At River City Construction, workforce development is treated as a core part of the work, not a side initiative. As the demands on electrical infrastructure grow and experienced lineworkers near retirement, River City has taken a deliberate approach to ensuring that safety, technical skill, and sound judgment are intentionally passed down to the next generation.
“The most important thing an older lineman can do is pass down their knowledge,” said John Abrams, River City’s Safety Manager. With more than 40 years in the industry, Abrams plays a key role in the apprenticeship program, alongside the Safety team, ensuring that every apprentice develops the skills and judgment needed to work safely and professionally throughout their career.
That commitment is most clearly reflected in River City’s Electrical Lineworker Career Development Program: a structured, field-driven apprenticeship designed to develop highly competent, safety-focused lineworkers through disciplined training and daily mentorship. Long before becoming part of the XKIG family, River City built this program to meet the realities of the trade. Today, it stands as a proven model for how apprenticeship and mentorship should work in practice.
A Proven Program, Developed from the Ground Up
The Electrical Lineworker Career Development Program is a voluntary apprenticeship open to River City employees after six months of employment. Its goal is simple: to train top-tier lineworkers who can safely install, repair, and maintain electrical power systems while meeting the standards of utilities and regulatory agencies nationwide.
The program aligns with nationally recognized lineman education standards and combines structured coursework with extensive real-world field experience. Apprentices complete four progressive modules using nationally recognized lineman training materials, reinforced by hands-on training under experienced supervision.
Each module has ten written exams, all of which must be passed with a minimum score of 75 percent to proceed. Exams are officially proctored to ensure consistency and accountability, and retesting policies guarantee mastery, rather than memorization, before advancing.
Equally important, apprentices are evaluated in real work settings. General foremen, area supervisors, and the Safety team assess vital skills on the job, ensuring classroom learning directly applies to safe and effective work. This close link between theory and practice shows how River City believes lineworkers develop.
Mentorship Embedded at Every Level
What makes River City’s program stand out is how deeply mentorship is integrated into the apprenticeship model. Apprentices aren’t working in isolation. Every day, they collaborate with experienced lineworkers and leaders who demonstrate safe decision-making, risk assessment, communication, and accountability on active job sites.
This structure consistently reinforces safety culture, not through one-time training events. Apprentices observe how experienced professionals analyze complex situations, handle hazards, and uphold standards when it counts most.
The apprenticeship lasts at least four years and includes about 8,000 hours of combined classroom and on-the-job training. When suitable, apprentices can earn credit for documented prior experience, helping keep the program both rigorous and fair.
River City also eliminates financial barriers to participation. Although the program has an initial fee, apprentices earn completion bonuses for each module and get a full refund of program costs upon successful completion, showing a long-term commitment to employee growth, retention, and knowledge transfer.
A Model Being Carried Forward Across XKIG
Since joining XKIG, River City’s Electrical Lineworker Career Development Program has become a blueprint for how structured apprenticeship and mentorship can be scaled across operating companies, while still respecting the unique demands of each trade.
Together, River City and XKIG are investing in more than just training. They are developing a skilled, safety-focused workforce essential for protecting communities, serving utilities, and strengthening critical infrastructure for the future.
