Emerging Leaders Program

IEC’s premier leadership pathway for early- and mid-career professionals committed to strengthening the future of the electrical industry.

This seven-month experience helps rising professionals grow into confident, capable leaders. Through targeted skill development, mentorship support, and meaningful industry exposure, participants strengthen their communication, decision-making, and leadership style while expanding their awareness of the electrical landscape.

What Is the Emerging Leaders Program?

The program brings together a national cohort from IEC member companies for monthly learning sessions, one-to-one mentoring, and collaborative work. Cohort members build skills they can bring back to their companies and chapters and complete a required Industry Impact Project that contributes to the broader IEC community.

We’re excited to introduce our 2026 Cohort:

Rey Aragon

Northern New Mexico IEC

Curtis LeScott

IEC Southern Colorado

Philip King

Greater Charlotte IEC

Josh Ables

IEC Central Ohio

Patrick Keating

IEC of Greater Cincinnati

Jake Johnson

IEC of Nebraska

John Valentine

IEC of Greater Cincinnati

Jared Rosack

IEC Rocky Mountain

J Andres Hernandez

Atlanta Chapter IEC

Zachary Hebert

IEC Kentuckiana

Austin Coulson

IEC Florida East Coast

Apply to be a Mentor

You have the opportunity to impact the life and career of a future leader in the electrical industry by serving as a mentor in the IEC Emerging Leaders program.

If you feel called to guide the next generation of professionals in our industry, we need you!

Along with a desire to provide hope and direction to a future leader, you should be an established business leader with 8+ years of industry experience, connections, and relationships. Experience leading others and developing diverse teams is important, as is active engagement with IEC.

Why Join?

Build Practical Skills

Develop stronger communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and strategic thinking through focused instruction and real-world application.

Gain New Perspective

See your role, your company, and the industry from a wider vantage point, and better understand what effective leadership looks like in different contexts.

Expand Your Network

Form relationships with mentors, peers, IEC leadership, and strategic partners that can support your career long after the program ends.

Create Visible Impact

Channel your learning into a required Industry Impact Project that delivers tangible value to the broader IEC community.

Who Should Participate?

This program is ideal for early- to mid-career professionals with 2–3 years of experience who want to grow their leadership abilities and take on greater responsibility. Strong applicants show initiative in their work, are viewed as dependable team members, and are interested in contributing more actively to IEC.

Eligible applicants include: contractors, chapter staff, and industry partners.

Participant Obligations

Acceptance into the IEC Emerging Leaders Program is a commitment to personal and professional growth. Participants are required to meet the following obligations to ensure a successful and rewarding experience:

Financial Commitment

A program fee of $2,750, which includes:

Course materials and workshops.
Strategic partner visit ($549 value).
Registration to SPARK ($1,449 value).
In-person kick-off meeting (training and meals)

Please note: Transportation and lodging for required events are not included in the program fee.

Time Commitment

Participants should plan to dedicate 8-12 hours per month from April through October. This includes:

Attendance and engagement at required virtual workshops
Participation in mentor meetings.
Work on the Industry Impact Project.

Event Attendance

Attendance at the following in-person events is mandatory:

Kick-Off Retreat | April 26-28 2026, Colorado
Strategic Partner Visit | Week of July 13 (Dates TBD), Atlanta, Georgia
SPARK | October 2026, Columbus, Ohio

By fulfilling these obligations, participants maximize their experience in the program and ensure they are fully prepared to lead with confidence and impact.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants should be employed by an IEC member company and have the support of their employer to participate fully in the program.

Questions? Contact Sarah Tiwana | stiwana@ieci.org

Testimonials

“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. I’m more confident in setting expectations, navigating difficult conversations, and building stronger relationships… The program also helped me
develop a more proactive mindset and become more intentional in how I support those around me, both professionally and personally.”

Liz McGoldrick

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.

Zackary Jarmon

One of the most important things I learned was about the support IEC and its members offer one another. If you run into an issue, someone has likely faced it before and can offer solutions. Another impactful part was the public speaking session. It has made me much more confident speaking in front of people.

Darren Jones