The IEC Emerging Leaders Program is a seven-month, comprehensive, structured effort to assist rising electrical industry professionals grow into confident, capable leaders. 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.
Now in its sixth year, IEC Emerging Leaders have moved ahead in their careers, and many also now sit on various IEC National committees to take what they’ve learned and apply it to strengthen the future of the electrical industry. In fact, of the nine members of the 2025 Emerging Leaders, six have gone on to serve on 2026 IEC National committees.
The 2026 IEC Emerging Leaders cohort’s kick-off retreat was held in late April in Colorado with educational and motivational presentations, as well as ample time to get to know one another and discern how they might effectively work together to create their Industry Impact Project by SPARK 2026.
Meet the 11 outstanding individuals and uncover a bit about each member’s goals and expectations of the program. Insights looks forward to continuing to report on the cohort’s progress.
Josh Ables
Vice President of Construction Operations, Ables Inc.
IEC Central Ohio
“I expect to gain a deeper understanding of effective leadership in today’s evolving electrical industry, along with practical tools I can apply in real-world situations. Beyond technical growth, I’m especially interested in strengthening my ability to communicate, make strategic decisions, and lead with confidence. I also value the opportunity to learn from peers across the industry — hearing different perspectives and experiences will help broaden my thinking and challenge me to grow both personally and professionally.
“One area I am focused on improving is my ability to lead and influence others beyond direct authority. As I continue to grow in my career, I recognize the importance of motivating teams, building trust, and effectively communicating a clear vision. I also want to further develop my decision-making skills — especially in situations that require balancing long-term strategy with immediate operational needs. Strengthening these areas will help me become a more well-rounded and impactful leader.
“I hope to bring back new ideas, perspectives, and leadership strategies that can positively impact my company’s growth and culture. By applying what I learn, I aim to contribute to building stronger teams, improving processes, and helping develop future leaders within the organization. On a broader level, I want to play a role in advancing the electrical industry by promoting professionalism, innovation, and workforce development. Being part of this program is an opportunity to not only grow personally, but to contribute to the long-term strength and success of the industry as a whole.”
Rey Aragon
Service Manager, Electrician, VA Electric, Inc.
Northern New Mexico IEC
“I’m hoping to grow both personally and professionally by gaining a deeper understanding of our industry and the people behind it. Through the Emerging Leaders Program, I want to learn from others’ experiences and broaden my perspective. Most importantly, I’d like to use what I learn to help create real opportunities and open doors for people who may not have otherwise seen the electrical trade as a viable path to success.”
Austin Coulson
Foreman, Current Connections Inc.
IEC Florida East Coast
“I hope to gain a better understanding of our industry and the challenges that come with it, and to gain some peers that I can call / communicate with on any problems we may face in the future in our industry or company.
“Also, I want to grow my strategic thinking ability so I can better balance immediate operational tasks with long-term vision and goal setting. I would also love to develop my ability to adapt so I can manage the changes we encounter in our fast-paced environment with swift decision making. I hope my participation has impact on my company by incorporating the skills and tools that I will learn from this program. I hope that I can help teach and model what I learn here to others and better help our industry and company move forward more efficiently.”
Zachary Hebert
Owner / Master Electrician, Zachary Adam’s Home Services
IEC Kentuckiana
“As a small merit shop owner, I personally expect to gain a renewed sense of professionalism and community. Owning a business can be very rewarding, but most electricians who become owners don’t realize it can be lonely, and that plateaus are often numerous if they do not engage the business world beyond themselves and their business. Since small shops constitute the majority of member contractors, we must lead the way as industry representatives to maintain the value of our trade and present our industry to outsiders in a confident, favorable light.
“I have identified multiple areas for growth that I want to address through participation in this program: developing my professional communication tactics, learning to identify revenue generation and employee utilization strategies adjacent to the typical or classic electrical contracting model, and establishing partnership guidelines for how we work with other professionals, ensuring we are in relationships that are beneficial for our business and our community.
“My hope is that this program gives me insight into the blind spots of my own business and my role as a leader. Only through keen observation and mentorship will I recognize the strengths I need to continue practicing, and the weaknesses I need to develop. When I understand this development model, I can bring that knowledge to my team, establishing our company culture with the features of a much older and wiser business, consistently developing our team members into leaders and early adopters of responsibility. By embracing this concept, we will be positioned as industry leaders in our area, ready to represent the next generation of electrical experts.”
J. Andres Hernandez
Account Manager, On Electrical Services LLC
Atlanta Chapter IEC
“I’m looking to continue developing as a leader within the electrical industry, particularly by learning from other professionals across different markets and areas of expertise. In my role, I work closely with contractors on the operational and workforce side, so I’m especially interested in gaining a broader perspective on how different companies are approaching growth, leadership, and workforce development. I also see this as a great opportunity to build meaningful relationships within IEC and contribute to conversations that help move the industry forward.
“One area I’m focused on improving is strategic leadership — specifically, being able to think beyond day-to-day operations and contribute to longer-term initiatives that impact both organizations and the industry as a whole. I’m also working on strengthening my ability to communicate across different levels, from field teams to leadership, in a way that creates alignment and clarity. I’m very interested in how technology and AI can be integrated into workforce management and development, helping organizations make better decisions, improve efficiency, and build more scalable workforce solutions. As the industry continues to evolve, I believe strong leadership requires not only operational execution but also the ability to connect people, technology, and long-term vision.
“From a company perspective, I hope to bring back stronger leadership practices and a broader understanding of how to better support contractors, especially when it comes to workforce planning and operational efficiency. From an industry perspective, I’m particularly interested in contributing to workforce development initiatives. Working in staffing, I see firsthand the challenges contractors face when it comes to finding and developing skilled talent. I also see a strong opportunity to leverage technology and AI to improve workforce visibility, forecasting, and alignment between training pipelines and project demand.”
Jake Johnson
Data Center Development Coordinator, Kidwell
IEC of Nebraska
“By being accepted to be a part of IEC Emerging Leaders Program, I am looking to help develop my leadership skills in and out of the workplace. Being in a leadership role currently in my workplace as the data center development coordinator, I want to grow those skills in as many ways as possible.
“Learning about the electrical industry and the differences we encounter where we do business and how that may differ from our IEC partners in different parts of the country, I hope to learn and grow together from the new connections I will foster within the IEC family. By participating I hope to gain as much knowledge as possible that I can take back and share or apply with leadership in my company and have as much impact as I can moving forward with our current team and new team members in the future.”
Patrick Keating
Assistant Project Manager, Interstates
IEC of Greater Cincinnati
“I expect to gain more confidence in my leadership style by learning practical tools that I can take and use in my everyday role. I want to strengthen my ability to communicate clearly, think more strategically, and be better prepared to handle challenges with better composure. I am really hoping to learn about the other cohort members’ experiences and perspectives to compare them to what I have learned in my two years at Interstates.
“One area I’ve identified for growth is my ability to influence my field team and guide them through change. Our regional office in Cincinnati is rather new in the whole picture of Interstates, so there has been a lot of teaching and training on systems, standards, etc. I feel that if I can develop these influence and communication skills, it will help our office immensely.
“I want to bring back to my workplace stronger leadership skills that improve how my team operates as a whole. Specifically, I want to focus on communication, consistency, and accountability. If I can help create clearer expectations and structure, it will greatly impact our success. At the industry level, I want to contribute to building a stronger, more sustainable workforce. That includes supporting younger team members and leading a culture where safety is always prioritized over speed.”
Philip King
Service Manager / Residential Estimator, M&J Electric of Wichita
Greater Charlotte IEC
“I’m looking to gain perspective from other leaders in the industry and continue growing in how I lead day to day. Coming from the field into a management role, I’ve learned there’s a big difference between knowing the work and leading people. I want to become more intentional in how I communicate, make decisions, and lead my team.
“Communication is the biggest area where I want to grow. I want to get better at coaching technicians, setting clear expectations, and building a culture where accountability and pride in the work are the standard.
“I want to bring back to my workplace ideas that improve how we operate and how we take care of both our customers and our team. On a larger scale, I hope to contribute to raising the standard in the electrical trade by developing people who take ownership, show up consistently, and do things the right way.”
Curtis LeScott
President, Maizeland Electrical Group
IEC Southern Colorado
“Being a member of the Emerging Leaders Program represents more than an opportunity to hold a title or take on additional responsibilities. For me, it is a chance to grow personally and professionally while making a meaningful contribution to an industry that continues to shape the future. I look forward to gaining valuable knowledge from the people around me. Electrical organizations and forums bring together individuals with different levels of experience, backgrounds, and expertise. As an Emerging Leader, I want to learn from mentors, seasoned professionals, and peers who have already overcome challenges and achieved success in the field. Their advice, experiences, and perspectives can help me become a more well-rounded professional and avoid mistakes. I hope these experiences will teach me how to build trust, resolve conflicts, and create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
“One area of leadership growth that I have identified for myself is decision making. As I continue to grow as a leader, I recognize that the ability to make thoughtful, confident, and timely decisions is essential. In leadership roles, especially within an electrical organization or professional forum, decisions often affect not only projects and outcomes, but also the people involved. Because of this, I want to strengthen my ability to evaluate situations carefully and make choices that are both practical and responsible. I also want to become more comfortable making decisions when there is not a perfect answer. Leadership often requires acting in situations where there are risks, challenges, or limited information. By developing this skill, I hope to learn how to trust my judgment while remaining open to advice and feedback from others. I understand that not every decision will be perfect, but each experience can provide an opportunity to learn and improve.
“I hope that my participation as an emerging leader will have a positive and lasting impact on both my company and the electrical industry. By becoming more involved, I want to bring back new ideas, stronger leadership skills, and a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our field.”
Jared Rosack
Electrical Department Head, Touchstone CBS
IEC Rocky Mountain
“The biggest thing I hope to gain from this program is the ability to lead the company better and build a foundation of skills that will see Touchstone succeed long past my time with the company.”
John Valentine
Foreman, Kings Electric Services
IEC of Greater Cincinnati
“Through the Emerging Leaders Program, I expect to personally gain a few things. I expect to grow more as an individual leader. How I can sharpen my skills, as well as learn new ones, and in return make the team better. I also expect to learn more tips and tricks on how to work collectively as a group of unique individuals, apply our own unique skills, and work as a team to accomplish goals.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve narrowed down a specific area of leadership I need to improve, because I think any area could always improve. I have the mindset that everyone should be like a sponge and absorb as much knowledge, training, and coaching as possible. The best leaders are the ones that continue to humble themselves and grow and develop themselves, as well as others. A true leader not only leads by example, but empowers others to lead and grow as well.
“I’ve been with my company for five years, and I’ve learned that our ownership has a strong passion for pouring into their employees and helping them all grow in their own fields. Whether it’s character development, improving technical skills, or continued coaching, they want to help. When they explained what the Emerging Leaders Program was, I was ecstatic. I hope that through my involvement and learning, that I am able to pour into others around me, internally and externally. The values and skills that will be learned during this program help both us as individuals to improve ourselves, but also help us to be more effective communicators with those we work with.”
