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.

Wes Gerrans, upon obtaining a Bachelor’s degree from Andrews University in 1965, began his career as an Industrial Arts instructor at Eau Claire Michigan High School. After teaching for four years, he worked in the construction trades for the next 23 years. In 1992 he completed an Electrical Technology course at Northwest Kansas Technical School. It was at this time that he first had contact with Mike Holt when he helped with the editing of one of Mike’s earlier books. He then worked for Archer Daniels Midland as an industrial electrician until 2002, when he went back to NWKTC, now a college, as an instructor in the electrical program.
Wes remains happily married to his wife of 43 years, Jacque, who continues to be a source of strength and encouragement. She retired from being a school psychologist this year and is now enjoying a more leisurely pace at home. Their children are both married. Their son, Neil, is a teacher in Seattle, WA; their daughter, Lisa, teaches in Lincoln, NE.
Other areas of interest for Wes have included a commercial fishing business in Alaska, rebuilding wrecked vehicles, and restoring antique furniture. He is an active leader and teacher in his church. He enjoys participating in community projects, has a passion for teaching, and for sharing the Good News of Jesus.

John Mills is an instructor for Mike Holt Enterprises, Inc. and is a Certified Electrical Contractor, Certified Inspector, Plan Reviewer, and CBO. John started in the electrical trade in 1980 as a helper and attended an ABC Apprenticeship Program, then worked his way up to Master Electrician. John has been an instructor for 20 years, teaching master and journeyman exam preparation courses and Florida State certification courses.
John resides in Miami, Florida with his wife Corina and their four sons. John’s hobbies are working with wood and metal. He makes wooden bowls and furniture from trees that have been cut down. He enjoys making things for his children as well as fishing, family picnics, and vacations with his family.

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.

Eric started in the Electrical field by working as a journeyman electrician for a small contractor in the Houston area while going to college pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering. After graduation, in 1982,
Eric worked as an electronic technician where he installed and maintained life safety control systems in high rise buildings. In 1989, Eric went to work for Dow Chemical where he designed power distribution
systems for major industrial complexes in the U.S., Spain, Brazil, and Germany. Eric was very involved in both creating Electrical standards and procedures as well as checking existing standards and proce-
dures for alignment with national standards.

He also worked as a Construction Manager where he ensured Code compliancy of installations as well as provided field engineering support. Eric currently has his own business and spends a good deal of
time teaching classes in both the National Electrical Code and electrical circuits. He is also a member of the Electrical Safety and Licensing Advisory Board for the State of Texas.

Eric lives in Lake Jackson, Texas, with his wife Jane. They have three children: Ainsley, Austin, and Brieanna. Ainsley is a teacher in Boston who will be getting married in the summer of 2011. Austin will be enlisting in the Air Force, and Brieanna will be starting college in the
Fall of 2010.

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.