BY IEC STAFF
Zachary Stillings ended his award-winning essay with these words: “In essence, being an electrician isn’t just about wiring buildings — it’s about building connections, both professionally and personally, that shape who I am and where I’m going in life.” It’s the most valued lesson he learned during his apprenticeship.
Zack graduated from the IEC Central Ohio Apprenticeship Program in 2024 and is a valued employee at Settle Muter Electric, Columbus, OH. It’s a second career for him after following the typical millennial generation path first — graduating from college and landing that white collar job. It didn’t feel right.
“I tried doing the typical business office setting job,” he explains. “I’m doing excel spreadsheets and looking at finances. And I’m talking and I’m doing the meetings. But I felt a little restless. A former roommate of mine in college had become an electrician, and we have very similar personalities and temperaments. We’re both outgoing and also like working with our hands. We can get a little scatterbrained, but when we get excited about something, we get meticulous about accomplishing that task.”
His friend shared how much he enjoyed being an electrician so on the opinion and advice of a trusted friend, Zack set his sights on a new career.
Life Intervenes
Zack started on his journey to becoming an electrician just like many that had come before him — he worked full time at his company, Settle Muter Electric, and attended his four hours of class at IEC Central Ohio each week. He got married to his amazing wife, Sage. He established a routine with his work life, valuing his ‘quiet time’ on the drive to the job site.
“I used the drive to get my mind right for the day and for me, that was prayer,” he says. “I would get my mind set for the day and tell myself I’m here to focus on the task at hand and that’s getting to work safely, successfully completely the tasks laid out for the day, and returning home.”
He was happy with his new career choice, and he and his wife prepared for their next step of having a family.
“The second year of the apprenticeship, my wife and I welcomed our daughter into the world, and our baby had a lot of health complications,” Zack shares. “She had to be immediately sent over to Children’s Hospital in Columbus, causing me to miss, not only work, but class time as well. And then in fourth year, I was diagnosed with cancer and so had to navigate missing work and class time again.”
Zack’s daughter is a strong, silly, and fun two-year-old now, and Zack went into remission July 2024 after grueling treatments. While going through these hard medical situations, and now when reflecting on them, several realizations hit him.
“While this is changing — and I want to be a part of that — the trope that a construction worker is a rigid, stern, kind of grizzled man, and that nothing else matters except the task at hand is just not my experience,” says Zack. “The generosity and grace shown to me and my family during those really tumultuous times challenges that.”
He specifically values his second-year instructor, Bo White, and his fourth-year instructor, Dave Blue.
“Both are incredible men, great instructors, who were helpful to me at a very vulnerable time in my life,” Zack explains. “Not only were they completely understanding of my situations, but they made sure that I continued my education. The same for my employer, as they fought to make sure I was continuing my journey in the workforce as well. Mark Muter, Trisha Caldwell, and the rest of the team at Settle Muter Electric showed the most patience and flexibility and solidified that I am important to them and to our team. So was the IEC Central Ohio team with Barb [Tipton, executive director]. Now, I’m a journeyman electrician and I want to pay it forward.”
Continuing to Build Connections
Zack’s winning essay was titled Building Connections. It’s what he’s always done, and what he works on even more now after experiencing unwavering support through his family medical challenges.
“I was able to join this field due to a friend’s passion and because a friend of my dad works for a general contractor that recommended Settle Muter to us,” Zack recalls. “I’ve been able to impact other friends and family based on my short time in the field. One of the things that I’d really like to help with now is to break the stereotype of a construction worker. Yes, I am here to be a hard worker. I want to be known as a hard worker but also as a good man and good father. I owe so much to Settle Muter Electric and I want to pay it back to them. Then that shows my coworkers, my family, and especially my daughter what is most important in life.”
To those considering the field, Zack says the whole field is challenging but the training is there. With a will to persevere and a mindset that understands you always will be learning, troubleshooting, and asking for help from those more experienced than you, you can be successful he says. Also, be ready for the physicality of the job in addition to the mental fortitude necessary to be a troubleshooter.
“I’ve always found that humility is the best and the greatest tool you have in a field like this,” Zack says. “Your pride wants you to just handle things. But at the end of the day, we’re responsible for providing a safe building for our company’s customers, and also whoever is occupying that building. Who am I to let my pride put other people at risk? While I may always want to say, yeah, I’ve got this, but sometimes I really don’t. And if I don’t have it, I ask for help. Sure, I’m a journeyman now. But I don’t ever want to live my life pretending to be someone I’m not. I don’t know all the answers, so I’m going to ask for help.”
It also means making himself open to others who might want to ask for his help. And supporting his team…always.
“A coworker and I were reminiscing the other day about when we had to work nights that first year,” he remembers. “I didn’t like coming home to my pregnant wife who was already asleep but I remembered the other guys working were also not home with their families. We were in this together. We love what we do and we want to do the best job we can. My coworker and I remember a time where we walked on to a job site expecting to work an eight-hour shift. The day did not go as planned. Our superintendent came up and asked us if we were able to work overtime to get this job done today and said “I’m not sure when we’ll go home.’ The superintendent is a good man, a good father, a good friend, and a good superintendent so we told him of course. It’s a brotherhood in the trenches and like in the military, we’ve fought together. We’ve experienced the good, we’ve experienced the bad, and we’re all in this together.”
Zack feels being a people person willing to build connections is the most important aspect of construction.
“I believe building connections if the cornerstone to enjoying any career,” he says. “I am going to hate my work if I don’t have anyone around me to support me and if I don’t support others. A building would hate its foundation if it didn’t have a cornerstone — it would just tumble over.”
Zack’s Winning Essay: Building Connections
How has becoming an electrician changed or influenced your life and where do you see this career path taking you?
Becoming an electrician has been a transformative journey that has touched every aspect of my life, especially in the context of wanting to provide a stable future for my family. When faced with uncertainty and challenges, I sought out a career that could provide stability and direction, and being an electrician has exceeded my expectations in every way.
Professionally, it’s given me more than just a job — it’s provided me with a craft that I’m passionate about. Each day, as I work with the various aspects of the electrical field, I’m reminded of the importance of reliability and safety, values that resonate deeply with me as I strive to create a secure environment for my family, especially my daughter.
On a personal level, the friendships I’ve formed with my coworkers have been a lifeline during difficult times. They understand the delicate balance between work and family obligations, offering unyielding support and friendship. These friendships have made the long hours and demanding tasks more bearable, serving as a constant reminder that I’m not alone in this journey.
Looking ahead, I see my career path as an electrician continuing to evolve, guided by a desire to provide the best possible future for my family. Whether it’s exploring new opportunities throughout the field or mentoring the next generation, I’m committed to making a difference, both in my profession and in the lives of those around me.
In essence, being an electrician isn’t just about wiring buildings — it’s about building connections, both professionally and personally, that shape who I am and where I’m going in life.