Two former students, Matthew Kamber and Jonathan Lumley, have leveraged their experience in the Illinois Tech Interprofessional Projects (IPRO) program to advance their careers. Matthew was a team leader in Professor Dan Tomal’s IPRO Energy Efficiency 497-615 in the fall semester of 2022 and the spring semester of 2023, and Jonathan was a team leader in the IPRO spring 2021 and the student chapter president. Both gained solid experience in developing a proposal for designing an electrical system (competing against thirty universities), related electrical construction, and attending the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) convention.
Matt is now a Project Manager for Gurtz Electric Co., where he manages 400 Lake Shore Drive, a 72-story skyscraper in Chicago. This is the largest skyscraper currently being built in Chicago.
Matt states that “the energy efficiency IPRO gave exposure to the electrical industry. Dr. Dan and Tim Taylor were able to foster meaningful connections in the industry that have continued beyond the classroom. The IPRO took classroom learning and meshed practical experience.”
Matt also states that “through the IPRO, Gurtz Electric Co. has been able to reinvest in the next generation of the electrical industry. It is an honor to give back to the students and invest the knowledge I have gained in industry in the same way that others did when I was a student at Illinois Tech.”
Jonathan is now the Corporate Energy Marshall for Aldridge Electric Company, where he is in charge of corporate-wide safety initiatives and is a certified electrical safety compliance professional. He also serves on the student and safety committees of ECA, where he continues to support the Illinois Tech IPRO program.
Jonathan states that “the IPRO experience provided an incredible opportunity to participate in a project in a way I never had before. Our team gained practical problem-solving skills directly from NECA subject matter experts representing key project disciplines, including Project Managers, Estimators, BIM Coordinators, code specialists, and vendors. Collaborating with and learning from our NECA sponsor contractors broadened my perspective of the electrical industry and helped advanced my professional trajectory.”
Jonathan also states that “witnessing firsthand how our NECA sponsored contractor members generously volunteered their personal time to our class, alongside attending the NECA Convention, demonstrated the strong sense of community within the organization and inspired my own commitment to contributing to the industry and student community.”
Both Matt and Jonathan attribute much of what they learned from the IPRO experience and attending the NECA National Convention to helping support their careers. They continue to support the IPRO program as guest speakers, mentors, and attending IPRO events. They also recently attended the open house for the new Smart Tech Lighting, Automation, and Cyber Security lab developed by professors Tomal and Jeremy Hajek. The event recognized Gurtz Electric Co. for contributing $15,000 to purchase the learning system needed for the laboratory.
The IPRO Energy Efficiency has been sponsored for over a decade by the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) of the City of Chicago. ECA has also sponsored the expenses for students and the NECA Illinois Tech student advisor, Dr Tomal, to attend the NECA national convention. They have been supporting students in obtaining internships and jobs, providing guest speakers, resources, and field trips.
Mr. Tim Taylor, ECA Assistant Manager, states, “The ECA has enjoyed a productive relationship with Illinois Tech since 2007. The IPRO Program has worked well with our national competition- the Electrical Contracting Innovation Challenge (ECIC) over the years. The students learn more about the varied aspects of electrical construction, and our contractor members have access to some of the brightest students in the area. We hope to continue this fruitful partnership for years to come.”
Dr Tomal states that “ECA and Gurtz Electric Co. have truly been a fantastic supporter of our electrical industry, students, IPRO program, and University, and without their support, the donations of many companies, we would not have the Smart Tech lab or vibrant NECA Illinois Tech Student Chapter.”