The current electrical workforce shortage is a challenge in the industry, with less young people entering the trades than those approaching retirement. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the industry will need more than 800,000 electricians over the next 10 years — and is already short more than 80,000 workers today.
While some companies try to simply hire around the shortage, Travis Electrical Service forged its own path, building and registering its own apprenticeship program to train new electricians from scratch. City Electric Supply is proud to be a supplier for, and supporter of, the work the school is doing to shape the next generation of electricians.
A different answer to the labor shortage
Travis Electrical Service (TES) has served Clarksville, Tennessee, since 2007. As experienced electricians became harder to find, owners Chris and Stephanie Travis decided to stop competing for talent and start developing it themselves. The couple knew if they could find people with the right mentality and values, they could teach them the technical skills. It was out of this belief that the Travis Electrical Service Apprenticeship Program (TESAP) was born.
Stephanie was a natural fit to head up the program, using her 20+ years of education experience to turn the idea into reality — which required much more than setting up a classroom. The program had to meet state and federal apprenticeship standards before students could enroll.
“We navigated the process of becoming a registered apprenticeship program, and in January 2022 we were officially licensed by the Department of Labor,” said Stephanie.
By September 2022, classes at TESAP had begun, creating a pathway for aspiring electricians to earn a paycheck while building a career.
Developing electricians and leaders
Unlike a traditional trade school, TESAP students begin working alongside experienced electricians while completing classroom instruction. Because the program operates within an active electrical services business, students learn current technologies and best practices as they’re happening in the field.
“Some folks will join us right out of high school or after leaving military service,” said Stephanie. “We give them an education so they can start a rewarding career, debt-free, in a trade where the sky really is the limit.”
And the apprenticeship program takes their curriculum a step further, teaching soft skills and leadership preparation.
“Obviously, the technical skill is important, but we try to focus just as much on personal development,” shared Chris. “This industry is all about people, and we try to really impress on our employees the impact they have on customers every day.”
Building successful careers
Since launching in 2022, TESAP’s first class graduated nine apprentices, with all of them continuing their careers at Travis Electrical Service. Another 20 students are currently enrolled for classes this fall.
One of those graduates is Nicholas Brooks, who joined TES with no previous electrical experience. Today, he works as a general electrician and is on a path to leadership — a journey he credits to the apprenticeship program.
“When I joined the company, I didn’t know anything about electricity,” said Brooks. “I joined the apprenticeship program the first year they offered it. You learn so much more than electrical work — you learn leadership and life skills.”
Why investing in apprenticeships matters
Building an apprenticeship program requires access to current products, technical expertise, and industry partners willing to invest in the next generation.
The fact that Travis Electrical Service absorbs the cost of the apprenticeship program makes these strong industry relationships even more important. As a longtime customer of City Electric Supply (CES), TES turned to its home branch, CES Clarksville, as a resource.
“We’ve been doing business with Travis Electrical Service for over 15 years, so we have a very good relationship with them,” said Stephen Baker, regional manager at CES. “That partnership opened the door for us to help supply materials for the school.”
CES also connects the school with opportunities to learn from manufacturers and experience the industry firsthand.
“We’re organizing visits with vendors and reps that can teach about their area of expertise and educate them on the latest trends,” said Micheal Mai, district manager at CES.
When CES held their biennial company conference, CES Connect, in nearby Nashville, Baker and Mai invited Chris, Stephanie, and their students to attend. They were excited to experience Counter Day, CES’s largest trade show event with over 70 vendor partners and more than 2,000 attendees.
“It’s important for our students to see the vast opportunities in the industry,” said Chris. “They’ve never been to anything like this.”
Experiences like these help apprentices build knowledge and relationships they’ll rely on throughout their careers.
Ten students from TESAP attended the Counter Day event, ranging from recent graduates to new enrollees about to start classes. When asked about his experience, Brooks was impressed. “I’ve seen a lot of new devices and products, and even companies I hadn’t heard of before. There’s a lot that can help us in our day-to-day.”
Investing in the next generation
Across North America, CES helps strengthen the electrical industry by partnering with trade schools and apprenticeship programs — even offering its own Brighter Future Scholarship. While every partnership looks different, the goal remains the same: investing in tomorrow’s electricians.
“Our involvement shows schools we appreciate what they’re doing as teachers, and it also shows the students we’re committed to helping them succeed,” said Baker. “We want incoming tradespeople to see CES as a partner, not just a distributor of supplies.”
For Chris and Stephanie, the apprenticeship program was never just about filling open positions. Their goal has always been to build up people — developing electricians with the technical skills, professionalism, and character to serve customers well throughout their careers.
“To be successful at Travis Electrical Service, you need to not only have the right skills but also live out our core values on the job site every day,” said Chris.
And that mission extends beyond Travis Electrical Service; the couple hopes programs like TESAP will help change the perception of skilled trades for the next generation.
“One of our primary goals is to elevate the trades. Chris and I are from a generation that was taught college was the only pathway,” said Stephanie. “Our mission, starting with our team, is to support tradespeople as capable, competent, and successful. Showing up and working hard with your hands every day is noble. These people are making stuff happen.”