This Mother’s Day, we’re recognizing the women across Chicago’s construction industry who are building careers while raising families, leading teams, and contributing to the projects that keep the city moving. Their stories reflect a broader shift across the industry. The electrical construction workforce continues to evolve, creating pathways for long-term careers that offer stability, advancement, […]
Mother’s Day brings a renewed focus on what it means to provide, support, and build a future for the next generation. For Nicole Larkin, a fifth-year International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134 apprentice, that meaning has taken on a new level of purpose. Just five weeks into motherhood, Larkin is navigating early mornings, […]
From April 26 through May 2, 2026, the 12th annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) will highlight the role of Registered Apprenticeships in building a highly skilled workforce. Coordinated by the U.S. Department of Labor, this year’s theme—“America at Work: Making America Skilled Again through Registered Apprenticeship” —emphasizes strengthening critical industries through hands-on training and career […]
This month’s edition of The Power of Better newsletter highlights the people, partnerships, and initiatives strengthening electrical construction across Chicago and Cook County. In recognition of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting industry leaders making an impact across the electrical construction industry, including Peggy Hrindak of Phoenix Business Solutions and Kendra Dinkins of Taylor Electric Company, […]
For facility managers and property owners across Chicago and Cook County, electrical maintenance is often penciled in as a routine line item in the annual budget. But the truth is, it’s anything but routine. Deferred maintenance may reduce short-term costs, but it dramatically increases long-term risk. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has made that […]
Strong leadership in electrical construction is built through experience, accountability, and the ability to navigate challenges over time. Peggy Hrindak, President and CEO of Phoenix Business Solutions, has spent more than two decades doing exactly that. For Women’s History Month, Powering Chicago is proud to highlight Peggy Hrindrak, owner of Phoenix Business Solutions, for her […]
Kendra Dinkins is making history just in time for Black History Month and Women’s History Month. Dinkins, president and CEO of Taylor Electric Company, was recently elected president of the Electrical Contractors’ Association of City of Chicago and Cook County (ECA) — making her the organization’s first female president in its history. She is also […]
Investing in Better Communities on Chicago’s West Side Episode 20 of The Power of Better takes viewers to Chicago’s West Side, where electrical contractors demonstrate what it means to invest in better communities through action. In September 2025, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) hosted its Adopt-a-School Service Day and selected Chicago Hope Academy as […]
Building a Legacy: How One Chicago Electrical Contractor Is Creating Opportunity Through Mentorship When Jason Bonaparte started B3 Integrated Solutions in 2013, his vision was modest: keep five electricians working and pay the bills. Twelve years later, he’s leading a team of 25 IBEW Local 134 electricians on major infrastructure projects across Chicago, with a […]
For more than four generations, Gurtz Electric Co. has helped shape the landscape of Chicago and Cook County through high-quality, complex electrical construction. As a Powering Chicago signatory contractor with deep roots in the region, Gurtz Electric Co. combines decades of experience, exceptional craftsmanship, advanced technology, and a highly trained workforce to deliver projects that […]
