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Welcome to NEMA Academy

William Attardi on May 11, 2026

NEMA Academy is our new online platform offering accessible, high-quality training to strengthen industry knowledge and support workforce development. Advance your expertise with trusted, industry-backed training in lighting controls, dimming systems, and energy code compliance. Whether you’re focused on LED lighting controls, building automation, or IoT integration, NEMA Academy offers practical, standards-based courses to help you stay competitive and compliant. Explore our webstore and start learning today—designed for professionals who power the future of the built environment. NEMA Academy

Google and Siemens Invest in Electrical Training to Support Future Infrastructure Needs by Tom Zind

William Attardi on December 9, 2025

Google and Siemens are investing heavily in electrical training programs to combat a looming shortage of skilled electrical workers. Key Takeaways:

  • Google plans to fund training for 130,000 total electrical workers and apprentices, leveraging AI and virtual reality to modernize education.
  • Siemens aims to add 200,000 electricians and manufacturing experts by 2030 through expanded partnerships and digital training tools.
  • Both companies emphasize the critical role of industry collaboration and innovative training methods to address future workforce shortages.
  • These efforts highlight a proactive approach to workforce development in response to industry growth and technological advancements.

Google and Siemens Invest in Electrical Training to Support Future Infrastructure Needs | EC&M

XR Training: How Extended Reality Supercharges Brain-Based Learning

William Attardi on November 25, 2025

In today’s fast-paced digital workplace, organizations are searching for more effective ways to skill and reskill their workforces. Extended reality (XR), which encompasses Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), and Augmented Reality (AR), offers an immersive and highly effective alternative. These XR technologies are not just more engaging—they also work in harmony with how the human brain learns best. Neuroscience shows that experiential learning—learning by doing—activates multiple regions of the brain at once. XR places learners in a simulated environment that mimics real-life scenarios, tapping into the brain’s natural mechanisms for spatial and sensory learning. This immersive context not only minimizes distractions but also enhances focus and recall through contextual cues that the brain retains as lived experiences. XR Training: How Extended Reality Enhances Brain-Based Learning

NEMA Launches Career Development Platform to Power the Electroindustry Workforce of the Future

William Attardi on September 19, 2025

 NEMA announced NEMA Academy, a dynamic new online learning platform designed to strengthen technical training and workforce development across the electroindustry.  The future of manufacturing demands a workforce skilled in robotics, AI, digital tools, and industrial automation, and NEMA Academy is designed to meet that need. Built for professionals at every stage of their careers, the platform provides access to more than 1,400 education and certification opportunities in multiple languages. Courses span a range of topics, including NEMA standards, policy issues, supply chain resilience, emergency preparedness, lighting, and more. With new content added regularly, NEMA also is working with Congress to advance comprehensive workforce development legislation to ensure long-term support for the electrical industry’s workforce. The bipartisan Veterans Energy Transition (VET) Actwill help match veterans with a range of technical and operational skills with the manufacturers of critical electrical equipment and components.  NEMA Launches Career Development Platform To Power the Electroindustry Workforce of the Future – NEMA

University of Colorado Boulder – Professional Lighting Education

William Attardi on December 31, 2024

The University of Colorado Boulder is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2025 Rocky Mountain Lighting Academy (RMLA) Short Course. This four-day course will be held on the beautiful CU campus in Boulder from May 29 through June 1, 2025. General sessions cover lighting and design fundamentals along with the latest developments in technology, color, and health. Technical Track students dive deeper into photometry, optics, and luminaire design while Design Track students gain practical experience with the early stages of the design process, including developing design concepts and goals. The course emphasizes hands-on learning experiences, and the class size is limited to ensure a fun, interactive experience. Further details and registration information can be found on the program’s website. For more information, please contact Bob Davis, Scholar in Residence and Director of Professional Lighting Education, davisrg@colorado.edu

Remembering the Solemn Purpose of Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the last Monday in May to honor and mourn U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. The holiday traces its roots to the years immediately following the American Civil War (1861–1865), which caused massive casualties—roughly 620,000 soldiers dead, about 2% of the U.S. population at the time. Communities across the North and South began spontaneously decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, wreaths, and flags, a practice that gave rise to the original name: Decoration Day. On May 5, 1868, Major General John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)—a powerful Union veterans’ organization—issued General Order No. 11. This proclaimed May 30, 1868, as a nationwide “Decoration Day” to honor those who died in the Civil War. After World War I, the holiday expanded to honor all American service members who died in any war, not just the Civil War.  In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act to create more three-day weekends for federal employees. This moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May, effective in 1971, when it was also officially named “Memorial Day.” As one 1868 quote put it: “That Nation which respects and honors its dead, shall ever be respected and honored itself.”