Larry Abernathy entered the U.S. Army after graduating from high school and received training in communications and electronics. He served in Korea, Germany, and three tours in Vietnam, where he was wounded twice. Larry was trained as an Army instructor and taught communications and electronics at the U.S. Army Southeastern Signal School at Fort Gordon, Georgia. He then served an IBEW apprenticeship and became licensed as a journeyman in 1976 and as a master in 1979. Larry was employed in construction, industrial, commercial, and residential work until becoming the Electrical Inspector for the City of Ypsilanti, Michigan in 1986 with a promotion to Supervisor of Building Inspection in 1988. In 1995, he became employed by the Ford Motor Company and works in the Research and Engineering Center in Dearborn, Michigan. Larry has also taught National Electrical Code update classes.


Larry is married with three grown sons, one of whom is an IBEW journeyman electrician.

Steve Arne has been involved in the electrical industry since 1974 working in various positions from electrician to full time instructor and department chair in technical post secondary education. Steve has taught electrical topics including electrical code and apprenticeship training classes as well as university business classes. Steve has developed curriculum for many electrical training courses and has developed university business and leadership courses while working as a Curriculum Development Specialist. Currently, Steve offers occasional exam prep and continuing education code classes.

Steve has a bachelor's degree in technical education and a master's degree in administrative studies with a human resources emphasis. Licenses held by Steve include electrical master, electrical inspector, electrical contractor and real estate home inspector. Steve is a board member of the Black Hills Chapter of the SD Electrical Council and a member of the SD Real Estate Task Force on Home Inspection. Steve enjoys developing his own websites.

Steve and his lovely wife Deb have celebrated over 32 years of marriage in Rapid City, South Dakota where they are both active in their church and community. They have two grown children and 5 grandchildren. Their daughter Jolene is a registered nurse and their son Ryan works as an electrician and construction supervisor.

Steve states, "Every teacher understands the joy of helping others as they learn and experience new insights. My goal is to help others understand more of the technological marvels that surround us. I thank God for the wonders of His creation and for the opportunity to share it with others."

Dennis Carlson started in the electrical trade in 1980 with Simmons Electric based in Greeley, Colorado and did residential and commercial work with them until 1985. He then went to work for Atkinson Electric based out of Ft. Collins, Colorado until 1987, also doing residential and commercial work.
Dennis has since worked on various industrial projects for TIC (The Industrial Company) as a journeyman, electrical foreman, and project coordinator. He is presently the Manager of the Electrical Craft Training Program for TIC.
Dennis instructs levels first, second, third, and fourth year trainees. With the use of Mike Holt’s NEC Exam Preparation book, he has had a success rate of 90 percent with his fourth year trainees on the Colorado State electrical exam.
Dennis lives in Steamboat Springs, with his wife Cindy. Their son Josh will be attending college in the Fall of 2008, studying for an engineering degree, and specializing in robotics. Their daughter is enrolled at CSU in Ft. Collins studying for a degree in Art.

Mike Culbreath devoted his career to the electrical industry and worked his way up from an apprentice electrician to master electrician. While working as a journeyman electrician, he suffered a serious
on-the-job knee injury. With a keen interest in continuing education for electricians, he completed courses at Mike Holt Enterprises, Inc. and then passed the exam to receive his Master Electrician’s license.
In 1986, after attending classes at Mike Holt Enterprises, Inc., he joined the staff to update material and later studied computer graphics and began illustrating Mike Holt’s textbooks and magazine articles. He’s worked with the company for over 25 years and, as Mike Holt has proudly acknowledged, has helped to transform his words and visions into lifelike graphics.

Lynn started his career as an electrician in 1979, became a licensed Electrical Contractor in 1985, and owned and operated L & B Palmer Electric. He later went to work as an Electrical Inspector for the County of Sacramento. Lynn is a member of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors, Sacramento Valley Chapter, where he also served as Chairman, and was a member of IBEW Local 340 Sacramento.

Lynn has taught a variety of apprenticeship, journeyman and Code training classes. Lynn currently teaches in the Building Inspection Technology Program at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento. After working for the County of Sacramento for 10 years, he went to work for the State of California as a Construction Supervisor.

Lynn currently resides in Elk Grove, California, with his wife Brenda and two children, Christopher and Jennifer.

James Thomas has been working in the electrical field since 1985 and is licensed in the State of North Carolina. He has worked in residential, commercial, and industrial electrical jobs. James has been
an instructor teaching electrical and electronic courses (including the National Electrical Code) full time at James Sprunt Community College in Kenansville, NC for over 16 years and has taught thousands
of individuals. He has taught at Pitt Community College in Greenville NC; Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC; and Sampson Community College in Clinton, NC.

James earned a diploma in Electrical Installation and Maintenance; a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Mount Olive College
in Mount Olive, NC; and a Master’s degree in Industrial Technology from East Carolina University in Greenville NC. James also served in the Air Force Reserve in Goldsboro NC for over 22 years.