Awards
At the Oregon-Columbia Chapter of NECA, we believe in honoring the outstanding talent, innovation, and leadership that power our industry forward. Our awards program recognizes the exceptional achievements of member contractors, industry partners, and individuals who exemplify excellence in electrical construction, safety, sustainability, community impact and so much more.
NECA LIFE Award
The NECA LIFE Award is presented annually by the Oregon-Columbia Chapter to an individual who embodies the values—Leadership, Integrity, Fidelity, and Ethics—that define excellence in the electrical construction industry. Established in honor of Robert P. Burns, the award reflects the principles that define our chapter and the standards by which we measure excellence.
As the highest recognition given by the Oregon-Columbia Chapter, the LIFE Award celebrates leaders whose dedication, service, and character have left a lasting impact on the union electrical contracting industry. Recipients serve as examples of professionalism and commitment, inspiring others to carry these values forward.
2025 NECA Life Award Recipient
Tim Gauthier
Former Executive Manager, Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA
The 2025 NECA LIFE Award is presented to Tim Gauthier, a leader who has exemplified Leadership, Integrity, Fidelity, and Ethics throughout his remarkable career.
For more than 40 years, Tim served as Executive Manager of the Oregon-Columbia Chapter, guiding labor relations, industry education, and government affairs while ensuring the continued success of electrical contractors in the region. His impact has extended far beyond the chapter, as his work has influenced national standards and earned him some of NECA’s highest honors.
In addition to his professional achievements, Tim’s commitment to community service is deeply inspiring. Through the BULL charitable fund, he has helped raise more than $7 million for children’s charities in Portland. He has also been a mentor, advocate, and trusted colleague to many within the electrical contracting industry.
This award honors Tim’s outstanding leadership, enduring contributions, and lifelong dedication to advancing both the chapter and the greater community.
Previous NECA LIFE Award Recipients
| 1989 – Bill Klein | 2000 – Gary Price | 2013 – Mike Murphy |
| 1990 – Bill Lubersky | 2001 – W.R. Reid Grasle, Jr. | 2014 – Gary Severe |
| 1990 – Don Richardson | 2002 – H.D. Buzz Allison | 2015 – George Adams |
| 1991 – Dan Faddis | 2003 – Jerry Bruce | 2016 – Keith Edwards |
| 1992 – Glenn Otto | 2004 – No Award | 2016 – Tim Joy |
| 1993 – Joe Shelly | 2005 – Max Landon | 2017– Peter Schwarzenberger |
| 1994 – Ray Sytsma | 2006 – Harvey Platt | 2018 – Randy Wagner |
| 1995 – Edward Barnes | 2007 – John Gervais | 2019 – Steve Trapp |
| 1996 – Edward Barnes | 2008 – Brian Christopher | 2020 – Karl Jensen |
| 1997 – Eric Christenson, Jr | 2009 – Ken Fry | 2022 – Stan Heil |
| 1998 – Robert Agee | 2010 – Robert Gotham | 2023 – Rod Belisle |
| 1999 – Jim Nibley | 2011 – Bob Shiprack | 2024 – Darrell McNeel |
| 1999 – Joe Herrle | 2012 – John Maloney |
NECA Founders Award
The Founders Award recognizes those members who have served the Oregon-Columbia Chapter on one of our committees for 15 consecutive (or more) years.
Volunteers are the fuel that power associations. Volunteers spend their personal time and put their energy into making our industry better for everyone. Recipients are honored during the NECA Annual Sweetheart Ball and presented with an award.
2025 NECA Founders Award Recipients
Shawn Dunigan (Codes & Standards Committee)
& Jeff Thiede (OSU Committee)
The Oregon-Columbia Chapter is proud to recognize their leadership, dedication, and sustained contributions, which have strengthened the chapter, advanced our committees, and positively influenced the electrical contracting industry.
Shawn Dunigan and Jeff Thiede exemplify the values of NECA through their commitment to service, collaboration, and professional excellence. This award honors their lasting impact on our industry and their role in building a stronger, more engaged chapter community.
Previous NECA Founders Award Recipients
| Year | Name | Committee |
| 1993 | Bob Agee | Insurance |
| H.D. Buz Allison | Edison Pension | |
| Don Myers | Residential | |
| 1994 | Bill Shird | Apprentice |
| John Chandler | Education | |
| Larry Busack | Negotiations Labor/Management | |
| 1996 | Gary Price | Apprenticeship |
| Sid Rennells | Codes & Standards | |
| Gene Heil | Insurance | |
| 1997 | Mike Frahler | Legislative |
| 1998 | Brian Christopher | Codes & Standards |
| Garth Edington | Education | |
| Bob Agee | Labor Negotiations | |
| 1999 | Dick Frahler | Codes & Standards |
| 2000 | Bob Gotham | Codes & Standards |
| Bob Gotham | Residential | |
| David Selby | Membership | |
| 2001 | Gene Heil | Apprenticeship |
| David Selby | Architects & Engineers | |
| Brian Christopher | Architects & Engineers | |
| Sid Rennells | Architects & Engineers | |
| 2002 | Gary Price | Harrison Health & Trust |
| Wade Longworth | Distribution | |
| John Chandler | Distribution | |
| Howard Morris | Distribution | |
| 2003 | John Maloney | Distributors Committee |
| Pat Hughes | Education Committee | |
| Gene Heil | Golf Committee | |
| Dean Roderick | Insurance & Safety Committee | |
| Donald Suhrbier | Insurance & Safety Committee | |
| Gary Price | Edison Pension Trust Committee | |
| Glenn Patterson | Architects & Engineers | |
| 2004 | Wade Longworth | Codes & Standards |
| Wade Longworth | Membership Committee | |
| Max Landon | Joint Conference | |
| Max Landon | Labor Management | |
| Max Landon | Edison Pension | |
| Ernie Wagaman, Sr. | Residential Committee | |
| Gene Heil | Traffic Signal/Lighting Committee | |
| Brian Christopher | Ninth District Pension | |
| 2006 | Ron Coffman | Codes & Standards |
| 2007 | Jim Ferris | Residential Labor Committee |
| Chet Wornick | Apprenticeship 970 | |
| 2009 | Gene Heil | Apprenticeship |
| Gary Price | Edison & Harrison | |
| Stan Heil | For Chairing the Legislative Comm | |
| Ken Fry | Special – Fry (honoring work on Apprentice) | |
| 2010 | John Maloney | Labor Management |
| Chet Wornick | Cornell-Hart Pension | |
| David Selby | Golf Committee | |
| 2012 | Jim Ferris | Code |
| Stan Heil | Legislative | |
| Ron Coffman | Code | |
| 2013 | Mike Frahler | Golf Committee |
| 2015 | George Adams | Partnering Committee |
| Mike Falconer | Golf Committee | |
| Karl Jensen | Partnering Committee | |
| 2016 | Karl Jensen | Code |
| Mike Falconer | Partnering | |
| Jon Orrell | Low Voltage & Partnering | |
| Randy Wagner | Partnering | |
| 2017 | Jim Ferris | Golf |
| Randy Wagner | Labor Management | |
| 2018 | Jason Landon | Apprenticeship Committee |
| Rod Belisle | Code Committee | |
| 2019 | Karl Jensen | Partnering Committee |
| Ryan Landon | Partnering Committee | |
| Mark Walter | Partnering Committee | |
| Ryan Landon | BALMCC | |
| Blake Landon | Legislative Committee | |
| Jim Ferris | Partnering Committee | |
| Barry Moreland | Safety Committee | |
| Darrell McNeel | Code Committee | |
| Andy Busack | Cornell-Hart Pension | |
| 2020 | Ryan Landon | Golf |
| Ryan Landon | Labor Negotiations | |
| Karl Jensen | Edison Pension | |
| 2021 | Ryan Landon | Edison Pension |
| Pat Maloney | Legislative | |
| Ryan Landon | Steering | |
| 2022 | Karl Jensen | Edison Pension |
| Ryan Landon | Labor Negotiations | |
| Ryan Landon | Golf | |
| 2023 | None | |
| 2024 | Shawn Dunigan | Codes & Standards |
| Jeff Thiede | OSU Committee |
NECA Scholarship
The Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA is proud to announce the availability of the NECA Scholarship. The Chapter provides three scholarships per year for $2,000, renewable, for a total of four years.
Applicants must be either (1) children or grandchildren of Veteran Members of the Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA, or (2) children of employees of member contractors of the Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA, and graduating high school seniors. In addition, applicants must plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an eligible institution.
2025 NECA Scholarship Recipients
Abigail Behrman, Ella Boles, and Medea Rusu
We are proud to recognize the outstanding students selected as this year’s NECA Scholarship recipients. Each has demonstrated dedication, academic achievement, and a commitment to their future goals.
- Abigail Behrman, daughter of Joe Behrman of M2 Integration, will be attending Idaho State University.
- Ella Boles, daughter of Brent Boles of Inland Electric, will be attending Creighton University.
- Medea Rusu, daughter of Ioan Rusu of Christenson Electric, will be attending Boise State University.
We congratulate Abigail, Ella, and Medea on their accomplishments and wish them the very best as they begin this next chapter in their education!
Click here for information on eligibility
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants for awards must be (1) children or grandchildren of Veteran Members of the Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA or (2) children of employees of members of the Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA, and a graduating high school senior. All eligible applicants must be governed by Oregon-Columbia Chapter jurisdiction. They must be planning to enroll in a full time, undergraduate course of study at an eligible institution.
ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS
Eligible institutions include any 2 or 4-year public or private, non profit or for profit post secondary institution which is eligible to participate in the Federal Title IV student financial aid programs.
TERMS OF ELIGIBILITY
The award(s) will be made on an annual basis. Awards may be received for a maximum of twelve quarters (or their equivalent). The Commission will send notification of renewal instructions to prior year recipient(s).
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Interested persons may apply by completing a private award application form available online for scholarship #243: NECA Oregon-Columbia Chapter Applicants must attach to the application their seventh semester high school transcript displaying cumulative grade point average and SAT or ACT scores.
APPLICATIONS must be returned to the Oregon State Scholarship Commission office by March 3, 2025.
ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATION FORMS must be returned to the Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA office by
March 3, 2025.
SELECTION
The Commission shall select the scholarship recipients. The applicants shall be ranked by the Commission according to their level of academic ability (as determined by high school grade point average and aptitude test scores). The Commission may consider school and community activities, work experience, attendance record and educational, career and personal goals in the selection process. The applicants with the highest ranking will be awarded the scholarship.
AWARD NOTIFICATION
The Commission shall send to the recipients a notice of award, specifying the terms of the award. Recipients shall sign and return one copy of the award notice, acknowledging the terms and certifying that the funds will be used only for educational expenses.
DISBURSEMENTS
Checks payable to the recipients will be sent in equal disbursements for each academic term or semester to the Financial Aid Office of the college or university of attendance. Scholarship checks will be presented to the recipients upon verification of registration as full time students and determination of satisfactory academic progress (as determined by the institution).
Click here for the eligibility certification form
The certification form must be sent to the Chapter Office by March 3, in order to verify eligibility to the State. You must send us the eligibility sheet to ensure we know who the student is that is applying for the scholarship or they will not be considered eligible.
Please make these forms available to those individuals in your firm who handle this information internally.
REMINDER: Scholarship applications are not available through the Chapter Office.
Support awareness during Construction Suicide Prevention Week, September 8–12
Find additional resources anytime through the NECA-IBEW Mental Health and Wellness Hub.