Powering Indiana builds the Region through local apprenticeships and community service

Powering Indiana: Lake County unites the specialized workforce of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Constractors Association (NECA) with Northwest Indiana’s most established family businesses. This synergy is best seen in multi-generational contractors like Continental Electric Company, a fifth-generation firm founded in 1928. As a cornerstone of the Powering Indiana network, Continental exemplifies the long-term dedication and personalized service that define the Region’s electrical industry.

“There is true heart in our organization,” said Lyndie Walton-Littell, the vice president of Continental Electric Company. “We power homes, businesses, and industries, but we are also trying to empower people, strengthen families and support the community. We call this place home and, at our core, we keep trying to connect to home more and more.”  

Local proximity fosters deep accountability within Powering Indiana. This commitment often extends beyond the clock with union members volunteering personal time, such as restoring power for elderly residents after storms. IBEW Local 697 and local contractors also ensure critical facilities like Franciscan Health hospitals are wired with absolute precision. By prioritizing human connection, the organization ensures regional infrastructure is built with the pride of a local workforce.

“When you know you’re working on a facility that yourself, your child, or your grandmother could end up in, you take an exponential amount of pride in that,” Walton-Littell said. “You want the customer happy at the end of the day because you could see them in your personal life.” 

Powering Indiana is responsible for bringing awareness to the trade and giving back to the community. The Lake County Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) is responsible for the five-year program offering a high-tech alternative to traditional four-year degrees by prioritizing financial stability from day one. Participants receive a specialized education that leads to a career entirely free from student loans. The package includes comprehensive employer-paid health benefits for the member and their entire family with robust pension and annuity plans.

“It is a fully paid career that is stable, rewarding and respected,” Walton-Littell said. “When you become an IBEW member, you are insured with health, vision and dental insurance for your spouse and children at no additional cost, which is one huge weight off people’s backs.” 

This versatile training also creates professional pathways into safety management, project estimation and executive leadership roles. Shared history across all levels of the industry creates a unique environment in which colleagues begin their schooling together and graduate as a collective unit. With advocacy initiatives, like the Women in Construction Board, the training also expands horizons for women in the industry. By fostering a diverse and balanced workforce, the apprenticeship model builds a lifelong support system within the trade. 

“You have a true brotherhood; these individuals that you share tools with for five years will feel like siblings by the time you’re done with this program,” Walton-Littell said. “You start school together, which is your apprenticeship, and then you graduate together. It’s a hand-in-hand moment for everybody.”

Powering Indiana operates with a dedicated focus on philanthropy throughout the community to the IBEW and NECA, and to promote the trade as a solid career path. This charitable commitment includes financial and volunteer support for local staples, such as Boys & Girls Clubs, the Challenger Learning Center and the Lake County CornDogs. Their impact often combines significant donations with hands-on labor, such as providing a $10,000 gift and the electrical work needed for the Meals on Wheels “Light the Night” holiday display. 

“We want to be a staple in the community.” Walton-Littell said. “We embrace all different volunteer and donation opportunities. If you have a pitch you want to put on our table, we will review it. If we think that our team can benefit their team, whether it is a monetary donation or a volunteer aspect, we will see what we can do.” 

Powering Indiana is all about bringing awareness and engagement to the Lake County JATC and IBEW Local 697. The organization serves as the pathway before it is handed off to the apprenticeship program. The Lake County JATC is committed to expanding its reach through enhanced recruitment and modern training infrastructure. The organization is actively lowering barriers to entry by providing alternative pathways for all demographics, including Ivy Tech coursework and entry-level shop positions for those who do not initially pass aptitude testing. This commitment to growth ensures the industry remains accessible while maintaining a high standard of technical excellence. 

“At the end of the day, the most important connections we build are not electrical but human,” Walton-Littell said. “We are trying to give the apprentices the tools to invest in their future while they work so they have a stable foundation for long-term success. It all comes full circle when you see them building the very things their families are going to use.”

For more information on current projects and community enrichment, visit poweringindiana.org. To learn more about the apprenticeship program, you can visit 697jatc.org.