IBEW Local 1’s Sylvester Taylor named Electrical Connection diversity director

IBEW Local 1 Officer Sylvester Taylor has been named director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the Electrical Connection.

IBEW Local 1 partners with the St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) to form the Electrical Connection. It represents more than 5,000 IBEW members and more than 150 electrical contractors signatory to the union contract.

“As leader of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus, Sylvester has been instrumental in helping us broaden diversity within our membership,” said Frank Jacobs, Local 1 business manager. “He has been an effective voice for minorities within IBEW, from apprentices to veteran journey workers, helping us better reflect the communities we serve.”

Taylor, a 31-year Local 1 member, is president of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus, which he helped found in 2004. He is also Local 1’s recording secretary.

Outside of the electrical industry, Taylor serves as treasurer on the Hazelwood School Board and as chairman of the St. Louis County Fire Safety and Standards Commission. From 2012 to 2019, he served as a state representative in the 80th District of the Missouri House and was previously on the board of the Black Jack Fire Protection District.

“Sylvester has been a tremendous asset in our outreach to minority communities,” said Doug Martin, St. Louis Chapter NECA executive vice president. “His work in a mentoring program with the Missouri Division of Youth Services has opened pathways for young people to careers in the electrical industry.”

About a third of the apprentices now being trained at the IBEW/NECA Electrical Industry Training Center at 2300 Hampton Ave. are minorities.

Members of the Electrical Connection provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world. Learn more at electricalconnection.org.