The IBEW’s leading training partner will be recognized for its good work on a national stage.

The Electrical Training Alliance’s training methods will be showcased in “Innovations,” a show that highlights cutting-edge developments in business and technology.

The Electrical Training Alliance, a partnership between the IBEW and the National Electrical Contractors Association for more than 70 years, will be featured on the television show “Innovations,” which is hosted by veteran actor Ed Begley Jr.

A date and time hasn’t been announced for the episode’s airing, but it will be sometime between July and September on the Discovery Channel, producer Eric Buckley said.

“Innovations” educates viewers on recent breakthroughs in science, health, business and industry.  The show’s producers chose the Alliance to highlight its curriculum and how it is training apprentices and members to use increasingly sophisticated equipment in the electrical industry.

“The Electrical Training Alliance reaches beyond the textbook, incorporating advanced technology in all aspects of training,” Buckley said. “We look forward to exploring this topic and to educating viewers on how technology is bridging the gap between apprenticeship and learning in the classroom.”

Todd Stafford, the Alliance’s executive director, said he and his staff are excited for the opportunity. Some areas the show is expected to explore are energy storage, batteries and working with a microgrid. It also will look at how the alliance distributes its training material to centers across the country.

Actor Ed Begley Jr., is the host of “Innovations,” which will feature The Electrical Training Alliance in an upcoming episode.

“We deliver an apprenticeship training platform and content that is second to none,” Stafford said.

It’s been a big year for the Alliance, which is based in Bowie, Md. It received a $4.8 million grant in September from the Department of Labor to train 1,000 additional apprentices during the next five years from historically underrepresented groups, such as women, ethnic minorities and military veterans.

Begley has appeared in dozens of movies and television shows since making his debut as an actor in 1967. He’s perhaps best known for his Emmy nominated-work on the 1980s television drama “St. Elsewhere.” He also is well known as an environmental activist.

“Innovations” is an independently produced show that also airs on Fox Business and RFD-TV in addition to Discovery.


 

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