2015
Western Section
President
David Soderquist
Indiana Chapter
It is a pleasure and an honor to serve as the 2015 President of the IAEI Western Section.
After graduating from Indiana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in education; majoring in mathematics, I started what I thought would be a long career teaching high school math. Getting married in 1972 and being challenged by some of my fellow teachers to obtain some additional training for life, I applied for the Lake County Electricians apprenticeship and was accepted. After 4 more years of schooling, I completed the IBEW Local 697 apprenticeship as a journeyman wireman.
While working as a journeyman I was given the opportunity to serve as an instructor for the Lake County Electricians Joint Apprenticeship and Journeyman Training for eight years, using both my training as a teacher and as an electrician.
It was during this time as an instructor that I became involved with the IAEI joining as a member in 1985. Shortly thereafter I was asked to work with the Lake County Plan Commission which acts as the Building Department for unincorporated Lake County and have served on the Lake County Contractor’s Licensing Board for over 25 years as its president.
I have been the Secretary/Treasurer of the Northwest Indiana Division of the IAEI for over 20 years, as well as a board member and past president of the Indiana Chapter. I also sit as a board member for the city of Hobart, Indiana contractor’s licensing board.
This would not be possible without the encouragement and support of the many people I have worked alongside and served with through these years.
Most of all, I am thankful for the loving support of my wife of 42 years, Kathy. When I look at my wife and our 4 sons – Tim, Mike, Steve and Dan (all who are electricians) and our 2 daughters – Katie and Kristina and their families, I realize how truly blessed I am by God. With that comes a responsibility to remember each day how important this job of electrical safety is to all of the families that we will never know but who depend on us to make sure that there are standards to protect them.
David Soderquist
President of the Western Section IAEI