Rocky Coastal Electric, an electrical contracting company based in the Lewiston-Auburn area of Maine, has formalized a mentorship program that reserves a permanent spot on its crew for someone new to the electrical trade. The initiative, led by company owner and Master Electrician Corey Hunt, aims to provide structured, on-the-job training that leads to licensing, rather than treating apprentices as temporary labor.
The commitment is straightforward: Rocky Coastal Electric will keep a standing position for a trade newcomer, with Hunt or a senior team member overseeing their daily learning until they are ready to pursue licensing independently. The program is not a classroom course but a work assignment. New team members shadow licensed electricians on real jobs across Lewiston-Auburn, from panel work to service calls, gradually taking on more responsibility as they demonstrate readiness.
Hunt’s own career path informs the approach. He began as a helper on solar installations in Massachusetts in 2014, later worked for a company called ESM, and eventually earned his Master Electrician license before joining the IBEW, where he traveled the country working with various union locals. He founded Rocky Coastal Electric in March 2023. “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 has three components. First, paired job assignments place new hires directly with an experienced electrician on every job until they can handle smaller tasks alone. Second, a path toward licensing ensures Hunt tracks each mentee’s hours and skills against Maine’s requirements, so on-the-job work counts toward their advancement. Third, regular check-ins provide one-on-one meetings 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.”
Rocky Coastal Electric is not a large company, and Hunt is candid about the program’s scale. There will not be a large class of trainees at once. Instead, the commitment is to keep the door open consistently for the Lewiston-Auburn area, rather than conducting a one-time hiring push. “I’d rather do this slow and do it right,” Hunt said. “One person who actually becomes a good electrician is worth more to me than filling seats.”
Looking ahead, Hunt plans to keep the mentorship slot filled as the company grows, adding a second mentee position once workload supports it. The goal, he said, is not just a bigger business but one that gives other people in the area the same kind of start he had.
This development matters for the skilled trades in Maine, where demand for licensed electricians remains strong. By creating a structured, repeatable pathway from helper to tradesman, Rocky Coastal Electric offers a local model for workforce development that could help address trade shortages and provide career opportunities for residents. The program’s emphasis on real-world experience and licensing alignment may also serve as a template for other small contractors seeking to build a sustainable pipeline of skilled workers.
