Three graduates of the IEC Emerging Leaders Program credit involvement in the program as contributing to their professional and personal development. This six-month dynamic program equips high-potential individuals with the skills and experiences necessary to excel as leaders within their organization and the electrical industry at large.
Zackary Jarmon, Darren Jones, and Elizabeth McGoldrick each are grateful for the opportunities they found in the program and believe it has done wonders to jumpstart their career advancement. Zack, Darren, and Liz currently serve on the IEC Emerging Leaders Committee, working hard to direct and improve the program for future leaders.
Zackary Jarmon
Zack participated in the program in 2023 while working as training director and instructor at IEC Fort Worth. Zack says being in the IEC Emerging Leaders program opened his eyes to more opportunities to make a difference within IEC.
“I met so many more people within IEC National through the IEC Emerging Leaders program,” Zack says. “It was a game changer for me to become known at the National level and to be asked to become involved in more IEC activities. It helped me to realize what I could do. Let’s be clear — I’m an electrician at the end of the day but IEC Emerging Leaders really gave me the confidence to get more involved in areas where I never thought I’d be.”
Zack points to many examples of new levels of involvement since the Emerging Leaders experience — speaking at graduations and at SPARK and other IEC events, meeting with legislators at the IEC Policy Conference, and recording video spots for IEC National marketing. His move to IEC Dallas is another example of expanded possibilities for his talents.
“I’m still teaching but I’m also the business development director for IEC Dallas,” he says. “I do the high school program, workforce development, manage our dispatch team, and social media for the chapter. At National, I’m a part of the Emerging Leaders and Safety committees, and on the New Worker Program Task Force. Being an Emerging Leader really opened the door for me and it made me have more confidence in what I could do.”
Zack’s Emerging Leaders cohort in 2023 was 10 individuals strong, including himself and Erik Brandenburg, Tiler Cross, Scott Duckett, JT Files, Taylor Hobbs, Darren Jones, James Mattingly, Jorge Murillo, and Matthew Oleson. The culmination of their program experience was an industry impact project divided into three areas — company culture, employee retention, and positive culture. Zack was a part of the positive culture team where they chose to motivate and energize the men and women who challenge themselves to enter the IEC Apprenticeship Program at their local chapter.
The four-year curriculum is regarded as the best in the industry so Taylor, Zack, and Jorge knew they could build on that strength. The team decided to focus on culture, often a somewhat intangible topic that a lot of people don’t want to discuss. To help with that discussion, they developed and circulated a survey to all chapters to inquire about why apprentices leave the program and shared that information with all IEC chapters. Then, they dug in and created a video that all IEC chapters could use to promote the IEC Apprenticeship Program as a means of changing one’s life — for the good.
Zack is a believer in the IEC Apprenticeship Program, and anyone who has met him knows that he always is positive. He’s a second-generation electrician himself and now has a son going through the program.
“Every time I do something more for IEC, my story gets larger,” he says. “And not just for me but for my family and for the industry. I made a promise to myself a long time ago that if I ever had the opportunity to make it easier for someone else to do what I’ve done in this field that I would do it. Now, I have that opportunity. As a part of the Emerging Leaders Program industry impact project, I was able to stand before crowds at SPARK and show how being in the electrical trade can change your life forever. As part of the Emerging Leaders Committee, I spoke to this year’s cohort about being better presenters. I will continue to share my enthusiasm for this industry.”
He is outspoken about encouraging member companies to send their top prospects to the IEC Emerging Leaders Program.
“If you really want your employee to get more exposure, more opportunities to learn and meet people who do what they do, then the Emerging Leaders Program is a way to get them there faster than you could do on your own. It will accelerate the process and make your company better faster,” Zack encourages.
Darren Jones
Darren Jones, Ohio Valley Electrical Services, also was a part of the 2023 Emerging Leaders cohort. He is currently in his 21st year with the company and newly promoted to vice president of construction, where he manages the team of estimators and project managers while pursuing future projects. At the time of his IEC Emerging Leaders participation, he was an estimator / project manager at Ohio Valley.
“One of the most important things that I learned while in the Emerging Leaders Program was about the support that IEC and all the members offer openly to each other,” Darren says. “It was a true eye opener to hear from different members across the country. If you run into an issue, someone has dealt with it prior and has suggestions or recommendations or a route to help. Another topic that I felt impacted me was the public speaking session, as it has helped me with being able to speak in front of people in a better manner.”
During the Emerging Leaders Program, Darren was matched with a mentor, Curtis Miller of Weifield Group. They continue to talk regularly and a friendship has developed.
“Curtis has taught me valuable lessons over the years,” Darren adds. “I truly appreciate the opportunity that my company allowed me to participate in this program along with IEC for hosting a program of this caliber. My goal always has been to lead to the best of my ability, similar to the original founding members of Ohio Valley Electrical Services. Over the years I have been able to work with each one of them to an extent; it really shows the dedication that each one of them has put into this company and I want to continue in this manner for the rest of my career.”
He and Emerging Leaders cohort members Scott, and JT were a part of the employee retention part of the industry impact project. They looked at generally available government statistics on electrical employment and retention and then conducted a study of IEC member companies.
“Our study found that employees leave for these reasons — culture, growth potential within the company, not feeling appreciated, benefits / compensation, and wellbeing and work life balance,” Darren reports. “One common denominator we heard from company to company is that finding the best way and right amount of time to recognize employees for their work is key to employee retention. This doesn’t have to be a gift and, in fact, it might be different for different employees. One contractor I spoke with said their leadership tries to do or say something once every seven days to each employee to be sure employees know they are appreciated. Walk over and say thanks, acknowledge something on the job site — just do or say something.”
Darren encourages fellow IEC members to consider applying for the IEC Emerging Leaders Program. And, he offers these words to company owners looking to be involved in the program.
“If the employee is a key component to your organization, it is well worth the investment into that employee to help develop them into leaders for your company,” he says.
Elizabeth McGoldrick
Elizabeth, or Liz, was one of six members of the 2022 IEC Emerging Leaders cohort. Her colleagues included Rebecca Barnes, Tyler Hadden, Karsen Kredit, John O’Mara, and James Sharkey.
Justin Martin, Emerging Leaders Committee co-chair in 2022, believes it’s absolutely imperative for IEC to be active in developing the next generation of leaders who are going to step up within their companies and within IEC.
“We take them through modules in our education sessions, show differences between leadership and management for example, and how they can grab the reins and have their people follow their vision,” Justin explains. “We want people who are willing to step out of their comfort zones, people who are willing to take a risk, and people who are willing to put in the extra effort for a bigger reason. It’s about creating a network of people and knowing that you have this cohort of six people that you’re going to trust for the rest of your career.”
In 2022 when Liz participated, she was a project administrator at Electrical Consulting Services, Inc., West Palm Beach, FL. Today her advancement within the company has her not only serving as project administrator, but also as head estimator and safety director.
“Participating in the Emerging Leaders Program has positively impacted my daily work life by helping me become a more effective communicator, especially when working with contractors and vendors,” Liz shares. “I’m more confident in setting expectations, navigating difficult conversations, and building stronger working relationships. The program also helped me develop a more proactive mindset, which has improved how I manage time and lead on-site tasks. Outside of work, the program encouraged me to reflect more on personal growth and leadership beyond the job. I’ve become more intentional in how I handle stress, prioritize my time, and support those around me — both professionally and personally.”
The 2022 cohort industry impact project was to design and build a 3,500 pound, 20-foot long, 8-foot tall, 9-foot wide workforce development trailer — the IEC Volt Wagon — which was raffled off (with proceeds going to the IEC Foundation) at SPARK 2022.
“Coordinating and collaborating with team members from all over the country made the project both challenging and rewarding,” Liz remembers. “It pushed us to communicate creatively, stay organized, and trust one another — even from a distance. Beyond the project itself, the experience really highlighted the power of networking and how valuable it is to connect with like-minded professionals across the industry.”
Liz highly recommends the program. She believes it’s a unique opportunity for individuals to grow professionally, build confidence, and develop everyday leadership skills. The program “challenges you in the best way” and provides the chance to connect with peers nationwide. Her message to company owners who might be considering sending a key employee?
“The IEC Emerging Leaders Program is a great investment in your team’s future,” she advises “The program equips participants with the tools to lead more effectively, communicate better, and bring fresh perspective back to your organization. It’s not just training — it’s transformation.”
For Liz, the program year was only the beginning.
“As a result of my Emerging Leaders experience, I’ve set several new goals for myself,” Liz offers. “Professionally, I’m focused on continuing to grow as a leader by taking on more responsibility, mentoring others, and seeking out opportunities to improve team collaboration. I’ve also made it a goal to stay connected with the network I built during the program and to stay involved in industry leadership opportunities. Personally, I’ve committed to being more intentional with time management and personal development — continuing to build the discipline and mindset the program helped me strengthen.”
[Editor’s note: you can read more about Liz’s journey in this 2023 Insights magazine article.]
On Tap at SPARK 2025
Saturday, September 27, 8:00-9:00 AM MT
2025 Emerging Leaders Industry Impact Presentation
The nine members of the 2025 Emerging Leaders cohort present their Industry Impact Project during SPARK 2025. The 2025 cohort focused their project on empowering chapters and contractors to cultivate greater interest in the electrical profession by engaging with middle and high school students. Their goal is to leverage gamification as an interactive and engaging tool that sparks curiosity and interest in the electrical trade among middle and high school students. Come listen in as the 2025 cohort shares their project experience.
The 2025 Cohort is listed here.
