ECA Chicago Elects First Black Female President in Organization’s History

March 12, 2026

Taylor Electric Company CEO and President Kendra Dinkins Assumes Historic Leadership Role as the first female and first Black President of ECA Chicago

BURR RIDGE – The Electrical Contractors’ Association of City of Chicago and Cook County (ECA) elected Kendra Dinkins as its new president, making her the first female — and first Black — president in the organization’s history. Dinkins, who serves as president and CEO of Taylor Electric Company, a fourth-generation, family-owned Chicago electrical contractor founded in 1922, assumed the role after three years as ECA vice president.

Dinkins’ election marks a landmark moment for the electrical construction industry in Chicago and Cook County, where the ECA has represented union electrical contractors for over a century. She is the first woman and the first person of color to serve as the organization’s president.

“It’s a real joyous occasion because we’re still breaking barriers. I want to be able to represent women contractors and Black contractors — and basically be the face for all contractors,” Dinkins said.

Dinkins’ path to the presidency spans over a decade of dedicated service to the ECA and the broader electrical construction industry. She joined the ECA board ten years ago and has chaired the Research and Education Committee, contributed to the development of the Chicago Electrical Code, and been an active participant in Women in NECA and other national initiatives.

“Kendra’s election represents everything the ECA stands for — investing in people, developing leaders from within and building an industry that works for everyone. She has earned this role through years of dedicated service, and we look forward to the progress she will drive for our members and for the city of Chicago,” explained ECA’s Executive Vice President Mark Thomas.

Dinkins served three years as vice president before assuming the presidency, working closely with outgoing President Bob Fimbianti of Linear Electric, who now serves as ECA governor.

Fimbianti said it has been one of the great privileges of his time leading the ECA to work alongside Dinkins and help prepare her for this moment. “She is ready — and then some. The ECA is in exceptional hands, and I have no doubt that her presidency will set a new standard for what leadership in this industry looks like,” he added.

Taylor Electric Company, which Dinkins leads alongside co-owners representing the company’s third and fourth generations, was founded by her great-grandfather in 1922 and has remained 100 percent family-owned and operated throughout its history. The company performs commercial, healthcare and educational electrical construction work across the Chicago metropolitan area and is a longtime member of the ECA and signatory contractor with the Chicago-based IBEW Local 134.

Dinkins said that over the years, the industry as a whole has really embraced her family — through every generation. “That’s why it’s just really exciting for me to be able to serve the industry that’s really helped us out.”

As president, Dinkins has identified workforce diversity and small contractor advocacy as top priorities. She has called for expanded recruitment outreach to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), deeper engagement with underrepresented communities and stronger support for small and minority-owned electrical contractors navigating the association’s programs and policies. Her three-year term is expected to run through 2029, after which she will transition to the ECA governor role, representing Chicago and Cook County contractors nationally through the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

“I’ll gladly be the infantry [for women and people of color] because we’ve got some great cavalry coming down the line. I’m just the beginning. So just watch out, everybody. We’re coming,” Dinkins explained.”