Greater Cleveland Chapter
Who We Are
The Voice of the Electrical Construction Industry.
NECA is the voice of the $270 billion electrical construction industry that brings power, light, and communication technology to buildings and communities across the U.S.
NECA contractors are the technical professionals responsible for the most innovative and safest electrical construction in the U.S.
Our Origin
NECA traces its origins to the birth of modern electricity. In 1901, a group of electrical contractors met at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY, where a major display of electric power had been installed. These contractors joined together to foster trade and reform abuses within their fledgling industry.
Today, NECA continues to build on a legacy of protecting the public and making innovation possible. NECA contractors strive to be solution-providers for their customers, and their industry expertise benefits everyone working on an electrical construction project.
Greater Cleveland Chapter, NECA
Incorporated on March 19, 1945, the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), is based in Valley View, Ohio, and focuses on improving labor-management relationships and promoting the electrical industry within the region. The chapter's leadership, including its executive director and board members, engages with national NECA leadership to address issues such as workforce development, apprenticeship programs, and professional training.
The Cleveland Division is comprised of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union #38 is deeply integrated with Cleveland's history, playing a role in the city's development through its involvement in major projects like Tower City, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Progressive Field. The union's history began in 1891 due to harsh conditions for electrical workers, such as low pay and high death rates. Local IBEW 38's contributions extend beyond large-scale projects, including a tradition of decorating Cleveland’s Public Square for the holidays and a commitment to safe electrical work through its apprenticeship and training programs.
The Lake Erie Division is comprised of IBEW Local Union #129 and was formed in Elyria, Ohio, on March 1, 1916, by eleven men who created the local chapter of the IBEW to represent inside electrical workers. The local union bargains collectively with employers for wages, benefits, and rights, and is a member of the larger IBEW, which was founded in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1891 to improve the dangerous and challenging working conditions for electrical workers.
The Northeast Ohio Division is comprised of IBEW Local Union #673. While the exact founding date and specific early history of IBEW Local 673 is not known, the local is an affiliate of the IBEW, which was founded in St. Louis in 1891 to fight for better working conditions and wages for electrical workers. IBEW Local 673 serves the Lake, Ashtabula, and Geauga counties in Ohio, providing skilled union electricians and apprentices to various industries, and operates within the established mission of the international union to support members' economic development and professional growth.