• Posted: June 21, 2026
• Andy Baran, Electrical Apprenticeship to General Foreman, Electrical Construction Leadership, Leadership in the Electrical Industry, Maron Electric General Foreman, Mentorship in the Skilled Trades, Union Electrical Contractors Chicago

How Fatherhood and Leadership Go Hand in Hand for Maron Electric General Foreman Andy Baran

For Andy Baran, fatherhood has shaped far more than his family life by influencing how he leads on the jobsite and the example he sets every day.

As a General Foreman with Maron Electric Company, Andy oversees complex electrical construction projects while helping develop the next generation of electricians. At home, he and his wife are raising two young children, a seven-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter.

Fatherhood also changed how Andy views responsibility. What once centered primarily on his own goals and career now centers on the people who depend on him most. His children have become a daily source of motivation and a reminder that his actions matter, both at home and on the jobsite.

“Everything you do, they’re watching,” said Andy Baran, General Foreman at Maron Electric Company. 

Whether he’s leading a jobsite or raising his children, Baran believes people learn from what they see.

“You can’t slam your hard hat down because that’s what I used to watch coming up. It’s different now. They respond to being calm, being assertive,” said Baran. “There’s always a way to fix something. If you have to raise your voice, it has to mean something. So, I try to do that at home, and at work.”

Teaching the Importance of Being a Good Teammate

When asked about the values he hopes to pass on to his children, Baran immediately pointed to the importance of how they treat others, such as being a good teammate or classmate.

For Baran, those lessons extend far beyond childhood.

Baran believes that learning to work well with others creates opportunities throughout life.

“If you’re more willing or if it’s easier for them to make friends, they’re going to be the kid that’s easier to teach, easier to coach, and more likely to be an employee one day that people want to give an opportunity to,” said Baran.

He believes trust, character, and a willingness to do the right thing often matter more than talent alone.

“It’s not just the best player. It’s not the smartest kid in the class. It’s the one that does the right thing when they have the opportunity and not being afraid of doing it.”

Lessons That Helped Build a Career

Twenty years into his career, Andy still believes the fundamentals matter.

“On time was number one,” Baran said.

From there, he focused on staying prepared, maintaining a strong attitude, and taking advantage of learning opportunities.

“You work yourself into the next job was always my mentality coming up,” said Baran.

That mindset helped him grow from apprentice to General Foreman, but he credits much of that growth to the people around him.

When he was younger, Baran actively sought out opportunities to learn from experienced electricians, asking questions and absorbing as much knowledge as possible.

“I’d beg to work with them. I would bug them, and just try to pick their brains every chance I could,” said Baran.

He also believes there are lessons to learn from every person you work with.

“I tried to learn something, good or bad,” said Baran.

An Honest Job for Honest Pay

When reflecting on the opportunities the union and the electrical industry have provided, Baran points to both stability and opportunity.

“I think obviously it’s an honest job for honest pay, being a part of this union,” said Baran.

The career has allowed him to support his family while also passing along the lessons and values he has learned throughout his time in the trade.

“This gave me opportunities to secure my family’s future and teach my kids lessons day in and day out that come from being a tradesman,” said Baran.

Developing the Next Generation

Today, one of Andy’s favorite parts of the job is helping younger electricians grow.

As a General Foreman, he looks for opportunities to challenge people, develop their skills, and prepare them for larger responsibilities.

“You’re only as good as the guys around you,” Baran said.

Rather than keeping someone in the same role because they are good at it, Andy wants to help them discover what else they can do.

Baran says he always tries to find the potential in people and give them opportunities to grow. 

He sees mentorship as an investment in the future.

“The more people that you can get to help you around you, that’s what leads to more success,” Baran said.

Many of those same principles influence how he approaches parenting.

Whether he’s helping a younger electrician develop confidence or encouraging his children to learn from mistakes, the goal is the same: help people grow.

What Makes Him Proud

When asked what accomplishment he is most proud of in his career, Andy didn’t point to a specific project or title.

Instead, he talked about the relationships he has built throughout his 20 years in the industry.

“I think the biggest one would be running into guys I haven’t worked with in years and having them kind of congratulate me on working my way up to General Foreman,” Baran said.

Some of those individuals are electricians who worked alongside him earlier in his career. Others are people who taught him, supervised him, or helped him develop his skills along the way. Today, many work on projects where Andy leads the team.

“The biggest thing I can hang my hat on is the guys that I run into that are completely accepting of me leading them now,” said Baran.

For Andy, that trust and respect mean more than any title.

“The biggest compliment to me is that not only are they happy for me, they want to help,” said Baran.

At home, he sees a similar reward in watching his children build friendships and develop into people others enjoy being around.

“We just try to drive it home, to be a good friend,” said Baran.

Looking Ahead

Over the past two decades, Baran has seen tremendous change throughout the electrical industry. Tools have become lighter, technology has transformed jobsites, and project schedules continue to move faster.

He entered the trade when extension cords, heavier tools, and paper drawings were still part of everyday work and has watched the industry become more efficient with advances in technology and equipment. While the tools may have changed, he believes the qualities that help people succeed have remained the same.

Despite the changes he has witnessed throughout the industry, Baran believes success still comes down to the same fundamentals: showing up prepared, treating people well, learning from those around you, and taking advantage of opportunities.

Those are the same lessons that helped Baran grow from apprentice to General Foreman. They’re also the lessons he works to pass along to younger electricians and to his children.

Whether he’s mentoring the next generation of tradespeople or helping his son and daughter navigate life’s challenges, Baran understands that leadership starts with the example you set.

After all, as he says, “Everything you do, they’re watching.”

This Father’s Day, Powering Chicago celebrates fathers like Andy Baran who are helping build the next generation by leading through example, both at home and on the jobsite.

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