Some of the strongest partnerships in our industry start with a handshake. That’s why we were proud to be in Las Vegas this October for a milestone worth celebrating.
This year, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) turned 125. NECA marked the occasion at its 2026 Convention and Trade Show, held October 4 to 7 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The event brought together electrical contractors from across the country, along with the manufacturers and service providers who support their work.
NECA’s story began in 1901, when a small group of electrical contractors in Buffalo, New York, decided they could do more together than on their own. That same belief led to the Electrical Alliance in 1997. It brought together the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 26 and the electrical contractors of the Washington, DC Chapter of NECA. Our shared commitment to excellence still guides us today.
Getting Inspired Inside NECA 2026
JT Thomas, Executive Director of the Washington, DC Chapter of NECA, and Mark Brandenburg, Director of Member Services, represented the Electrical Alliance at this year’s event in Las Vegas.
Attendees heard keynote addresses from Hall of Fame football coach Nick Saban, tennis champion Andre Agassi, and Paralympic medalist and veteran Melissa Stockwell. Educational sessions covered the real needs of NECA contractors, from leadership and communication to new tools like artificial intelligence (AI) and prefabrication.
Apprentices had their own spotlight at Apprentice Appreciation Day, and exhibits across the show floor traced NECA’s 125-year history. The convention wrapped up with a beachside celebration.
The Power of Connection and How Partnerships Support Electrical Contractors
The convention opened with a reception called The Power of Connection. Over the next four days, attendees traded ideas and caught up with old friends.
In a session titled Partnering Over Competing, Josh Bone of ELECTRI International, a research foundation created by NECA, led a discussion on how contractors grow stronger together. Conversations that begin at events like this can spark long-standing partnerships, or help a smaller contractor find a larger one to grow with.
Those relationships are what the Electrical Alliance is built on. When contractors and electricians trust each other, our members build their skills and earn more, and our contractors gain a skilled workforce they can count on.
Looking Ahead for the U.S. Electrical Industry
For 125 years, NECA contractors have led the way through every change in our industry, and the next chapter looks just as big. One session noted that U.S. electricity demand is expected to double by 2050. Contractors will play a key role in meeting that demand, from modernizing the power grid to building the data infrastructure behind AI. Here in the DC region, the Electrical Alliance is ready with a skilled, union-trained workforce.
Partnerships built on people are built to last. Here’s to the next 125 years.
Ready to grow your business alongside the Electrical Alliance? Learn how to become an Electrical Alliance contractor.
