The entire I.B. Abel team thanks James Trebilcock for his longstanding contributions and commitment to excellence in safety, quality, and leading by example over his decades of service. Cheers to a well-earned retirement, Jim!
Appreciating many opportunities to grow personally and professionally, as I.B. Abel also grew as a company, Vice President of Communication Services Jim Trebilcock reflects on his successful 34+ year electrical construction career journey. From starting out in 1990 as an I.B. Abel electrical apprentice and rising through different roles to lead the Communication Services division for the last two decades, Jim’s career progression exemplifies true heart and dedication in the electrical construction industry. His work ethic, commitment to safety and quality, and level of care for his teammates and our clients have been invaluable over the decades, and we are honored to celebrate his retirement.
“With I.B. Abel’s extensive growth over my time with this phenomenal company, there has been much work among leadership to keep our culture very personal, always putting employees first. The constant focus on safety is a critical part of that. Safety is ingrained in every aspect of the company—it is paramount in terms of how we approach every job.”
– Jim T., I.B. Abel VP of Communications Services (Retired)
When reflecting on highlights throughout his career success, Jim shared that I.B. Abel has always been intentional about empowering the team and putting people first with continuous dedication to safety and quality. This has a tremendously positive impact on our company culture, attracting talented people and inspiring them to stay, grow, and succeed with I.B. Abel. We believe our people are our greatest asset, and having great leaders and mentors like Jim on our team has been essential to keeping hardworking individuals here for the long haul.
Looking back on his long career working at a well-established and trusted electrical contractor in York, PA, Jim shared several examples of how the I.B. Abel grew exponentially while successfully keeping the personal culture, including how significantly mentorship continues to play a huge role in developing the team. He named several key mentors, including all the journeymen electricians who helped him learn at the beginning of his career in the field, as well as former I.B. Abel President Tom L. and former Controller Mary “Chris” L. for showing him the way around the office as he stepped into an executive management role later on. Todd A., former VP of Electrical Services, was also a significant mentor to Jim.
Recognizing how mentorship helped Jim in his own journey, he was proud to be a mentor himself later in his career. He noted that he routinely brought people from the field into the office with him over time. “At one point, I was leading a team of 10 in the office, and helping them succeed was very important to me. I valued promoting interested field team members into the office and cultivating their career success,” Jim shared. There is no question that Jim’s career experience and mentorship have been invaluable to his coworkers and the company as a whole.
Since Jim became VP of Communication Services in 2004, the department has steadily and profitably grown, beginning work on cameras and card access systems around 2006 and taking on wireless projects (now a significant segment of the division’s business) starting in 2010. He admits he will miss stewarding the division but knows it will continue to thrive under I.B. Abel’s dedicated leadership team.
Offering a few words of wisdom for the next generation, who may just be starting their electrical construction careers, Jim shared that there will always be opportunities in this field. Success springs from taking full advantage of every possibility and ultimately allowing your interests to guide your career journey.
“The electrical construction industry, and especially the communications sector, is always changing and advancing. Tech advancements keep coming, and that means opportunities for your career. Don’t be afraid to take a chance. For those at I.B. Abel, where the company puts a lot of trust and faith in their team members to make the right decisions, you will be supported to take chances to move to other divisions that interest you and find mentors who can help you grow your skills.”
– Jim T.
As Jim says farewell to our team, leadership once more expresses how honored I.B. Abel has been to have supported Jim’s career journey for over 34 years. President Jason Motter shared, “We are proud of Jim’s professional accomplishments and are grateful for his loyalty and commitment to I.B. Abel over the years. Our entire team is wishing him the best in retirement. He certainly deserves it.”
Want to join an outstanding team that provides ample opportunity to succeed in your career? I.B. Abel empowers every team member to take ownership of their individual contributions to provide our clients with turnkey solutions for every electrical need.
Whether you are starting in the electrical construction industry or already have years of experience, I.B. Abel is a supportive, family-owned electrical contractor that will invest in you and your success. Check out our available career opportunities, and reach out to our team to learn more today. I.B. Abel is a full-service electrical contractor serving Central Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions with the following services: Automation, Electrical, Engineering, Substation, Utility, Communication, Wireless, Storm Restoration, and more.
