North Carolina Construction News special feature
At Wayne J. Griffin Electric, Inc. (Griffin Electric), people are the company’s most valuable asset. A leading electrical subcontractor throughout New England and the Southeast for over four decades, the company believes that recruiting, hiring, and maintaining a dedicated workforce is the key to exceeding the expectations of its clients.
Since the start of the company, it has been the expertise and competence of these individuals that has allowed Griffin Electric to maintain the highest standards and given the company the opportunity to earn new and repeat business on projects in markets ranging from commercial, educational and municipal to medical, industrial and retirement/residential.
As part of its ongoing outreach, the company strives to recruit military veterans. With a number of current Griffin employees who previously served in the U.S. Armed Forces working in various capacities and leadership roles, the company knows first-hand how skilled these men and women are in exhibiting the readiness to take on any challenge.
Veterans embody selflessness, hard-work, and teamwork, the innate characteristics that align seamlessly with the Griffin Electric culture and standards that the company has come to expect from its employees.
When military personnel complete their service requirements, the thought of transitioning into a completely new career can be daunting. Much of the skills, training, and experience that veterans have acquired can translate into a successful and sustainable career in the trades. Griffin Electric offers a supportive environment to help these veterans start their new pathway to success, which begins with the company’s free in-house Apprenticeship Training Program. For more than 25 years, the program has prepared hundreds of men and women for rewarding careers in the electrical trade.
The program is accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and designated as an approved training site by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Many Griffin apprentices and electricians grow with the company and even advance into foreperson, estimating, and project management positions.
Throughout the Apprenticeship Training Program school year, classroom and hands-on instruction takes place in the 27,500-sf of dedicated training space that is part of Griffin Electric’s headquarters in Holliston, MA, and on-site at each of the company’s regional offices in Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte, NC; Pelham, AL; and Duluth, GA.
In addition to 600 hours of classroom instruction, Griffin’s apprentices benefit from on-the-job learning, where they earn excellent wages and benefits while gaining 8,000 hours of practical field experience under the supervision of a licensed journeyperson. Through employment with Griffin Electric, and satisfactory participation and progress in its Apprenticeship Training Program, eligible veterans may also receive a monthly stipend from the VA through the Post-9/11 GI Bill to help meet the cost of everyday expenses.
Earlier this year, veterans and veteran representatives were among the attendees at a career information session as part of an Open House at Griffin’s headquarters in Holliston, MA. Participants had an opportunity to learn more about the company and its Apprenticeship Training Program, tour the facilities, and observe current apprentices and instructors engaged in training. The company’s recruitment efforts are not only an important part of building a committed workforce, but also exposes different audiences to the potential benefits of a career as an electrician or telecom technician.
Veterans have an exciting opportunity to start their next chapter at Griffin and build a bright future – it’s not just a job, but a career. For more information about Griffin Electric and its employment opportunities, please visit www.waynejgriffinelectric.com, call its recruiting hotline at (800) 421-0151, or email your resume to fieldrecruiting@wjgei.com.