At IPCO, growth is as much about the people as the projects. For Ben Trone, what started as a job gained through word of mouth has become a decade-long career filled with challenges, learning, and leadership. His path from apprentice to superintendent is proof of the opportunities that come with responsibility, hands-on experience, and a willingness to learn on the job.
From “Green as Grass” to Leading Projects
Ben didn’t start his career path in the electrical industry. Before IPCO, he tried everything from selling knives to driving forklifts and landscaping. In 2015, his neighbor, Stephanie Byrd (IPCO’s controller), introduced him to an electrical apprenticeship. At 22, he was looking for a full-time job but had no idea how much he really did not know.
One year into his apprenticeship, our founder, Brian Adkins, handed Ben the keys to a company truck and put him under the guidance of one of our cornerstone employees, Donnie. Donnie taught Ben the technical side of the job, while Brian pushed Ben to develop his leadership skills.
Within a year, Ben had earned his white hard hat and the title of superintendent. Ben’s role involves planning work, managing crews, and ensuring materials and schedules stay on track.
Managing the Work, the People, and the Details
Ben spends his days juggling multiple responsibilities. Currently, he’s working on a series of projects for Greenville Water. One job led him to the intake plant on Lake Keowee, where he was tasked with upgrading outdated Motor Control Centers (MCCs). MCCs are high-powered electrical panels that regulate the plant’s operations. These MCCs are decades old and have been worn down by time and, in some cases, filled with spiderwebs or the occasional dead rodent.
The biggest challenge involved with this project is replacing the MCCs without cutting power to the entire system. This requires careful planning, coordination with the manufacturer and engineers, and a deep understanding of electrical control systems. When the job is done, Greenville Water will have a safer, more efficient system where individual components can be replaced without shutting down the entire plant. This is a massive upgrade in functionality and safety, two things we’re passionate about at IPCO.
Why Responsibility Matters at IPCO
Ben’s favorite part of his job is figuring things out. “It’s frustrating at times,” Ben says, “but that’s what makes it rewarding,” Brian encourages the team to take ownership of their work, even if it means working through a complicated problem for days or weeks. In Brian’s words, “That’s how you learn.”
For Ben, that responsibility extends beyond the job site. He had to level up his administrative skills by learning how to track work orders, forecast project needs, and ensure teams were in the right places at the correct times. These details matter because inefficiency costs money, and at IPCO, our team knows standing around with your hands in your pockets or showing up unprepared to a worksite are not options.
Conduit, Wiring Systems, and the Future of the Industry
A decade later, Ben sees things coming full circle. He’s mentored an apprentice for three years, guiding him through the same process that once shaped him. The apprentice, who started at just 18, is already handling intense electrical work, such as digging trenches, bending conduits, and wiring systems, and developing the skills to make him a leader one day.
That’s the exciting part. At IPCO, we always look for the next generation of electricians, superintendents, and project leaders.
With spring around the corner, we’ll be reviewing internship and apprenticeship applications. If you or someone you know is interested in learning a hands-on trade, gaining real experience, and taking on exciting responsibilities, IPCO is the place to do it. Like Ben, you might start out green as grass, but with time, training, and the right mindset, you could lead your own projects before you know it.
Want to be part of IPCO’s next generation? Apply for our spring internships and apprenticeships here.
