I am in my second year as Year 1 instructor at HCECA and have really enjoyed teaching, using the provided curriculum along with help from the other instructors and staff. The students typically seem to be engaged and want to try to understand a topic that will help further them in their career. I would highly recommend the apprenticeship to anyone with interest in the electrical field. We hold interviews during the second half of the school year, so it is refreshing to see some of the students that we choose during the process. As one of the first-year instructors, I look forward to any students that may end up being in my class. It is always nice to see a familiar face in class and build new relationships with apprentices that I could potentially work with in the future.

I entered the HCECA program in 1988 shortly after being employed by Benfield Electric. I was fortunate enough to fall into a trade that I love and as a result then sought the training to go along with my passion. Again, luckily, that led me to the HCECA where the instructors and program had the same passion for the trade and the training. I hold this program in the highest possible regard. 38+ years later I still lean on the training I received. I’m still with Benfield Electric. I remind the team here constantly to “remember, at some point in your career someone trained you, pay it forward”. That is not just the hands-on training in the field but the foundation of how to apply the principles received through the training offered at HCECA. This program has stood the test of time. My passion for this trade inspired my son to enter the trade as well. He graduated from this very program in 2025. HCECA’s commitment to training has remained steadfast over the years and thousands of graduates. Their outstanding devotion continues to develop tomorrow’s trade professionals.

I have really enjoyed being part of the electrical apprenticeship because it gives me the opportunity to learn skills that I can apply directly on the job. The teachers are very knowledgeable and do a great job explaining the material in a way that is easy to understand. It is especially valuable that many of them are actively working in the electrical trade, because they bring real world experience and practical examples into the classroom. This helps connect what we learn in class to how it is actually used in the field and has helped me feel more confident in applying what I learn. Overall, the program has been a great experience for building both knowledge and hands on skills, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to get into the electrical trade.

Teaching apprentices at the Harford County Electrical Apprenticeship Program is something I really enjoy. Being able to help develop the next generation of electricians and watch them grow in both their knowledge of the trade and as individuals is one of the most rewarding parts of it for me.

The HCECA program has allowed me to receive a quality foundation to build my electrical experience and knowledge. Gaining experience on the job while receiving a good foundational understanding of circuitry, code parameters, and the reasons behind what I do on a day-to-day basis has allowed me to perform well at my job. The best part of the HCECA program is the educational conversations with a diverse group of people who are in similar situations as me—a first-year apprentice—allowing me to see different fields within the industry and hear different solutions to relatable problems at work.

Partnering with HCECA has been a game-changer for Quantum Controls, Inc. The apprentices we send there are receiving a top-tier education with structured classroom training and hands-on labs to further them in their careers. The investment we make in our apprentices attending HCECA has paid for itself over and over again. it’s a true win-win for the apprentice and for us. The instructors really focus on developing well-rounded professional electricians and our foremen see that growth on the jobsites.

If you are a female considering entering the electrical field, I want you to know that being an electrician is such a viable career as it allows you to have a good work life balance while you make a sustainable wage. Women tend to be more detail-oriented, so we pay attention to the very small but crucial details. It takes time to learn the electrical skill set, but the more you dive into it, the better you become. There are so many paths to take in the electrical field, and this is a skilled trade that will always be in demand.

My experience at the Harford County Electrical Apprenticeship Program has been incredibly positive, with everyone being encouraging, supportive, and genuinely helpful from day one. On the job, I’ve been treated like an equal and truly feel like part of the team, and I love the camaraderie. The most fulfilling part is knowing I’m building something tangible and taking pride in a job well done. The challenges push me to keep learning and improving, which keeps me motivated. If I could give any advice to a woman considering this trade, I’d say: don’t let doubt hold you back—you’ll be respected, empowered, and you belong here just as much as anyone else.

This program helped me build my knowledge and future career as an electrician, and I was continuously inspired by my instructors’ passion for and knowledge of the electrical trade. What I was learning in the classroom often related to what I was doing on the job which helped reinforce the material. While it’s challenging to work full time and attend class two nights a week, earning a paycheck during this time helped me to provide stability and support for my family. Plus, I’ve already doubled my income in just a few years. For those that want more in their life, but don’t know how, this program and the electrical trade can provide the skills and tools to harness a solid career. It takes some grit and determination to go through the program, but it’s definitely worth it!

The Harford County Electrical Apprenticeship program’s Master Electrician Exam Prep course came highly recommended among a group of my peers who had recently taken the exam. Between the reasonable cost of the course and the close distance to my home, this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. The instructor Steve St. Croix’s style of teaching made taking the exam so much less intimidating for me. I knew I was set up for success right from the start. On day 1 of the class, he had us write MASTER ELECTRICIAN in the front of our textbook and above it our signature. Every time I opened my book, I was reminded that I was destined to be what I was reaching for.

I loved the HCECA and the instructors—Jack Mitchum, George Rockocy, Jeff Paul, Lee Jolley, Dennis Felts, Ronn Blaney, and Steve St. Croix—who not only gave me the electrical knowledge I needed, but they gave me the life and business advice I needed to be successful in starting my own electrical & automation company.  If I wanted to discuss installations, no problem. But if I wanted advice on running a work van, becoming a foreman, estimating, project management, or starting my own business and setting the world on fire, they had the answers to make that all happen as well. If you want to be the best electrician out there, they can help you do that. If you want to take control of your career path, they can help you do that, too.

For Travis Anderson, a career in the trades was Plan B. As a student fresh out of high school in Essex, Maryland, he had aspirations of becoming an engineer. Starting out at CCBC in Baltimore, Travis began his studies–but with limited money from family, no loans, and minimal financial aid, he simply ran out of funds and decided to work for a while until he got back on his feet. He started working for a neighbor who was a plumber and earned $10 an hour, which at the time he felt was good money. But when circumstances led to his no longer being able to work for his neighbor, he was out of work — and out of money. Travis finally found the Harford County Electrical Apprenticeship program where he attended classes twice a week in the evenings for four years, while working full-time as an apprentice for a local electrical contractor. From wiring houses in the cold winter months to commercial and maintenance work, Travis gained a wide breadth of experience. Fast forward to today where Travis is currently working as the lead electrician for a huge government contractor, he is grateful for the various job opportunities along the way that positioned him for ultimate success.

Upon his graduation and earning his journeyperson certificate from the State of Maryland, Travis considered his many options. He knew he could take his skills far – but he also knew he still had so much to learn. Working at Kolb Electric he learned the business side of the electrical trade as a project manager/estimator. He learned much from senior level people at the company, but later sought something that would give him more autonomy. His next job involved learning high voltage work by working for Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). With his varied experience under his belt, Travis’ next position was where he is today, working for EMCOR Facilities Services, where he is the lead facilities electrician for a billion square foot complex.

Travis says, “If it wasn’t for HCECA, I wouldn’t have had the perspective and mentoring that gave me the ability to navigate the best outcome of a career I could have possibly asked for.”
His experience throughout the years at HCECA was marked by positive experiences, with his interactions with the apprenticeship staff, but even more importantly his instructors, who Travis feels were instrumental in laying the foundation and making it possible for him to be where he is today.

Travis believes deeply and passionately in the value of trade schools and calls them the “other four-year degree.” With a starting salary in the area of $48-$52K per year and no debt from university tuition, the value is clear. Travis felt he was light years ahead of many of his friends who graduated from college with significant debt. He takes pride in personally shattering the stigma of the trades. And he attributes HCECA with setting that foundation.

What’s next for Travis?

He’s passionate about safety on the job and as such has trained to be a Site Safety Health officer for his company where he is responsible for safety training and environmental safety and health in addition to his duties as lead facilities electrician. He also recently earned a certificate from the University of Alabama for Occupational and Safety Health Management.

Although the path was not easy, and despite naysayers along the way, Travis knew he needed to just keep moving forward. His energy, passion, dedication, and determination most certainly paid off – and there are most certainly more good things in Travis’s future.