People Who Power Us
ECA
June 25, 2026 • 6 min read
Building More Than a Career
Some of the most meaningful moments in life are the ones you never see coming.
For Mike and Peyton Wilkinson, the chance to work side-by-side as father and son is one of them.
At ECA, we often talk about our people being our greatest asset. But behind every hard hat is a story, a family, and a journey that extends far beyond the jobsite. The story of Mike and Peyton is a reminder that while we build electrical systems every day, we’re also helping build careers, relationships, and memories that last a lifetime.
A Career Built on Opportunity
Mike’s journey into the electrical trade began more than four decades ago.
Fresh out of high school, he was working in concrete construction when a strike left him searching for his next step. One day, his father handed him a piece of paper with a simple instruction: “Call them.”
The number belonged to the IBEW.
Mike made the call, interviewed the next day, and unknowingly started a career that would span more than 40 years.
Since then, he’s worked on countless projects, mentored apprentices, led crews, and built friendships across the country. Ask him what he’s enjoyed most about the trade, and his answer isn’t about the projects.
It’s the people.
“The relationships are what stick with you,” Mike said. “You meet people from all walks of life and all over the country. Some of those friendships last decades.”
That people-first mindset has followed him throughout his career. It’s also one of the reasons he has always taken pride in mentoring younger electricians and helping them grow within the trade.
Many of those apprentices have gone on to become leaders themselves, continuing the cycle of mentorship that has defined Mike’s career.
And eventually, one of those people became his own son.
A Different Path Leads Back Home
Ironically, Mike didn’t originally envision Peyton becoming an electrician.
Like many parents, he hoped his son would explore every opportunity available to him and find a path that fit his goals and interests.
As Peyton navigated different jobs and career paths, he found himself searching for something more. Something that offered stability, opportunity, and the ability to build a meaningful future for himself and his family.
Eventually, Mike encouraged him to take a closer look at the electrical trade.
It proved to be a life-changing decision.
Over the years, Peyton built his skills, gained valuable experience, and developed a deeper appreciation for the opportunities the trade can provide. Nearly three years ago, he joined ECA, where he has continued to grow both professionally and personally while taking on increasing responsibilities in the field.
But the trade gave Peyton more than a career.
It gave him the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of someone he had spent a lifetime learning from.
And eventually, it gave him something neither of them could have planned for. The chance to work alongside his dad.
Finally on the Same Team
For years, Mike and Peyton crossed paths on projects without ever truly working together.
Sometimes they were assigned to different crews. Sometimes they were on the same site but in different areas. The timing never seemed to work out.
Then, at Owens Corning, it finally did.
What neither expected was how much they would enjoy it.
“If you would have asked us 15 or 20 years ago, it might have been a different story,” Peyton joked. “But we’ve both grown up.”
The experience quickly became something they looked forward to every day.
Not because they were father and son.
Because they genuinely worked well together.
They discovered that the trust, communication, and respect built over a lifetime translated naturally into the workplace. Conversations that once happened over family dinners now happened on the jobsite. Lessons that started years ago continued through daily work.
For Peyton, it became an opportunity to learn from someone with more than four decades of experience.
“I’m trying to be a sponge and take everything in,” he said.
For Mike, it became an opportunity to watch his son continue developing into a skilled electrician and leader.
“He’s got a good work ethic,” Mike said. “He takes pride in what he does.”
The pride in his voice was unmistakable.
After years of crossing paths on different projects, Mike and Peyton finally had the opportunity to work side by side.
More Than Teaching a Trade
One of the things that stood out most during our conversation was that the lessons being shared weren’t only about electrical work.
Yes, they talk about projects, crews, schedules, and problem-solving.
But they also talk about leadership.
About how to work with different personalities.
About earning trust.
About bringing out the best in people.
About learning when to lead and when to listen.
“The relationships are what stick with you.”
– Mike wilkinson
You meet people from all walks of life and all over the country. Some of those friendships last decades.
The conversations don’t stop when the workday ends.
Like many families in the construction industry, discussions about work often continue after hours. They exchange ideas, seek advice, and help each other navigate challenges.
For Peyton, having someone he can call and ask, “What would you do in this situation?” has been invaluable.
For Mike, being able to share lessons learned over a 40-year career is a chance to help the next generation succeed.
Those moments represent something much bigger than knowledge transfer.
They represent legacy.
The Moments That Matter
At ECA, we believe the work we do matters, but the people who do it matter even more.
We want to create careers that provide opportunity.
We want to create environments where people can grow.
We want to invest in individuals and help them become leaders.
Most importantly, we want to create experiences and memories that matter. This isn’t something that happens by accident. It’s part of who we are.
For Mike and Peyton, the opportunity to work together has become one of those experiences.
Years from now, they may not remember every project detail, every drawing, or every deadline.
But they’ll remember the conversations.
The laughs.
The lessons.
The chance to spend time together doing work they both take pride in.
Building a Legacy
One Question
In one word, what has this experience meant to you?
Mike: “Amazing.”
Peyton: “Fun.”
Simple answers.
Honest answers.
And perhaps the best reminder of what truly matters.
At ECA, we’re proud to build projects that power communities. But stories like Mike and Peyton’s remind us that the most meaningful things we build are often the relationships that grow along the way.
Because when we invest in people, support families, and create opportunities for growth, we’re building far more than successful projects; we’re building careers, relationships, and a legacy that lasts.
For Mike and Peyton, that legacy isn’t measured only in the projects they’ve completed. It’s found in the lessons they’ve shared, the trust they’ve built, and the memories they’re creating together.
Because long after the work is finished, it’s the people who leave the greatest impact.