STEP Begins October 19: Long Beach Seniors Launch Their Electrical Careers

On Monday, October 19, 2026, twenty five high school seniors from the Long Beach Unified School District will take their first step into an electrical career. Big John Kares is proud to support the Seniors to Electrical Program (STEP), a new partnership between the Port of Long Beach and IBEW Local 11.

What is STEP?

STEP is a yearlong, immersive program that gives students real technical knowledge and hands on skills in the electrical field, all while they finish their senior year.

Why it matters:

Paid to learn: students earn $2,400 while in the program

A head start on a union career: graduates receive direct entry into the IBEW apprenticeship program, which currently has a waitlist of about 4,500 people

Built for our youth: just 25 spots, reserved for LBUSD seniors interested in the electrical trade

The schedule

Classes meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m., plus select Saturdays, from October 19, 2026 through June 2, 2027.

Why Big John Kares supports STEP

Our mission has always been to help young people from our communities make the right decisions and find real careers. Programs like STEP turn that mission into a paycheck, a skill, and a future. We can’t wait to watch this first class grow into the next generation of electricians building the Port of the Future.

Questions about STEP?

Contact the Port of Long Beach Workforce Development Office:Melissa Bahmanpour, Workforce Development Officer562.519.7929 | melissa.bahmanpour@polb.comProgram details: polb.com/stepapplication

Congratulations to every student starting STEP on October 19. Your future is electric!