Rocky Coastal Electric, a Lewiston-Auburn electrical contracting company founded in March 2023 by Master Electrician Corey Hunt, has formalized a commitment to developing the next generation of skilled tradespeople. The company will maintain a permanent spot on its crew for someone new to the electrical trade, providing structured on-the-job mentorship until that person is ready to pursue licensing independently. The initiative reflects Hunt’s own career path and addresses a growing need for trained electricians in the region.
Hunt’s route to mastery began in 2014 as a helper on solar installations in Massachusetts. He later worked for a company called ESM before earning his Master Electrician license and joining the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), where he traveled the country working with various union locals. Each step, he says, depended on experienced professionals willing to teach him by doing. “I got where I am because people ahead of me were willing to show me things instead of just handing me a task list,” Hunt said. “That’s the same reason I keep a spot open on my crew for somebody starting out. It costs me time up front. It pays back for years.”
The mentorship track is not a classroom program but a work assignment. New hires shadow licensed electricians on real jobs around Lewiston-Auburn, from panel work to service calls, gradually taking on more responsibility as they demonstrate readiness. The approach has three components: paired job assignments, where mentees work directly with an experienced electrician on every job until they can handle smaller tasks alone; a path toward licensing, with Hunt tracking each mentee’s hours and skills against Maine’s requirements so on-the-job work counts toward advancement; and regular check-ins, where Hunt meets one-on-one to discuss progress and areas needing attention. “I don’t think you can build a good electrician by just letting them figure it out alone,” Hunt said. “You also don’t build one by keeping them off real jobs too long. The balance is putting them next to someone who will correct their mistakes before those mistakes cost a homeowner money.”
This structured mentorship matters for several reasons. The electrical trade faces a well-documented workforce shortage as experienced professionals retire and demand for electrical services grows, particularly with the rise of renewable energy and smart home technology. By creating a repeatable pipeline from helper to tradesman, Rocky Coastal Electric is not only filling its own future labor needs but also contributing to the broader Lewiston-Auburn skilled trades ecosystem. Hunt’s model emphasizes quality over quantity: “I’d rather do this slow and do it right,” he said. “One person who actually becomes a good electrician is worth more to me than filling seats.” That philosophy could serve as a template for other small contractors looking to invest in talent without overextending resources.
For local residents, the program offers a tangible pathway to a stable, well-paying career without requiring expensive upfront education. For the industry, it highlights how small businesses can address the skills gap through consistent, hands-on training rather than large-scale hiring events. As Rocky Coastal Electric grows, Hunt plans to keep the mentorship slot filled and add a second mentee position once the workload supports it. His goal is not just a bigger business but one that gives others in the area the same kind of start he had—a commitment that could strengthen the region’s workforce for years to come.
