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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Workforce Development is a strategic imperative that empowers NAED members to attract, develop, and retain the talent essential to driving innovation, growth, and long-term competitiveness in an ever-evolving electrical distribution landscape. By equipping members with forward-thinking tools, actionable insights, and talent strategies, NAED is helping to future-proof their workforce and strengthen the industry's collective success.

“The pace of change in our industry is accelerating like never before. Workforce development has become a strategic imperative—one that directly addresses one of the most critical challenges we face: building and sustaining a strong, future-ready workforce. This focus is essential for the long-term health and success of the entire electrical distribution industry. We’re proud to lead this effort and excited about the collective impact we can achieve together.” — NAED President and CEO, Wes Smith


Watch his interview discussing Workforce Development:

 

Strategic Goals

Elevate Awareness of the Electrical Distribution Industry and its Career Opportunities Strengthen and Broaden Talent Pipelines for the Electrical Distribution Industry Support Career Growth and Retention in the Electrical Distribution Industry
Increasing awareness of the industry through an external industry career exploration hub, targeted outreach, and equipping members with a toolkit to attract talent, we can make electrical distribution a sought-after career choice. Expanding and strengthening workforce pipelines through strategic partnerships gives members new opportunities to increase awareness and attract new talent, helping the industry build a diverse, skilled workforce pipeline prepared to meet both current and future demands. Advancing career development with support from our NAED Education and Research Foundation, and equipping members with tools and resources to foster engagement and belonging, we can strengthen retention and build a committed, future-ready workforce.

Evaluating Impact & Guiding Strategy

The Workforce Development strategy spans a five-year horizon and is built around long-term impact, practical implementation, and adaptability to evolving member needs. To evaluate progress and ensure accountability, we will use a combination of key performance indicators (KPIs) and continuous member engagement through the Workforce Development Advisory Group.

The Workforce Development Advisory Group is serving as a strategic partner and plays a pivotal role in shaping the overall strategy by bringing the voice of the industry directly into the process. Comprised of member leaders from across the industry, the group offers real-world insights that guide decision-making, keep initiatives member-focused, and ensure NAED’s efforts remain relevant and future-ready. Their input is helping prioritize strategic action items and align efforts with the greatest areas of member need. Through their continuous feedback and guidance, the Advisory Group will help NAED check progress, adjust direction as needed, and ensure our approach remains responsive to emerging workforce trends and member priorities.

Workforce Development Advisory Group Members:

  • Micah Carlton, VP Human Resources at Summit Electric Supply
  • Lindsey Cropper, VP Human Resources at United Electric Supply
  • Erin Dunn, Director of Talent Development and Planning at Graybar
  • Colleen Kozak, Executive VP of HR at Border States
  • Adrienne Myrand, Vice President of Human Resources at McNaughton-McKay
  • Melissa Neiberlein, VP of HR at Mars Electric
  • Emily Schaffer, Director of HR, Schaedler Yesco Distribution, Inc.
KPIs will provide a clear line of sight into what’s working, where adjustments are needed, and how efforts align with member outcomes. They will be used to measure impact, inform decision-making, identify gaps, and guide resource allocation. Each strategic action has corresponding KPIs that will be reviewed regularly to ensure we’re progressing toward our long-term vision while remaining agile in the short term.

For more information, contact Chaney Disselhorst,
Senior Manager, Workforce Development Strategy, NAED.