SIGNING DAY – Four electrical trades students took part in signing day at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School and joined International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 246 as they charted their future career. Pictured are, front from left, Josh Smith, Marco Socha, Konner Leishman, and Kale Beebe. Back: IBEW Local 246 Business Manager Kevan Brown, JVS program instructor Buddy Davis, and IBEW Local 246 Training Director Richard Cesta.

BLOOMINGDALE — Electrical trades students at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School took the next step in their future by joining the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 246 in Steubenville.

Four students took part in a signing day event at the JVS on April 24 and met with union business manager Kevan Brown and training director Richard Cesta. JVS program instructor Buddy Davis said seniors Josh Smith, Marco Socha, Konner Leishman and Kale Beebe officially signed with the union as they headed full throttle into the working world.

“They get interviewed and accepted into the hall,” he explained. “All four of them are currently working in the trade for different companies. They will start school after graduation and will be apprentices for the next four years, then they will get their journeyman’s license.”

The students also completed the Alliance Program as part of their coursework at the JVS, even though it is typically used during the first year of an electrical apprenticeship. This achievement positions them ahead as they transition into the workforce. Davis added that the process will set them up for successful futures in an in-demand field.

“It’s getting them out to work. There are thousands of journeyman electricians needed across the United States. They will train at the union hall in Steubenville and work for union contractors.”

IBEW Business Manager Kevan Brown agreed there is a strong demand for skilled labor with opportunities to earn strong wages and benefits.

“There’s such a demand for skilled labor right now throughout the whole United States, specifically our region,” Brown said, citing mills to solar farms. “There’s no better place to start than with the local vocational schools. These kids have obviously shown an interest in trade early and we want to be able to employ them throughout their whole career.”

Senior Marco Socha said he looks forward to continuing his own journey in a viable career.

“I enjoy doing electrical work and a bunch of my friends wanted me to follow in their footsteps, plus I like to travel,” Socha said. “I like to go to different places and learn with a lot of different journeymen.”

He said his studies have played a crucial role and have made him “100 percent prepared” for the future.

“I’ve always had a fascination with electrical work and I studied electrical engineering at Big Red, then I came here and got certifications and the apprenticeship. I’ve gotten a taste of the real world and it inspired me to sign up for the IBEW.”

He plans to continue working at TS Electric in Richmond, where he has gained experience in residential electricity, but he plans to eventually work in the commercial field.

JVS Career/Workforce Specialist Carina Aulicino said events such as these are a great way to help students transition into the workforce.

“Four students took a major step toward their future careers by officially signing with IBEW Local 246. Seniors Konner Leishman, Marco Socha, Kale Beebe and Josh Smith celebrated this important milestone as they begin their journey in the electrical trade, an industry that continues to be in high demand,” Aulicino said. “The students have been training under the guidance of instructor Buddy Davis, who has helped prepare them with both technical knowledge and hands-on experience.”

She credited Brown and Cesta for their involvement and ongoing partnership with the JVS. Aulicino noted that the JVS strives to prepare today’s students to become tomorrow’s workforce.

“Jefferson County JVS continues to play a vital role in workforce development, accepting 20 junior students each year into its electrical program. Through a combination of classroom instruction and real-world work experience with local companies and organizations, students graduate with a competitive edge,” she said. “Thanks to the extensive hours they accumulate during their training, many Jefferson County JVS students are able to enter the IBEW apprenticeship program as second- or even third-year apprentices–giving them a valuable head start toward a successful and rewarding career. This signing day highlights not only the achievements of these four graduating seniors but also the strength of career and technical education in preparing the next generation of skilled professionals.”