SCOTTSDALE, AZ — The Arizona Builders Alliance (ABA), a trade association for contractors in Arizona, celebrated 35 electrical apprentices at its Apprenticeship Graduation. Graduates were joined by families; ABA members; local dignitaries; Joann Bueno, Arizona Director of Apprentices; Tom Cole, Registrar of Contractors Director; Adrian Fontes, Secretary of State; and industry professionals to mark the completion of the ABA’s Electrical Apprenticeship Program.
ABA's Electrical Apprenticeship Program is formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Arizona Department of Economic Security and combines classroom instruction with hands-on training under the guidance of experienced construction professionals. The ceremony honored graduates who committed to a structured four-year, 8,000-hour indentured electrical apprentice program covering electrical construction, OSHA 10 certification, and National Electrical Code training. Upon graduation, each graduate joined the ABA's legacy of trained professionals built over 30 years of serving Arizona's construction industry.
"Every person who crossed that stage ... chose a path that demanded commitment from day one, and Arizona's construction industry is stronger because of it," said Kim Davids, President of the Arizona Builders Alliance. "This graduation is proof that when we invest in people, the return goes far beyond the job site. It strengthens families, businesses, and the communities that Arizona's construction industry serves every single day."
Unlike a traditional academic graduation, ABA students have been earning wages from day one, gaining real-world experience on active job sites while building the technical knowledge required to perform at the highest professional level. The program is structured to benefit both the apprentice and the contractor, reducing workforce turnover, improving job site safety, and delivering more capable, experienced professionals to ABA member companies.
“It’s been a long four years. My wife and I started with one, and now we have three [kids]," said Austin McCain, ABA apprenticeship graduate and Phoenix resident. “It’s a better career, better opportunities, and, at my company, I’m able to move up now. So, it’s awesome and a really great opportunity.”
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Upon completion, graduates receive a certificate and journey-level status, opening doors to career opportunities across Arizona and beyond. Through the ABA's dual affiliation with the Associated Builders and Contractors and the Associated General Contractors, graduates connect to a statewide network of more than 300 member companies, giving each career a foundation that extends beyond the training center.
Registered apprenticeships can be a recruitment and retention tool for employers, workforce development intermediaries, education providers, and employer associations. With a 93 percent retention rate nationally, these programs allow employers to grow their own talent, ensuring workers are trained to exact industry standards.
As Arizona's construction industry faces a growing workforce shortage, the ABA's apprenticeship programs serve as a pipeline for skilled, career-ready professionals, ensuring that member companies have access to the talent needed to build Arizona's future.
