From left to right: Jody Castro, Assistant Business Manager and Safety Director; Mike Adayan, Assistant Business Manager; Daniel Ahern, Business Representative; Todd Kadota, Business Representative; Kyle Whitman, Assistant Business Manager; and Ralph Armstrong, Senior Assistant Business Manager, as IBEW 1245 and PG&E’s Gas Safety Academy in Winters received Department of Labor approval.
On April 28, 2026, during National Apprenticeship Week, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) formally recognized many IBEW 1245–PG&E apprenticeship programs—giving members nationally recognized credentials and strengthening training for the next generation of skilled union workers.
IBEW 1245 was on hand at PG&E’s Gas Safety Academy in Winters as the registration was finalized, marking a significant step for programs that have long served as the backbone of training for skilled union labor.
The Flow Lab at PG&E’s Gas Safety Academy in Winters provides hands-on training.
“At the end of the day, this comes back to our members,” said Bob Dean, Business Manager of IBEW 1245. “It’s experienced union workers teaching the next generation and passing down the skills and the safety practices that define our trade.”
With this national recognition, the joint IBEW 1245–PG&E apprenticeship programs are now among a select group in the utility industry to hold both state and federal certification—an achievement that reflects years of work by labor and management to strengthen and standardize training.
For IBEW 1245 members, this will mean that apprentices will earn nationally recognized credentials that can transfer across state lines, opening up broader opportunities throughout their careers. The programs are also aligned with academic institutions, allowing apprentices to earn college credit and, in some cases, associate degrees as they complete their training.
Federal registration also brings increased consistency and accountability through standardized guidelines, along with expanded access to funding and workforce development resources that support long-term training and job growth.
The Gas Safety Academy in Winters offers apprentices the chance to build real-world skills under the guidance of experienced IBEW journeyman instructors.
At the facility’s flow lab, for instance, trainees work through real-world scenarios using systems designed to mirror compression stations across PG&E’s service territory. The lab, which is one of the only setups of its kind in the country, uses compressed air to safely replicate field conditions and can handle pressures up to 650 pounds. For comparison, a typical home receives about a quarter pound of pressure.
The academy also features home appliances workers regularly encounter in the field as well as simulator equipment that allows members to build and refine skills before stepping onto a job site. During the visit, Assistant Business Manager and Safety Director Jody Castro and Business Representative Daniel Ahern took the opportunity to brush up on their excavator skills.