Don Sharkey, Secretary
Current Connections, IEC Florida East Coast
A lifelong resident of Palm Beach County, Florida, I currently live in Jupiter, FL with my wife of 44 years, Catherine. We have 2 grown children, son Jimmy and daughter Rosemary. I have worked in the electrical industry since graduating high school in 1976. Prior to graduation I attended a vocational program for residential wiring throughout my junior and senior year. This provided me with the entry level skills necessary to be successful in the industry.

To this day, I am convinced that I would not have been able to excel in the industry as I have, without the benefit of the training I received at the North Technical Education Center. After graduation I began my career as an electrician’s helper, journeyman, foreman and later estimator for several small businesses in the South Florida construction market.

Myself and a partner, Jerome Schmitz, went into business in 1984 by creating Current Connections, Inc.. We purchased Jerry’s interests in 1991 and Catherine and I have been partners since. Our business operates in the commercial, institutional and industrial new construction, renovation and modernization markets throughout South Florida. We currently employ 30 field employees and 12 office and warehouse staff members. I have been a member of the AGC Florida East Coast Chapter since 1986, where I have served on numerous committees, the Board of Directors (1994 – 2009) and as Chapter Treasurer (2005 – 2009). I have been a member at large of IEC since 1990. I was part of an effort in 1994 – 1996 to create a local IEC Chapter that was not successful. I joined an IEC Forum Group in 1999 that is still meeting three times annually.

In 2017 with the help of several other companies, we were able to successfully create the IEC Florida East Coast Chapter where I served as founding president and later past president. I am currently serving on the Board of Directors as the A & T Liaison. I have been a State of Florida Licensed Electrical Contractor since 1991. I am currently serving my third 3-year term as the electrical contractor member of the Palm Beach County Building Code Advisory Board and have served 3 terms as the EC on the PBC Construction Industry Licensing Board. We are members of Christ Fellowship Church a non-denominational mega-church, and I enjoy playing golf, shooting sporting clays, fishing, watching athletic events, reading and the Florida Gators.