91ÊÓƵ

Mike Ciccotelli, 23, began helping at his father’s business, Telesphere, when he was 12. He started placing and labeling phones and later learned to program some systems. In high school he worked as a tile apprentice, and then enrolled in Job Corps. He took a year of automotive classes at Rogue Community College in Grants Pass, while also working as a data communications technician for Adept Business Communications.

Four years ago, his father asked him to join Telesphere full time to help him install a new phone system at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center. Ciccotelli recently completed the apprenticeship program for limited energy technician B, and he worked as the foreman for the largest cable installation in Telesphere history – at the new David Evans and Associates office in downtown Portland.

91ÊÓƵ: What do you hope to build or accomplish during your career in this industry?

Mike Ciccotelli: I hope to expand my knowledge of my industry, from phone and data systems to home automation.  I am working for my family and hope to help grow the business. One day I hope to take over and maintain a company that will support me and my family.

91ÊÓƵ: Why did you choose this field? What drew you to it?

Mike Ciccotelli: I got into this industry because of family. I would not be where I am today if it were not for the opportunities provided to me by my dad. He shared his knowledge of business and this industry with me, providing me with the skill to succeed and teaching me new things every day.

It’s not always easy being the boss’ son, and getting into this industry at a young age caused some people to look down on me, saying I was too young. But somehow I proved myself and now I have built a reputation. The idea of one day being my own boss makes any trials and tribulations along the way worth it.

91ÊÓƵ: What sort of mentoring did you have during your time in school or afterward?

Mike Ciccotelli: During my apprenticeship I worked with a few journeymen, some more skilled that others. I learned many new skills from the good journeymen and had to try not to learn bad habits from some of the others. The apprenticeship program was a good place for me to refine some of my skills and learn some new ones.

Most of the instructors were good. Some were, well, not so good. I believe that field work and trade skills should be more of a focus. Not a lot of practical skills in this industry come from a brief course on trade basics. The code classes and preparation for the state licensing exam were worth it.

91ÊÓƵ: What do you think needs to change in your industry and how it works – considering changes in technology and the global economy – now that your generation is coming in?

Mike Ciccotelli: I believe change in our industry in necessary. The apprenticeship program, while it is a great program, should be more focused on smaller trade groups. Just because I’m an LEB doesn’t mean I know HVAC. Sure I can run the wires and do some minor things, but that’s about it.

Some journeymen that I have met do not have any skills past running wire. In this industry we are required to have a broad set of skills in our niche to stay employed. Some people skate through the program, get their license and demand a journeyman wage when they are in all reality glorified apprentices.

We are moving into an IT age that may solve many of the problems. More and more equipment is dependent on a data connection to sync it into a central system. Hopefully we can use all the technology that is being developed to enter a true green age – a time where our home automation system will integrate with our solar panels and batteries and provide optimum power consumption for every household’s individual needs.