1936-2019
1936-2019
John A. Penney was the son of a tradesman in Dorchester and attended trade school in Charlestown. He entered the IBEW Local 103 apprenticeship program in 1955 and earned his Journeyman license, beginning his career as a union electrician. During the early years of his career, he worked his way up at Fischbach and Moore, a large national electrical contractor, becoming a Foreman, then General Foreman.
In 1973, John joined the Boston Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association. This began a relationship that had a significant impact on the Electrical Industry in the Greater Boston Area as well as much of New England.
John also served as the General Foreman on the Christian Science Center’s Campus Expansion in the late 60’s into the early 70’s. John eventually became a Master Electrician as well as learning estimating and project management. Soon after the completion of the project at the Christian Science Center, he used what he had learned to start the John A. Penney Company. John A. Penney Company, Inc. continues to work with the Christian Science Church to this day.
John was among the Boston Chapter of NECA’s most dedicated and active members. He served on the Board of Directors for 31 years, making him the Board’s longest serving member. He served as President of the Chapter in 1990 to 1991 and again in 2000 to 2001. He also served as Governor in 1992 to 1993 and 2002 to 2003.
John’s commitment and contributions to positive labor-management relations was unsurpassed. He served on and chaired dozens of negotiating committees, trust fund committees, and the JATC. As Chairman of the JATC, John was instrumental in negotiating the trust agreement in 1988. This led to the construction of the nationally-renowned Industry Training Center, which continues to be the backbone of the organized electrical industry in greater Boston.
As a management trustee on the trust funds in the early 90’s, John played a key role in the construction of a new trust fund office and the merger of three former IBEW locals into Local 103. He served on the Council on Industrial Relations from 2003 to 2005, which settled labor disputes around the country. Mr. Penney was honored with induction into NECA’s Academy of Electrical Contracting in 2000.
