IEC-FWCC Announces 8th Annual Wire-Off Competition

Independent Electrical Contractors’ Florida West Coast Chapter (IEC-FWCC) today announced the 2007 IEC-FWCC Wire-Off, Open House and Trade Show to be held Friday, April 27, 2007, in the Hillsborough Community College gymnasium, from 12 PM - 3PM. The Wire-Off portion of the event-a comprehensive competition designed to test electrical apprentices’ skills-will take place from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM.

Presented only with a blank control board, a written description of an electrical control circuit sequence “problem” and the parts necessary to complete the project, apprentices

must apply problem solving and manual skills gained during the electrician apprenticeship program to complete the task. Local Electrical Contractors and Inspectors judge competitors on their material selection, workmanship, compliance to code and speed of completion. “With the growing demand for skilled Journeyman Electricians in the construction market,” says Wire-Off Organizer and Apprenticeship Director, Reina Mora-Blackwelder, “this competition is designed to prove that our graduates possess the knowledge necessary to excel in this industry.”

For the first time, Residential Electrician graduates are invited to participate in the Wire-Off Competition with the Top 10 Commercial/Industrial Electrician graduates as previously determined by a written exam. The winner receives an all-expense paid trip with a guest to the 2007 National Wire-Off Competition in conjunction with the 50th IEC National Convention and IEC Electric Expo in Houston, Texas, where he or she will compete against Wire-Off Competition winners from any of the 70 IEC chapters across the country. “Winning this competition was an opportunity of a lifetime,” says George Funaro of A. Randy’s Electric and IEC-FWCC’s first Wire-Off winner. “Take the time to study; preparation is the key to winning, as well as to fulfilling your life dreams.”

The Independent Electrical Contractors – Florida West Coast Chapter (IEC-FWCC) was incorporated in 1993 and serves 73 contractor members who represent over 3,500 electrical workers in a ten county region along Florida’s Gulf Coast, comprising over 20 years of apprentice training in the Tampa Bay area. IEC-FWCC is one of 70 chapters that make up IEC National (www.ieci.org). IEC aggressively strives to promote a philosophy of free enterprise, well-trained workforce, open competition and economic opportunity for all.

Greg Crist
InterLogic Media
727-230-9735