It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of the MEA board and to implement as many of your suggestions as possible. I want to thank the officers, directors, committees, members and staff for making 2014 such an excellent year.

Tim Zinniel of Zinniel Electric in Sleepy Eye will do a great job for you as your new Chair of MEA’s Board. I encourage you to put June 18-20 on your calendar and join us at MEA’s Business Conference in Minneapolis. If you enjoy talking with distributors about new products, I encourage you to come to the product show on Friday, June 19.My last official act as chair of the MEA Board is to provide the members with a report of our achievements. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me or Judi Rubin. We were able to complete the following priorities during the year:1. Make it easier for members to develop their workforce in rural as well as for metro areas. The first step

was to make the journeyworker’s licensing examination Prep Class more accessible by making it available ONLINE starting last October. A pre-exam diagnostic test will be available shortly to help unlicensed electricians determine where they need additional study.

2. Increase the value of our conferences for members who are not on the board or committees by expanding seminars focused on compliance with regulatory agencies.

3. Develop an operations team with strong IT and program management skills. This team is in place, and they have done an excellent job of streamlining the work of the education department, implementing the new association management software and will soon launch the new website. We are looking forward to even more improvements.

MEA’s leadership has a long tradition of hiring an entrepreneurial staff and supporting them in generating non-dues income. It is remarkable for an association to make 91% of its revenue from non-dues income! In 2014, MEA generated revenue in the following areas:.59% from the sale of Business Products--nationally. Many of the programs developed by MEA (particularly in the area of education) have been made possible by the work of the National Sales Manager, John Riley, and his team.• $66,000 of the profit from the Business Products Department supported MEA’s education programs. They

are working closely with the Education Department to provide MEA’s online programs to customers in other states to provide a revenue stream that will support the ongoing development of new training.

2014 Annual Report

April 2015

Tom Freetly, Chair MEA Board of Directors 2014-15

Call our

association partner!

Federated Mutual Insurance Company • Federated Service Insurance Company* • Federated Life Insurance CompanyOwatonna, Minnesota 55060 | Phone 507.455.5200 | www.federatedinsurance.com *Not licensed in the states of NH, NJ, and VT. © 2015 Federated Mutual Insurance Company

www.federatedinsurance.com

Continued on page 3.

April 2015

From the President’s Desk

By Judi Rubin,President

The Spring Business Conference was productive, valuable, interesting and fun!

Tom Freetly’s . . . interest in scheduling programs at MEA’s Business Conferences on topics suggested by contractors resulted in presentations from

• Andy Smoka, OSHA Consulting, who explained how to avoid three $1,500 in OSHA fines! • Joe Neves who briefed us on how to avoid the most common transportation violations. • Jessica Looman, Deputy Commissioner, who explained simple ways contractors are meeting the requirements for

new mothers . . . along with other new regulations. Contractors who attended the conference know that enforcement will be stepped up this summer.Executive Board Elections . . . Tim Zinniel, Zinniel Electric, was elected as Chair of the MEA Board of Directors. Tim has been active in the association as a Director, Chair, and Committee Member. He has attended a number of hearings and industry meetings. His parents, Clete and Jan Zinniel, founded Zinniel Electric in Sleepy Eye and have appreciated Tim’s vision as he moved the company into sustainable energy, specializing in solar installations. Tony Enger, an owner of Harrison Electric was elected as Vice Chair. Jason Seanger, an owner of Melrose Electric, was elected Treasurer. Karen Maine, owner of Karen’s Electric in St. Cloud, was elected as Secretary. All of these contractors have served the association in a number of roles, and the staff looks forward to working closely with them.Workforce development was the hot topic . . . The Executive Board and the Workforce Development Task Force focused on the importance of supporting the electrical programs in technical schools. They agreed that while apprentice programs provide excellent training, they are not a substitute for two years of concentrated training in classrooms and labs. Brad Hasskamp, Dept. of Education, provided a briefing on new programs to help people get their high school degree with classes focused on their career choice. Presidents Council is discussing the possibilities for a knowledge resource for electrical contractors. Mike Buck developed an outline of information contractors need to know in order to succeed. A number of ideas were discussed about how to provide this information. There was unanimous agreement that collaboration with the Young Contractors Network would provide the most helpful input.Young Electrical Contractors reported that they want to meet at all conferences to discuss business concerns as well as use a chat board between conferences in order to stay connected and get advice as situations arise. Jon Peters, IT Systems Director for MEA, said that he could set this up after the new MEA website is launched.Executive Board reported that feedback regarding committees has motivated a survey asking members to share their areas of interest as well as their interest on serving on a committee or task force. The results will be discussed at the June meeting. A new newsletter format was reviewed with the Board along with decisions about changes in insurances. Tim Pass, CPA at Smith Schafer, reviewed both the MEA and ETN reports and gave both organizations an excellent report. The staff will be recommending an increase in MEA’s reserves when the annual budget is presented in December.

2014 NECClassroom16 Continuing Ed Credits—Approved by MN, IA, ND, SD, WI2014 NEC Grounding & Bonding, Overcurrent and Motors (2 days; 8am-5pm)April 10-11 ... Minneapolis Jeff Kunkel, Trainer

(Sponsored by Crescent Electric Supply) May 7-8 ........ Onamia at Grand Casino Mille Lacs

Scott Nutting, TrainerMay 7-8 ........ Red Wing at Treasure Island Casino

Jeff Keljik, Trainer

Online (for Licensed)2 Continuing Ed Credits—Approved by MN, IA, SD, WI, NEApr 9 (6:30-8:30pm) 2014 Grounding & Bonding Part DApr 23 (6:30-8:30pm) 2014 Grounding & Bonding Part EMay 14 (6:30-8:30pm) 2014 Residential Install Calcs Part 1May 28 (6:30-8:30pm) 2014 Residential Install Calcs Part 2

Online (for Unlicensed)MEA Registered Unlicensed PersonnelApr 15 (6:30-8:30pm) 2014 Motors and TransformersMay 13 (6:30-8:30pm) 2014 Motors, Controls, & GFCI

April 2015

EducationEXAM PREP COURSE

ClassroomApr 11-12 Edina (8am-5pm)

OnlineApr 7 (6-9pm) Part 3: Branch Circ & Feeder CalcsApr 14 (6-9pm) Part 4: Wiring, Motors, Grounding CalcsApr 21 (6-9pm) Part 5: NEC General Wiring CodeApr 28 (6-9pm) Part 6: NEC Special Systems & MN

Rules_________________________________________________________________

POWER LIMITED TECHS

ClassroomMay 28-29 .... Minneapolis Amy DiPaola, trainer

(Sponsored by Viking Electric Supply)

OnlineApr 7 (6:30-8:30pm) 2014 NEC Art. 250, 770, 880May 5 (6:30-8:30pm) 2014 NEC Art. 110 Electrical

Equipment, Cables, and Conductors_________________________________________________________________

Details and Registration:www.electricalassociation.com/education-events/

• $63,000 of the profit from the Business Products Department purchased MEA’s new association management and website software and supported the communications programs.

• $39,000 profit to be used to fund reserves and future program development.25% from education classes and curriculum provided in Minnesota and surrounding states.All of MEA’s continuing education, safety, exam preparation, and apprentice classes needed to be updated to the 2014 NEC.• Jeff Keljik, Director of Education, handled the updating, hired three new instructors, provided training and

worked with Barb Sevak to expand in-house training for contractors and companies.• Clara DeRosier, Program Manager, worked with the staff to streamline the flow of information to state

agencies, marketing to members, and registrations and certificates to participants. John Peters, Director of IT Systems, and Alex Hyatt, Office Manager, have worked closely to integrate these systems into the new association management software.

9% from membership dues.Membership dues cover the cost of the following:• MEA’s Government Action Programs. MEA’s lobbyist, Bill Strusinski, effectively avoided a number of

problems for electrical contractors by collaborating with agencies, legislators and other associations on drafting legislations. The teamwork with MEA members and staff provided Bill with the information and support he needed to succeed so effectively.

• MEA’s Business Conferences. Most of these programs are provided at no cost and are designed to make it easier for members to comply with changes in laws and regulations. In 2014 we focused on employment, prevailing wage, responsible contractor, OSHA, apprentice training, and transportation, as well as workforce development.

7% from advertising and other support by product/service members.This revenue pays for part of MEA’s communications programs. Once again, I want to thank our members and staff. I look forward to seeing you in June.

cont from page 1 - 2014 Annual Report

3100 Humboldt Avenue SouthMinneapolis MN 55408800.829.6117 electricalassociation.com

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDTWIN CITIES, MNPERMIT NO. 2099