Griffin Electric Encourages Women to Take the Driver's Seat

HOLLISTON, MA — An electrical subcontractor throughout New England and the Southeast, Wayne J. Griffin Electric, Inc. encourages each employee to be in the driver's seat of his or her career. For over four decades and throughout all levels of the company, women have played an important role at Griffin Electric. As the industry continues to evolve and experience growth, Griffin Electric remains committed to offering women the tools they need to chart their own course.

For more than 25 years, Griffin Electric has prepared many for careers in the electrical trade through its free, in-house Apprenticeship Training Program. Throughout the school year, classroom and hands-on instruction takes place in the 27,500 square feet of training space that is part of Griffin Electric's headquarters in Holliston, Massachusetts, and on-site at each of the company's regional offices in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Pelham, Alabama; and Duluth, Georgia. In addition to 600 hours of classroom instruction, Griffin's apprentices benefit from on-the-job learning, where they earn wages and benefits while gaining 8,000 hours of practical field experience under the supervision of a licensed journeyperson.

At Griffin Electric, women dedicated to their craft who also possess the willingness to take on greater challenges have the opportunity to advance in various capacities and leadership roles. Those who have come through the Apprenticeship Training Program have grown with the company and even advanced into foreperson, estimating, and project management positions.

“I believe in making an investment in people,” said Wayne Griffin, President. “Women are leaders in life. If someone has the character and personal drive to strive for excellence, it is in the best interest of the company to make sure they succeed.”

Through offering personal and professional development programs, the company supports each employee through the various phases of their career growth. Dozens have taken advantage of the company's associate degree partnership with Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Griffin Electric covers up to 70 percent of tuition costs for the degree that enables accepted graduates of Griffin's Apprenticeship Training Program to further their education. A female Project Engineer with six years of service at Griffin Electric has seen first-hand the level of potential that exists at the company: “I enrolled to get my associate degree in electrical engineering. Just a month ago, I finally made the switch to be a PE, and now I am on the road to become an Assistant Project Manager.”

Collaborating closely, Griffin Electric works with schools and organizations to educate women, in particular, that the apprenticeship pathway is a viable career choice. Whether someone is a high school or college student contemplating her options after graduation, or a seasoned worker in a more traditional career field, construction can offer excellent opportunities for her future. A long-term member of the Griffin team working as a Mechanic in the company's southeast region said, “My first interest in the construction field started because I had to support four small children on my own. Working as an electrician is empowering for me. My children are proud to tell their friends about my occupation.”