Two Brothers Charged with Purpose
Two Brothers Charged with Purpose
Brothers Victor Martinez, 24, and Alexis Martinez, 22, have always preferred hands-on work to sitting behind a desk. This mindset sparked a clear vision for their future.
After graduating from Chicago Bulls College Prep, the Martinez brothers set their sights on becoming electricians, with the long-term goal of one day owning a business together.
“I knew college wasn’t for me,” Alexis said.
What he didn’t yet realize, however, was the level of resilience, determination, and grit required to break into the electricians’ union.
Powered by hope and a strong aptitude for math, Victor and Alexis began their journey by taking the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) apprenticeship aptitude test. Their first attempt ended in disappointment as they were not accepted into the program.
The odds were steep. IBEW administers the exam only twice a year, drawing up to 5,000 applicants for roughly 200 apprenticeship spots each cycle.
Undeterred, the brothers refused to let their dream fade.
Powering Progress
Opportunity soon arrived through an unexpected connection. While visiting their aunt in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood, they dropped by Casa Tepeyac, a One Family Illinois community site offering support services for young adults, including housing, education, and career development.
There, they met Rodolfo Rodriquez, Casa Tepeyac’s Director of Housing and Family Support Services, who became a pivotal figure in their journey.
Rodolfo connected Victor and Alexis with an IBEW Local 134-sponsored Renewable Energy and Solar Training certification program. After completing the two-week training and gaining months of hands-on experience, the brothers earned additional points to increase their future test scores.
“The extra points really boosted my score!” Victor stated proudly.
His score jumped from 69 to 90—but the question remained: would it be enough?
This time, the answer was yes.
Victor and Alexis were both accepted into the union. Their achievement reflected months of persistence—from earning solar certifications to gaining on-the-job training to sitting for multiple exams. Through it all, they stayed committed to their goal.
Good Energy
The brothers celebrated with a family dinner alongside their siblings and mother—who, they admit with a smile, had trusted them to change light fixtures at home long before they had any formal training.
“We’re excited because we know this is a great career opportunity!” Victor said. Laughing, he added, “We just have to accept that at first, we’ll be the new guys with training wheels on.”
Both brothers credit Rodolfo as instrumental to their success. Without his guidance, they say they would never have known about the opportunity to earn additional points and strengthen their chances of acceptance into the union.
“I am really thankful for Rodolfo’s help with getting us a foot in the door,” Alexis said. Victor agreed: “He was incredibly informative and pointed us in the right direction.”
Next comes orientation followed by a rigorous 5-year apprenticeship combining classroom instruction and field work. And beyond that—after a decade of experience—their megawatt dream of launching the Martinez Brothers Electrical Company can become a reality.
“I am proud of them both,” Rodolfo said. “They showed real initiative and a commitment to push through a very difficult process. This is something they truly wanted, and they’ve earned.”
As Victor and Alexis begin a career path that offers financial stability and freedom, Rodolfo remains equally committed, eager to guide the next young adult in need along toward opportunity and independence.
