recruiting the next generation of water and wastewater operators utility workforce workshop robert...

Recruiting the Next Generation of Water and Wastewater Operators

Utility Workforce Workshop

Robert F. Canova, PE, AAEEVA AWWA/VWEA

November 9, 2011

Introduction

• Water and wastewater industry work force is aging. Recruiting the next generation of water and wastewater operators will be a challenge

• Obstacles include lack of educated applicants, lack of workforce awareness of water and wastewater career opportunities, and non-competitive salaries.

• This presentation defines water and wastewater operator recruitment opportunities, both high school graduates and displaced adult workers

Utility Workforce Workshop, November 9, 2011

Acknowledgements• Hallie Carr, Roanoke City Coordinator of

Guidance and Director of Adult Education• Kim Williams, Director of ROTEC, City of

Roanoke Public Schools • Jackie Scruggs, PH.D, VWCC Career Coach for

Roanoke City High Schools • George Scott, Human Resources Director,

Western Virginia Water Authority, Roanoke• Leah Coffman, Workforce Development

Services, Virginia Western Community College


Acknowledgements

• Scott Kemp, Career Pathways Coordinator, Virginia Community College System

• Chuck Terrell, Ph.D., Vice President, Workforce Development Services, VWCC

• Laura Stevens, VWCC Professional Workforce Center Representative at Roanoke Valley Workforce Center, Roanoke

• Kim Moore, Roanoke Valley Workforce Center Manager, Roanoke


Acknowledgements

• Doloris Vest, President, Western Virginia Workforce Development Board, Roanoke

• Mike Greer, Workforce Development Services, VWCC, Franklin Center, Rocky Mount

• Kathy Hodges, Executive Director, Franklin Center, Rocky Mount

• Romona Carter, Assistant Director of Field Operations, Western Virginia Water Authority

• Duncan Quick, Instructor, Southside Community College


Increasing Awareness of Our Industry

From August 8, 2009 Roanoke Times:


“Many places you never wanted to work. Some of the dirtiest, smelliest, most dangerous jobs are suddenly looking a lot more appealing in this economy - trash collector, slaughterhouses, sewage treatment plants, prisons”

Benefits of a Career in Water and Wastewater Operations

• It is “green”

• It is responsible

• It is secure

• It offers advancement

opportunities


Notable Water and Wastewater Operators


First lady Michelle Obama’s father Fraser Robinson III was a pump worker for the City of Chicago. He tended the boilers at a water-filtration plant.

Operator Recruitment Allies

• Career and Technical Education school administrators

• Guidance Counselors in local high schools• Community College Career Coaches • One-Stop Workforce Center Career Counselors


Recruiting Career and Technical School Graduates - Limitations• No career/technical schools or graduates in

Virginia. Any student can take a career/technical class

• No dedicated career counselors for students attending career/technical classes

• No water/wastewater treatment classes in the 16 States’ Career Clusters Initiative structure

• Water/wastewater careers difficult to locate on VA Dept of Education website “knowhowva.org”


Recruiting Career and Technical School Graduates - Opportunities

• Career and Technical School directors offer career exploration programs for elementary and middle school students. Programs are opportunities to educate students about water/wastewater systems and employees

• Career and Technical School directors conduct monthly regional meetings. Presentation about water/wastewater industry career opportunities is welcomed at meetings


Recruiting High School Graduates

• All senior high school students complete a Career Studies program, limited to preparation of a resume and portfolio.

• Career counseling is not a priority for school guidance counselors. When requested, career coaches (not counselors) at school give student a KUDOR or Wizard career-assessment and interest tutorial.

• Guidance counselors offer elementary and middle school career exploration activities.


Career Coaches

• Virginia Community College System employs 120 part-time Career Coaches

• Located at high schools to supplement school guidance counselors

• Assist students with career path decisions, financial aid and college enrollment applications, and are liaisons with community colleges

• Attend annual Career Coach Academy and regional training sessions, where career presentations are welcome


History of Federal Workforce Initiatives

• Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration of 1930’s

• Manpower Development Training Act of 1960’s and Jobs Corps of 1964

• Comprehensive Employment Act of 1973• Job Training Partnership Act of 1982• Workforce Investment Act of 1998, which

mandates and funds One-Stop Workforce Centers


One-Stop Workforce Centers

• Provide publicly funded employment and training services for adults, dislocated workers, veterans, and youth. Pay for tuition, books, travel, stipend.

• Administered by Governor's Office for Workforce Development through community colleges

• TAP, VA Employment Commission, Dept of Rehabilitative Services, Goodwill Industries, Adult Basic Education (G.E.D. program), and

community colleges are mandatory partners.



• After 13 Years of Workforce Investment Act, Virginia has not fully embraced One-Stop

• Lack of agency partnering has

hindered implementation• Franklin Center began operation

in 1998

• Roanoke Valley Workforce

Center began operation in 2009

and is designated the prototype


Cooperating with One Stop for Operator Recruitment

• One-Stop Workforce Center can be recruitment center for water and wastewater operator positions.

• Need to educate staff with presentation to the Workforce Investment Board

• Need to provide water and wastewater operator career materials to One-Stop Workforce Centers

• Integrate One-Stop Workforce Center with local operator education and training programs


Recruiting Veterans

• Special qualifications of veterans are defined by their Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) code. Civilian career counselors must be able to translate military qualifications to civilian skills

• GI Bill provides job training financing for up to 36 months. However, training programs must be prior-approved by the Dept of Veterans Services

• Virginia Employment Commission has a statewide veterans program. Coordinate with VEC through One-Stop Workforce Centers


Virginia Work for Water Exhibit


Educate school students & career counselors about local utilities

Encourage plant tours and utility department involvement in schools


Recruit Seniors and Adults to Local Education and Training Programs

• VPI Water Works/Wastewater Works Operators Short Schools (Blacksburg)

• DEQ Office of Operator Training Workshops (State-wide)

• Dept of Labor and Industry Apprenticeship Program (State-wide) (www.dpor.virginia.gov)

• Wytheville CC Short Courses• Mt. Empire CC On-Line 2-yr Associate of

Applied Science Degree (Big Stone Gap)


Recruit Seniors and Adults to Local Education and Training Programs

• Hampton Roads Public Works Academy• Fairfax County Sewer Science Program• Loudoun Water Internship Program• VA Western CC Career Studies Program for

Water and Wastewater Operators (Roanoke)• Roanoke Valley Public Works Academy• Southside CC, Blackstone Campus (Ft Pickett)


VWCC Career Studies Program for Water and Wastewater Operators

• ENV 110 – Introduction to Water and Wastewater Treatment Technology

• ENV 115 – Water Purification• ENV 147 – Wastewater Treatment• ENV 148 – Math for Water and Wastewater

Operators• PSY 120 – Human Relations in Workforce• SAF 126 – Principals of Industrial Safety


Roanoke Regional PW Academy

• Western Virginia Water Authority, Roanoke City, Roanoke Co, Salem, Vinton, Roanoke Gas, Virginia Western CC, Bedford Co PSA. Adding Clifton Forge and Blacksburg

• Each member hosts and collects fees for a 4-hr training program every other month

• Commercial drivers license training, VDOT work zone safety

• Might add long-term training programs in future


Southside Community College, Blackstone Campus at Ft Pickett

• Truck Driver Training Career Studies, 6-week course

• Diesel Technician Career Studies, three 8-week sessions

• Wastewater Treatment Short Courses• Recently discontinued dozer, loader and motor

grader operator training


Portland, Connecticut High School Water Operator Course

• One semester “Water and People” class• Taught at Gateway Community College• Students sit for Water Operator Certification

Exam before high school graduation• Sponsored by Connecticut Section of AWWA• USEPA is preparing video about program• See AWWA Streamlines, August 18, 2009



AWWA Recruitment Resources


WEF Recruitment Resources

Water/Wastewater CareerDescriptions with Salary Ranges

• Plant Operator, Plant Manager• Chemist, Lab Technician, Microbiologist• Distribution System Worker, Equipment

Operator• Engineer, Hydrologist• Customer Services Representative• Information Technology-GIS Specialist



Current Virginia Work for Water Committee Activities

• Contacting local Directors of Guidance to initiate VA Work for Water participation in Virginia school career exploration activities

• Created VA Work for Water exhibit and handouts• Exhibiting at middle and high school career fairs• Distributing water and wastewater operator

recruitment material to guidance counselors, Career Coaches, and One-Stop Workforce Centers

• Implementing recruitment centers at One-Stop Workforce Centers


Next Steps in Operator Recruitment• Continue regional “Filling the People Pipeline”

seminars• Make presentations to Workforce Investment

Boards at each One-Stop Workforce Center • Make presentations to local Career and Technical

Education Directors and Career Coaches• Encourage use of VEC web site (vec.virginia.gov)

for advertisement of all water and wastewater positions available

recruiting the next generation of water and wastewater operators utility workforce workshop robert...

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