Making a Technical Connection
Date Posted: December 19, 2014
Posted In: Discussion, Ideas, News,
by Tom Finan, Executive Director, Construction Forum STL
The tall, silver-haired guy in the dark blue suit and blue silk tie whose organization co-hosted a November meeting at Cortex on the Tech 44 corridor looked a lot more like a politician than a tech-industry advocate. Jim Curran, executive vice president of the St. Louis Electrical Connection, is sometimes mistaken for Missouri Governor Jay Nixon (a mixed blessing at best), but you’ll frequently find him around the table with some of the scientists and young technologists who are intent on recreating the face of St. Louis area business.
And it makes sense. The Electrical Connection is a partnership of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local One and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). IBEW/NECA represents an electrical industry that for decades has built, and in some cases designed, the electrical infrastructure and systems powering business needs, including building and servicing manufacturing and technology facilities
While the Electrical Connection co-sponsored the Tech 44 event with Sheet Metal Workers Local 36, Curran believes the St. Louis union construction industry should leverage its building knowledge even more to “show value, by not only funding, but by giving input.” That input has included involvement on the part of the Electrical Connection in countless meetings on topics such as traditional and renewable forms of energy and pioneering technologies such as small scale nuclear reactors and energy storage.
The Electrical Connection pulled Curran from the ranks of economic development where he served stints with Fenton, O’Fallon, MO and the St. Louis Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. He brings a political pragmatism to the game of attracting technology that calls to mind a quote from Lyndon Johnson, who reportedly told his aides to do ““everything—everything—possible to succeed.” “I have the opportunity every day to leverage the proficiencies and skills of NECA contractors and IBEW electricians to succeed,” notes Curran.
When thinking about Missouri’s technology future Curran recalls the words of President Kennedy the night before he was assassinated: “The world has changed. It is a new frontier – not the exclusive property of Republicans or Democrats. We need to be characterized by our accomplishments. That demands our best efforts. It’s a time for pioneers and a time for pathfinders.” “For the Electrical Connection, that’s partnering with people of varying ideas and disciplines,” adds Curran.
Those partnerships have been formed as close as the St. Louis area universities and as far away as India and China. In between there is the Tech 44 corridor, which stretches 290 miles up I-44 from St. Louis to Joplin, MO. It encompasses 64 percent of technology businesses in Missouri. Founded in 2011 as 501(c)3, Tech 44 includes companies like Fenton-based Tacony, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of high-tech sewing machines, vacuum cleaners, and ceiling fans and Rolla’s Brewer Science, a global in advanced materials and equipment micro devices used in electronics such as tablet computers, smartphones, digital cameras, televisions, and LED lighting.
In addition to serving on the Tech 44 board, Curran has served on various energy and technology boards and task forces. Among the possibilities, working with universities throughout the state in developing small modular nuclear reactors, unmanned aviation systems, smart building technologies, microgrid technologies and energy storage. “We can have a great influence shaping all of these technologies while at the same time developing manhours for our membership,” said Curran.
These connections have opened international opportunities as well. For example, the Electrical Connection has had conversations with representatives of other countries who are fascinated with the IBEW Local 1 training for apprentices and journeymen. It’s gaining access to world thought leaders through local institutions such as the universities, the St. Louis Science Center, and Cortex. Curran noted that, “42 percent of all decisions are being made by GenX and Millennials. They are beginning to understand that those who design and install technology infrastructure are a tremendous resource.”
The guy in the blue suit doesn’t wear jeans, t-shirts, and Vans to fit in in those meetings. But he wants the bright young people who are going to set tomorrow’s agenda to know that the Electrical Connection can help move things forward. Sometimes he does that by disarming their apprehension with small things. For example, while he won’t take a call in his meeting, he has his phone set on a Lady Gaga ringtone.
“Construction labor and management need to have a role in shaping our future because it will build that future. It needs a seat at the table.” Curran said. “The worst thing that could happen is that something happens and we don’t know about it.”