Welcome to “The Good Stuff,” where we highlight positive news and ways that NAED employees and member companies go above and beyond to give back to their communities! If you have some “Good Stuff” that you would like to share with tED, find out how below.
In this issue of “The Good Stuff,” City Electric Supply (CES) Clarksville is supporting Travis Electrical Service (TES) in building the next generation of electricians.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — For more than 15 years, City Electric Supply (CES) Clarksville has been a trusted electrical supplier to Travis Electrical Service (TES). As both companies grew over the years, their partnership extended beyond supplying materials. Today, CES Clarksville supports TES’s fully funded apprenticeship program, helping provide aspiring electricians with the tools, resources, and industry connections they need to begin their careers.
“When we first started working together, Travis Electrical Service grew at an exceptional rate, and they launched the Travis Electrical Service Apprenticeship Program (TESAP),” shared District Manager Micheal Mai. “We saw an opportunity to support what they were doing and help provide these students with the resources they need to succeed.”
With TESAP taking shape, CES Clarksville found new ways to deepen its long-standing relationship with TES and support the program beyond its traditional role as a supplier.
“We’ve been doing business with Travis Electrical Service for over 15 years, so we have a very good relationship with them,” added Stephen Baker, regional manager at CES. “That partnership opened the door for us to help supply materials for the school.”
With the electrical industry facing a growing workforce shortage, TESAP offers future electricians a debt-free way to start their careers.
“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 Travis. “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.”
It was this vision that led TES to start TESAP. Unlike traditional trade schools, TESAP combines paid, hands-on field experience with classroom instruction. Apprentices work alongside experienced electricians while learning current technologies, industry best practices, leadership, communication, and professional development skills.
“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.”
For CES Clarksville, supporting TESAP means more than providing electrical materials. The branch has donated tools, equipment, and gear for apprentices, including Milwaukee Tools and Klein Tools, while also supporting TES events and connecting students with manufacturers and other industry professionals.
“When we get requests from TES for materials and supplies, we’ll donate tools, gear, and supplies to teachers in the program,” shared Mai. “We’ve also sponsored several TES family days — it’s a day for everyone to get together and learn from industry representatives about the latest products and trends.”
CES has also helped bring TESAP students into the broader electrical industry. When CES held its biennial company conference, CES Connect, in nearby Nashville, Baker and Mai invited Chris, Stephanie, and their students to attend Counter Day, CES’s largest trade show event, with more than 70 vendor partners and over 2,000 attendees.
Ten TESAP students attended the event, ranging from recent graduates to new students preparing to begin classes. For Nicholas Brooks, a TESAP graduate, the experience provided an opportunity to discover new products and manufacturers.
“I’ve seen a lot of new devices and products, and even companies I hadn’t heard of before,” said Brooks. “There’s a lot that can help us in our day-to-day.”
“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.”
Across North America, CES helps strengthen the electrical industry by partnering with trade schools and apprenticeship programs and offering its own Brighter Future Scholarship. The goal of every partnership is the same: invest in tomorrow’s electricians.
As demand for skilled electricians continues to grow, CES remains committed to supporting programs like TESAP and investing in the next generation of electrical professionals.
Applications for the Brighter Future Scholarship are open through September 30, 2026.
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