Written by Independent Electoral Commission Staff

Zachary Stillings concluded his award-winning essay with these words: “Essentially, an electrician’s job is not just about wiring buildings – it’s about building relationships, both professionally and personally, that shape who I am and where I go in life.“It’s the most valuable lesson he learned during his training.

Zach graduated from IEC Central Ohio’s apprenticeship program in 2024 and is a valued employee at Settle Muter Electric, Columbus, Ohio. It’s a second career for him after following the typical millennial path first. — Graduating from college and getting a management job didn’t seem like the right fit.

“I tried to do a typical office job,” he explains. “I’d do Excel spreadsheets and look at finances. I’d talk and have meetings. But I got a little anxious. One of my former college roommates is an electrician, and we have very similar personalities and temperaments. We’re both extroverts and we like to work with our hands. We can get a little distracted, but when we get excited about something, we get really meticulous about getting the job done.”

His friend shared how much he enjoyed being an electrician, and based on the advice and opinion of a trusted friend, Zach set his sights on a new career.

Life interferes

Zack began his journey to becoming an electrician like many before him. — He worked full time at his company, Settle Muter Electric, and attended his four-hour classes at IEC Central Ohio every week. He married his wonderful wife, Sage. He established a routine with his work life, valuing his “quiet time” while driving to the job site.

“I used motivation to organize my thoughts for the day, and for me, it was like a prayer,” he says. “I would organize my thoughts for the day and tell myself that I was here to focus on the task at hand, which was to get to work safely, complete the tasks assigned for the day successfully, and get home.”

He was happy with his new career choice, and he and his wife prepared for the next step of starting a family.

“In my second year of training, my wife and I had our daughter, and she had a lot of health complications,” says Zach. “She had to be sent immediately to Children’s Hospital in Columbus, which caused me to miss not only work but school time as well. Then in my fourth year, I was diagnosed with cancer, so I had to deal with missing work and school time again.”

Zach’s daughter is now two years old and is strong, silly and fun, and Zach entered remission in July 2024 after arduous treatments. While he was going through these difficult medical situations, and now that he thinks about them, he has realized several truths.

“While that is changing — and I want to be a part of that — the stereotype that a construction worker is a tough, dour, dour guy, and that nothing else matters but the task at hand is just not my experience,” says Zach. “The generosity and grace he showed me and my family during these really tough times challenges that.”

He especially appreciates his second-year coach, Bo White, and his fourth-year coach, Dave Blue.

“They are both great men, great mentors, and helped me through a very sensitive time in my life,” explains Zach. “Not only did they understand my situation, but they also made sure that I continued my education. The same goes for my employer, who worked hard to make sure that I continued my journey in the job market as well. Mark Motter, Trisha Caldwell, and the rest of the team at Settle Motter Electric were extremely patient and flexible and made sure that I was important to them and to our team. The same was true for the IEC Central Ohio team with Barb (Tipton, CEO). Now, I am a skilled electrician and I want to give back.”

Continue to build connections

Zach’s winning essay was titled “Building Relationships.” It’s something he’s always done, and something he’s working on even more now that he’s had unwavering support through his family’s medical challenges.

“I was able to get into this field because of a friend’s passion and because my dad’s friend who works for a general contractor recommended Settle Motor to us,” Zach recalls. “I’ve been able to influence other friends and family based on my short time in the field. One of the things I really want to help with now is to break the stereotype of a construction worker. Yes, I’m here to be a hard worker. I want to be known as a hard worker but also as a good man and a good father. I owe a lot to Settle Motor Electric and I want to give back. Then it shows my coworkers, my family and especially my daughter what’s most important in life.”

For those considering this field, Zach says the entire field is challenging but the training is there. He says that with the will to persevere and the mindset that you will always be learning, troubleshooting and asking for help from those more experienced than you, you can succeed. You also need to be prepared for the physical side of the job as well as the mental toughness needed to be a troubleshooter.

“I’ve always found that humility is your best and greatest tool in a business like this,” Zach says. “Your ego just wants you to deal with things. But at the end of the day, we’re responsible for providing a safe building for our clients, and also for the occupants of that building. Who am I to let my ego put others at risk? While I may always want to say, ‘Yes, I have this,’ sometimes I really don’t. And if I don’t, I ask for help. Sure, I’m a skilled worker now. But I never want to live my life pretending to be someone I’m not. I don’t know all the answers, so I’m going to ask for help.”

It also means opening himself up to others who might want to ask for his help. And supporting his team… always.

“My coworker and I remembered one day when we had to work nights that first year,” he recalls. “I didn’t like coming home to my pregnant wife who was already asleep, but I remembered that the other guys working weren’t home with their families either. We were in this together. We love what we do and we want to do the best we can. My coworker and I remember one time when we walked into a job site expecting to work eight hours. The day didn’t go as planned. The supervisor came up to us and asked if we could work overtime to get this job done today and said, ‘I’m not sure when we’re going to get home.’ The supervisor is a good man, a good father, a good friend, a good manager, so of course we told him. It’s brotherhood in the trenches and just like in the military, we’ve fought together. We’ve seen the good, we’ve seen the bad, and we’re all in this together.”

Zach believes that being a social person who is willing to build relationships is the most important aspect of building.

“I think building relationships is the cornerstone of enjoying any career,” he says. “I would hate my job if I didn’t have people around me to support me and if I didn’t support others. A building hates its foundation if it doesn’t have a foundation stone—it will just collapse.”

Zach’s Winning Essay: Building Relationships

How has becoming an electrician impacted or changed your life, and where do you see this career path taking you?

Becoming an electrician has been a transformational journey that has impacted every aspect of my life, especially in the context of wanting to provide a stable future for my family. When faced with uncertainty and challenges, I looked for a career that could provide stability and direction, and becoming an electrician has exceeded my expectations in every way.

Professionally, this field has given me more than just a job, it has provided me with a craft that I love. Every day, as I work in various aspects of the electrical field, I am reminded of the importance of reliability and safety, values ​​that resonate deeply with me as I strive to create a safe environment for my family, especially my daughter.

On a personal level, the friendships I’ve built with my coworkers have been a lifeline during tough times. They understand the delicate balance between work and family commitments, and they offer unwavering support and friendship. These friendships have made the long hours and demanding tasks more bearable, and have served as a constant reminder that I’m not alone in this journey.

Looking to the future, I see my career path as an electrician continuing to evolve, guided by a desire to provide the best possible future for my family. Whether it’s exploring new opportunities across the industry or mentoring the next generation, I am committed to making a difference, both in my profession and in the lives of those around me.

Essentially, an electrician’s job is not just about wiring buildings – it’s about building relationships, both professionally and personally, that shape who I am and where I go in life.

The post Zachary Stillings: Grand Prize Winner of the 2024 Intern Essay Contest appeared first on Evolution Electric.