Breanna Else, an apprentice from the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Florida West Coast Chapter, recently represented regional electrical contractor MetroPower at the 2025 SkillsUSA Skills and Leadership Conference at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.
Joining more than 6,800 student competitors from across the country, in one of the largest career and technical conferences of its type in the nation, the first-year apprentice competed in the Electrical Construction Wiring category.
Else said she enjoyed the SkillsUSA Conference, which was “a combination of showing off my craft and having fun” in the extra time available during the event.
“Breanna represented MetroPower with professionalism and determination and we were honored to support her,” said MetroPower Workforce Development Specialist Marcus Francisco. “Breanna joined our team after graduating from Camden County High School. The construction program at CCHS has been a pipeline for our apprenticeship program for many years.”
Else said her career in the electrical field actually resulted from a “fortunate” accident.
“I accidentally signed up for an occupational safety class in high school, but I found I enjoyed the woodworking once we got out of the classroom and into the shop,” she said. “Since I enjoyed it I continued the classes. In the second class, with Mr. Carlos Jones Jr, we got to try out plumbing, electrical, carpentry and masonry, but I couldn’t understand electrical for the life of me. So, for the next class I chose to take solely electrical. From there on, I stuck with it until I had the basic understanding necessary to complete the project, and then I was also able to assist the other students.”
Francisco said Else came on board with MetroPower directly after high school.
“She already had a basic understanding of the trade, so it was impressive to see her compete at a high level, even after recently entering the field from high school,” he said.
Through the CareerSource Northeast Florida (CareerSource NEFL) Customized Training Program, MetroPower receives funds to underwrite a portion on Else’s training and helps offset the cost of training for many other apprentices at the company.
Francisco says MetroPower has had an apprenticeship program in place since the 1980s to support its organization throughout the southeast and has expanded the program in Jacksonville since it partnered with CareerSource NEFL in 2022.
“We’ve have been operating in Jacksonville for about 10 years. We had our first graduate from our four-year apprenticeship program last year and have been growing in numbers ever since,” he said. “When I first joined MetroPower three years ago, we had about four or five apprentices. We’re now up to 35 apprentices, and our relationship with CareerSource NEFL has certainly helped.”
To find potential apprentices for the electrical contractor, Francisco says the company conducts community outreach in the different branches it operates in the southeastern states, including North Florida, Tallahassee, the Florida Panhandle, Georgia, and Alabama – and through its sister company, Carolina Power in South Carolina. The company also works with CareerSource NEFL to promote its apprenticeship opportunities through its communications platforms and during the organization’s in-person recruitment events.
“In addition, we do outreach at high schools, colleges and universities directly to students, and take part in career fairs, and most of our apprentices come to us that way,” he said. “Many apply to enter our program closer to graduation so we can organize a ‘signing day’ or they also apply through our apprentice career center, and we can start them throughout the year.”
He says that MetroPower looks for students who, while they may not know much about the trade, offer the technological mindset, work with their hands and enjoy working outside an office.
“You can sense a shift in attention to apprenticeship programs…the quality of the programs today and what it can do for your career and what it can do for your life, financially speaking,” Francisco said. “Personally, I’ve seen a growing trend…our numbers are getting larger and people are wanting to do some type of skilled labor, and the graduates have a lot more opportunities to participate in some type of apprenticeship program.”
For companies that are not aware of the Customized Training Program at CareerSource NEFL, Francisco says the organization makes it easy for companies to access.
“Our company looks at different grant opportunities from the different locations we have, and this is by far the easiest,” he said. “CareerSource NEFL narrows down the specific things that are necessary to get the apprentices started and to manage the program. It’s very cut and dry. CareerSource Northeast Florida can point any business in the right direction to get them started.”
For students who are considering a career in electrical or other trades, Else advises them to be tough and persistent.
‘Give yourself tough skin and, with persistence, you’ll be able to do whatever it is you have your mind set on,” she said. “ And ask all the stupid questions, no one will remember them for that long. Also, though it’s not preferred, there is almost nothing in the trades you can break that can’t be fixed.”