Florida Energy Workforce ConsortiumState and National Outreach

Committee Update

Chair, Jennifer GroveDecember 8, 2011

MISSION• The mission of the FEWC state and national

outreach committee is to:– raise awareness of the energy industry careers that are critical to our

state’s electrical infrastructure – ensure collaborations are in place to achieve the necessary workforce

development solutions to meet the industry’s current and future needs– ensure that standing committees and councils are aware of the FEWC

objectives and action plans– play a critical role in developing communications between the FEWC

and other state energy workforce consortia, other industry-related organizations, and national agency efforts to maximize awareness and solution sharing

Key Linkages/Partnerships• Workforce Florida, Inc.  • Florida Department of

Education• Banner Centers for Energy,

Clean Energy, and Construction

• Florida Ready To Work• Florida Workforce

Development Association • Florida Construction Users

Roundtable (FCURT)• FACTE

• Center for Energy Workforce Development

• Other state energy workforce consortia

• Nuclear Energy Institute• Southeastern Manpower

Tripartite Alliance (SEMTA) • Florida Advanced Technical

Education Center (FLATE)• Bill & Melinda Gates

Foundation

Collaboration with:• Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD)

• Other state energy consortia (now 29 with 5 in the planning stages)

• Workforce Florida:– WFI Strategic Plan explicitly addresses Energy as key Infrastructure Industry to focus on and

has STEM focus

– WFI Banner Centers (Jennifer Grove chairs ad hoc committee); In addition to Banner Centers for Energy, Clean Energy and Construction, the Banner Center for Water Resources was established in 2010

• STEMflorida

• Florida Chamber Talent & Education Caucus

• Florida Association of Career and Technical Education (FACTE)

• Ford Next Generation Learning Communities

• Get into Energy Career Pathways Project (Florida selected as 1 of 9 states to implement this Gates Foundation-funded program in)

State and National Outreach Highlights• Sunshine State Scholars Event: January, 2011• Academies on the Hill: February, 2011• CEWD Southeast Region Meeting: March, 2011• WFI/FACTE NGLC Conference: March, 2011 (Bay, Clay,

Polk, Pinellas)• Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies National Hub

Directors Meeting: March, 2011• Clay County NGLC Stakeholders Meeting: May, 2011• Polk County VPSC Strategic Planning Conference: June,

2011

State and National Outreach Highlights (continued)• FACTE Annual Convention: July, 2011• CEWD State Consortium Summit in Newark: August, 2011 • GIECP State Team Leads Annual Convening in D.C.:

August, 2011• FLATE– FESC  Energy Education Workshop in

Gainesville: September, 2011• NCPN Conference in Orlando: October, 2011• Future of Florida Forum in Orlando: October, 2011• CEWD National Summit: November, 2011

Key Curriculum Accomplishments with Policy & Education Committee

• Partnered with Florida Department of Education to gain approval for the addition of an Energy Industry Cluster - FIRST IN NATION!

• Partnered with FDOE to develop 5 new energy curriculum frameworks: – Power Distribution Technician– Energy Generation Technician– Energy Technician– Solar Energy Technology– Turbine Generator Maintenance, Inspection and Repair

http://www.fldoe.org/workforce/dwdframe/energy_cluster_frame11.asp

Energy Curriculum Frameworks:• Most of these frameworks share 1st two common

courses:– Energy Foundations/ Energy Industry Fundamentals (picked

up as Energy Industry Fundamentals course nationally by CEWD)

– Introduction to Alternative Energy

• Developed curriculum materials for these courses:– Energy Industry Fundamentals: CORD (CEWD as partner)– Introduction to Alternative Energy: NCCER/ Pearson

• Comprised of teachers from throughout Florida who are now delivering or interested in delivering energy curriculum in the future

• Launched with training session in June at Gulf Power in Pensacola – sponsored by FACTE

• Had 33 attendees (teachers, school administrators, district administrators)

• Provide communications from industry/consortium to this network of teachers through email and have added teacher “toolkit” to FEWC website

Florida Energy Teachers Network

Florida GIECP Implementation…• Northwest Florida: Have existing WFHS Gulf Power

Academy at WFHS and electrical/welding partner programs at George Stone and Locklin Tech Centers; opened new energy academy at Milton High School in August, 2011

• South FL: Have existing FPL partner programs in Electrical Power Technology and Nuclear Power Tech.

• Polk Co: Have existing Lakeland Electric Power Academy at Tenoroc; new partnership at Traviss Career Center

• Managed by Jennifer Grove, Gulf Power

Key Partners• Education partners (high schools, technical centers,

adult high schools, state colleges)• State Workforce Board – Workforce Florida, Inc. – Youth

Council• Regional Workforce Boards (are providing WIA Youth

Counselors to serve in career coaching role)• Florida Ready-to-Work (Florida’s Work Keys Program)

All carried out under guidance of FEWC

Year One Key Activities• Developed state and regional partnerships• Trained 19 career coaches throughout state• Began recruitment and career coaching in NW

Florida Region and Polk County• FEWC determined would solicit volunteer

project manager so can reserve grant funds for other purposes

• Will add JEA as partner for 2 schools in 2012

GIECP Successes• Partnering with state workforce board (Workforce

Florida, Inc) Youth Committee to generate interest throughout workforce system

• Developing a page on our FEWC website for this effort

• Reserving grant funds for implementation costs (not project management)

• Incorporation of GIECP into kick-off of Florida Energy Teachers Network

GIECP Lessons Learned

• Each region/ utility is different; can’t have a “one size fits all” approach – even within one state

• Implementation takes time at the school/site level – they are having to add this into already very packed schedules (theirs and students)

• Have to help partners understand we’re learning as we go – this is not a “regular” grant

State & National Outreach 2012• SAVE THE DATE:

Florida Skills USA/ Worlds of Possibilities Career Expo in Pensacola April 29 – May 2, 2012

• Continued management of GIECP• Continued support of Florida Energy Teachers

Network and other initiatives/collaborations…