EC&M On Air

Darin Anderson, CEO of Salas O'Brien, leads a prominent employee-owned engineering firm, while Matt Goss, a senior VP at CDM Smith, specializes in electrical engineering for public infrastructure. They delve into the surprising 18% revenue growth in 2024, key hiring challenges in the industry, and innovative strategies for attracting talent, such as employee ownership and robust internship programs. The conversation also touches on the ethical implications of AI in engineering and forecasts for 2025, emphasizing the importance of adaptability in an evolving market.

On Episode 82 of EC&M On Air, we're featuring an audio-only version of a popular past article, read by Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson. This article, called "Handling Safety Violations on Client Sites," is by Mark Lamendola and appeared online in May 2025. 

In today's episode, meet the three overall winners of this year's Product of the Year competition, hosted by EC&M magazine! First, Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson speaks with Sergio Panetta, VP of Engineering at I-Gard Corp., about the overall Platinum-winning product: the i-AVT Plus in the “Protective Devices” category. Next, she discusses the Gold winner, the DCC-9 in the “Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment” category with Léo Viger-Bernard, RVE’s Senior Advisor – Specification and Strategy – USA. Lastly, Ellen learns more about the 2025 POTY Silver winner with Jason Axelson, Product Application Specialist, Routine Maintenance at Fluke, about its iSee Mobile Thermal Camera in the “Cameras & Imaging Equipment” category. You can read more about each of our three winners in this special report by Freelancer Amy Fischbach. All of the submissions and category winners of the 2025 competition are featured in this digital issue. 

In Episode 80, we're featuring another Next-Gen Insights interview, this time with 2024 30 Under 30 honoree Conner Willert. Conner is a project manager for ArchKey Solutions, and he and Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson discuss his career, practices to help up-and-coming electrical leaders, and more. 

Episode 79 features an audio-only version of a popular gallery that recently ran on the EC&M website called "What's Driving Women Out of Construction?" This gallery offers statistics from a survey conducted by The National Center for Construction Education and Research. The findings offer insights on some of the elements that are keeping women from entering and remaining in the construction industry.  Tune in to the audio-only version of this gallery, read by Ellen Parson, editor-in-chief of EC&M. 

Philip Keebler, a seasoned technical advisor at PBE Engineers with over three decades in power quality, discusses the crucial link between power quality and electrical safety. He explains how issues like voltage sags and transients can lead to serious hazards, including arc flashes and equipment failures. Keebler emphasizes the need for proactive design, proper grounding, and effective communication with stakeholders to enhance safety. His insights are particularly vital for mission-critical environments, underscoring the importance of stability and monitoring.

In today's episode, we're highlighting an audio-only version of a popular past article from Mark Lamendola, long-time EC&M contributor and electrical safety expert, on the importance of check steps when it comes to electrical work and better job-site safety. 

In Episode 76 of EC&M On Air, Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson sat down with David Lincoln, senior vice president at Rosendin, to discuss some really cool technology they're implementing throughout their solar installations. They have been using robots to increase the efficiency and safety of building solar energy fields. Ellen and David dive into this exciting practice and how robotic technology can help electrical contractors perform work (like solar) faster and more effectively. 

Episode 75 features a special edition of EC&M On Air, where we are highlighting insights from past EC&M Under 30 All Stars! Today's guest is Hazen Ring, account service manager with Vanguard Electrical in Fort Worth, Texas. Hazen and Ellen discuss tips for young folks in the industry, technology worth exploring, and more. 

In Episode 74 of EC&M On Air, we're featuring another audio-only version of a popular piece of past content from the EC&M website. Today, Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson is highlighting the most unusual power outages of 2024, which was a photo gallery based on data gathered by Eaton. It covers some of the wildest and weirdest causes of power outages in the United States and Canada. Listen to hear about some of these unique electrical instigators, or check out the original gallery.