DCTC Graduates Worked on Renovation Project

Electrical Construction alumni return to campus as Peoples electricians

A massive amount of electrical work was needed to complete Phase I of the Transportation & Emerging Technologies Renovation Project on the Rosemount campus of Dakota County Technical College. As members of a team of electricians from Peoples Electric Company, four graduates of the Electrical Construction & Maintenance Technology program returned to their alma mater to work on the $7.4 million project, which was completed in August 2013.

Mike Buck, an ECMT instructor, pointed out that his program is designed to prepare students to not only enter, but excel in the electrical construction industry, which is expanding due to the spread of new technologies and the recovery of key markets. A 2013 IbisWorld market research report showed that the industry has more than 930,000 employees and 217,000 companies nationwide, bringing in $124 billion in annual revenue.

“Graduates of our program are trained to be critical thinkers,” Buck said. “They know how to analyze and evaluate problems and then craft solutions. We also make sure our students get the hands-on training they need to learn and refine the technical skills of the electrician trade. Technique is very important and so is workmanship. Our students leave our program with a solid foundation in both these areas.”

Buck added that ECMT instructors work hard to instill high-demand soft skills in their students. Soft skills are the crucial cluster of workplace traits that employers often rank as high as hard skills in prospective employees. As an ideal complement to technical know-how, key soft skills include:

• Strong work ethic
• Positive attitude
• Great communication skills
• Smart time management
• Knack for solving problems
• Excellent teamwork skills
• Self-confidence
• Ability to accept criticism and learn from the process
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Ability to work well under pressure

According to ISEEK, Minnesota’s career, education and job resource, wages and employment growth for electricians in the state are well above the statewide median. See below for figures:

Wages for electricians in the seven-county Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area

• Average wage: $32.64/hour
• Top earners: $42.42/hour
  • Minnesota statewide median: $18.08/hour
    

Job outlook for electricians in the seven-county Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area

• Employment growth from 2010 through 2020: 35.8 percent
  • Minnesota statewide median: 13 percent
    

Four ECMT graduates who are superb representatives of their program and their trade:

Brian Meyers • Class of 2007

• Age: 26
• Award: Electrical Construction and Maintenance Technology Diploma
• High School: Cannon Falls
• Hometown: Cannon Falls, Minn.
• Place of Employment: Peoples Electric Company
• Job Title: Journeyman Electrician
• Hobbies: Bow hunting; boating; riding Polaris Victory 1500
• Duties on DCTC Renovation Project: Servicing main power that feeds every panel; wiring lights
• What do you like about your job as an electrician?
  “The hours are great and you do different things all the time. I enjoy solving problems on the job; it’s like a puzzle.”
• Why DCTC?
  “The college is close to my home and I got a great education for less money. The program was even better than I expected.”
• What did you like about the ECMT program?
  “The curriculum is all electrical work. The teachers are good at explaining things and they make sure you understand the material.”

Craig Scheffler • Class of 2011

• Age: 25
• Award: Electrical Construction and Maintenance Technology Diploma
• High School: Montgomery-Lonsdale
• Hometown: Lonsdale, Minn.
• Place of Employment: Peoples Electric Company
• Job Title: Apprentice Electrician
• Hobbies: Hunting; fishing; outdoor activities
• Duties on DCTC Renovation Project: Wiring devices; wiring lights
• What do you like about your job as an electrician?
  “Local 110 for safety and tools.”
• Why DCTC?
  “The college is close to my home and people I knew in the program recommended it.”
• What did you like about the ECMT program?
  “I liked working with my fellow students.”

Andrew Smith • Class of 2005

• Age: 30
• Award: Electrical Construction and Maintenance Technology Diploma
• High School: Burnsville
• Hometown: Savage, Minn.
• Place of Employment: Peoples Electric Company
• Job Title: Journeyman Electrician
• Hobbies: Fishing; hunting; four-wheeling; boating; staying at cabin in Hinckley, Minn.
• Duties on DCTC Renovation Project: High-voltage poling; took out old transformers; installed new distribution center
• What do you like about your job as an electrician?
• “I like working with my hands. I like how we’re always working in new places—and that means new experiences and new things to learn.”
• Why DCTC?
  “DCTC is close to my home and the price was right. I also had friends in the program.”
• What did you like about the ECMT program?
  “I liked the hours; we started at 7 a.m. My instructors were knowledgeable.”

Brian Svoboda • Class of 2006

• Age: 28
• Award: Electrical Construction and Maintenance Technology A.A.S. Degree
• High School: Montgomery-Lonsdale
• Hometown: Lonsdale, Minn.
• Place of Employment: Peoples Electric Company
• Job Title: Journeyman Electrician
• Hobbies: Dirt biking; Honda CRF250R
• Duties on DCTC Renovation Project: Running pipe
• What do you like about your job as an electrician?
  “Pay.”
• Why DCTC?
  “Cost less than other programs.”
• What did you like about the ECMT program?
  “The program has a good motor control course.”

About the instructor

Mike Buck teaches third-semester Electrical Construction & Maintenance Technology students in electrical apparatus and programmable logic controllers. With a Minnesota Class A Master Electrician license that spans more than 30 years, Buck brings nearly four decades of electrical industry experience to the ECMT program. His expertise centers on the National Electrical Code as well as designing, installing and maintaining electrical systems.

His industry experience includes:

• 12 years working for electrical contractors
• 18 years owning and operating a successful electrical contracting business
• 2.5 years working for the Minnesota Board of Electricity and the Department of Labor and Industry as director of (electrical) licensing

“Electricians who know how to do control wiring and how to troubleshoot electrical apparatus, circuits and systems bring the most valuable skill set to the electrical construction industry,” Buck said when asked to give one piece of advice to electricians entering the field. “Knowing how to do control work and understanding the fundamentals and principles of process control is a great way to build a strong career. In addition, if you understand how and why things work the way they do, you have a good chance at solving any problem.”

For more information about Phase I of the 2013 Transportation and Emerging Technologies Capital Bonding Project on the DCTC Rosemount campus, follow the link below. DCTC has requested $6.9 million in capital bonding funds for Phase II of the project.

Transportation & Emerging Technologies Renovation Project

About Peoples Electric Company

Peoples Electric Company provides all phases of electrical contracting, communications systems, traffic signal and street lighting, controls, preventive maintenance and emergency services to a wide range of building owners, property managers, general contractors, developers, construction managers and architects/engineers in industrial, institutional and commercial markets in Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Illinois, and across the United States.

For more information about Electrical Construction & Maintenance Technology at DCTC, contact:

• Mike Buck
  Electrical Construction & Maintenance Technology Instructor
  651-423-8494
• Ron Gruenes
  Electrical Construction & Maintenance Technology Instructor
  651-423-8563
• Bruce Hansberger
  Electrical Construction & Maintenance Technology Instructor
  651-423-8432