From Blueprints to Brotherhood: Rory “Nalu” Jones’s Journey

Rory “Nalu” Jones’s story begins with the hum of job sites and the rustle of blueprints in his hands long before most kids even knew what they wanted to be. As a second‑generation electrician, he grew up in the industry—literally. At nine years old, he was already standing beside his father, learning how to read plans and understand the logic behind every line. By ten, he was sitting in CPR classes his father taught, absorbing lessons about safety and responsibility that would shape the way he approached his work for the rest of his life. Summers were spent helping his dad with residential projects, the kind of hands‑on learning that quietly builds a foundation long before you realize you’re standing on it.

Even with that early exposure, Nalu didn’t immediately step into the trade. He tried carving out his own path—first by attempting to join the military, then by pursuing fighting. He was searching for purpose, fulfillment, and a way to support the family he was already building. He had married his wife, Kimberly, at just eighteen, and with three children to raise, he needed stability. Neither of those early pursuits offered it.

What did offer it was the union. Nalu had joined as a groundman at nineteen and quickly became an apprentice. At that time the union was strong—one of the best trades to be part of. The benefits were solid, the work was steady, and the sense of belonging was real. But for Nalu, the union became more than a workplace advantage. It became a community, a platform, and eventually a responsibility. He came to believe deeply in the power of the union—not just to protect workers, but to lift families, strengthen communities, and create opportunities that individuals alone could never secure. To him, the union wasn’t just a safety net; it was a force for greater good, something worth investing in, speaking up for, and helping shape for the next generation.

His career began at Ted’s Wiring, a place where the pace was slow enough for him to learn everything. He was exposed to all sides of the trade—splicing lines, underground utilities, solar projects, and the residential work he had grown up doing with his father. That broad experience made him versatile and confident, able to step into any job with the calm assurance of someone who has seen every angle.

Eventually, he moved to HMS Construction, a much larger company where he worked on major projects, including hospitals like Tripler. It was there that he discovered what would become his favorite part of the trade: cable splicing. He loved the detail, the intricacy, the precision. Splicing demanded patience and a meticulous eye—qualities that came naturally to him. It was work that required both skill and focus, and he thrived in that space.

Over the course of his twenty‑two years as an electrician, Nalu has watched the union change. He’s seen shifts in the industry, in the workforce, and in the benefits that support families like his. Those changes have made him more vocal, more invested in using his experience to help guide the union toward better outcomes for its members. He believes that when workers speak up—when they share their stories, their needs, their hopes—the union becomes stronger. And when the union becomes stronger, everyone rises. That belief has become a quiet but steady theme in his life: the idea that collective strength can create individual opportunity.

Through it all, his family has been at the center. Kimberly supported him through every chapter, staying home with their children and helping create the stability he worked so hard to provide. Their kids have grown into bright, driven young adults: Jayden, twenty‑one, who loves working with solar and has made the Dean’s List; Hayden, eighteen, who wants to become a teacher; and their youngest, twelve, who already shows signs of becoming a doctor. None of them plan to enter the electrical field. The industry has changed, but they carry the same work ethic and curiosity their father learned from his own.

Nalu’s journey isn’t just a career path; it’s a legacy. It’s the story of a boy who grew up on job sites, a young man who searched for purpose, and an electrician who found pride in mastering a craft that has shaped his life. It’s also the story of someone who believes that the union is more than a workplace. It’s a vehicle for fairness, dignity, and progress. His life is a testament to the idea that when people come together, speak up, and support one another, they can build something stronger than any one person could build alone. His passion to build a better union is a testament to his family’s legacy in the trade. Nalu’s story is also about family, dedication, and the quiet strength of someone who builds his future the same way he builds everything else—with care, precision, and heart.