazic
PRESIDENT Joseph Barbaro Ira Grunther
George Cecala Raquel Nunez
Salvatore Anelli David Harron Fred Zambon
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Dan Hernandez
Barry Katzen* HONORARY
John Pinto Carol Kleinberg Mattia DeAngelo
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT John Mannino Herbert Flaum*
Monet Milad Frank Heske
Stephen Gianotti Richard Millwater Walter D. Whitelaw*
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT J.J. Rosenberg*
Albert J. Samilenko* GENERAL COUNSEL
Steven Smith Gary Segal Leonard Taubenblatt
RECORDING SECRETARY David Spindell
Nicholas J. Stefanou Executive Secretary
Lisa Ranello
FINANCIAL SECRETARY/TREASURER
Robert J. White Richard G. Wishnie
STAFF
Rudy Weissberg *Denotes Past Presidents Debbie Eschoe
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS Adrian Lewis
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Designed/Published by Debbie Eschoe