Your Company Can Promote Energy Careers to Youth, Educators and the State Workforce

As part of the Colorado Construction and Energy Career Days (CCCD) event on October 4 and 5, 2011, the annual CCCD magazine will feature Energy careers as well as construction careers. For the past seven years, the magazine has been provided to all of the 1800 plus students and educators attending the event. Additionally, the State Workforce Centers request 2000 copies of the magazine to use with their workforce clients. They are also provided to students at career programs in the high schools. The magazine is used by industry, educators and workforce centers as a guide for information and resources on careers in energy and construction. The 2010 edition can be found here.

This is an opportunity to promote the industry and your company as you seek the best and brightest youth to enter the energy field. They need to know of the many varied and stable careers, as lineman, field person, technicians, specialists, dispatchers, and engineers, the energy industry has available. Energy companies are encouraged to submit their energy career articles for the magazine to Ed Blum at 303-506-4782 or ed@energyvoiceinstitute.com. For advertising opportunities call Joel Gregg McGraw Hill , 303-584-6723, joel_gregg@mcgraw-hill.com

2011 Energy Career Days Set for October 4-5, 2011

Planning is under way for the third annual Energy Career Days to be held October 4-5, 2011. The event will take place at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Brighton, Colorado. High school students from all over Colorado will have the chance to "try-out" potential jobs in the energy field. Students will learn about the lucrative careers that are available. Again this year Energy Career Days will be a part of Colorado Construction and Energy Career Days which is going into its eighth year of providing "hands-on" job experiences for Colorado youth. Many construction and energy companies participate in this event. if you would like to be one of them, please contact Ed Blum, Energy Voice Institute at 303-506-4782 or ed@energyvoiceinstiture.com

2010 Energy Career Days Gives Students a Chance to "Try-Out" Potential Jobs

The 2010 Energy Career Days, held October 5-6, 2010 at the Adams County Fairgrounds, exposed 1700 high schools students from 76 schools and 32 school districts to the potential of working in the energy industry. The students toured the company exhibits and participated in "hands on" activities to gain knowledge of the types of jobs available.

Thanks go to the companies providing activity sponsorships. Tri-State Generation and Transmission taught how poles were installed and lines maintained. They were able to try-on linemen equipment and learn about field positions. Student were shown the GIS mapping system and learned about jobs in this area. Xcel Energy provided exhibits for both electric and natural gas work. On the electric side, students participated in changing out an insulator and opening and closing crucial switches high on the pole. Students learned about operations carried out with a bucket truck. On the gas side, students learned about and shared in underground line locating, pipe fusion, and meter sets. United Power explained about entrance jobs into the trade and the students tried out the tools of the trade they would be using in these jobs. Students practiced using jumper cables and hot stick techniques.

Thanks also goes to Intermountain Rural Electric Association for a monetary sponsorship to support event costs.

2010 was the second year for Energy Career Days to be a part of the 8th annual Colorado Construction and Energy Career Days.

2010 Energy Career Days Video

Educators and Legislators Learn about Jobs in the Construction and Energy Industries at the 2010 ECD

Educators and legislators from all over Colorado heard presentations about jobs in the construction and energy industries in Colorado. the event was held October 6, 2010 at the Colorado Construction and Energy Career Days. Tours of the show were provided so the educators and legislators could see and participate in the job demonstrations. Don Mares, Director of the Colorado Department of Labor praised the event and the efforts of the industry companies to reach out to students and provide jobs. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter declared October 4-10, 2010 to be Colorado Careers in Construction and Energy Week.

Video of 2009 Energy Career Days

Tri-State Article of 2009 Energy Career Days

Read about the 2009 Energy Career Days and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Associaiton's participation in the events. The article in on the last page.

2009 Energy Career Days Sets New Attendance Record

The very successful first year of energy activities and equipment at Colorado Construction Career Days was held October 6-7, 2009. The event set attendance records. For the 2-day event, there were a total of 1614 students and educators from 76 schools and 34 school districts. Students came from locations as far as Telluride and Center, Colorado and quite a few schools from the Eastern Plains. Over 600 volunteers helped during the event. There were a record 72 activities and equipment for students to explore.

A review of the student evaluations shows they enjoyed the experience and the educator’s evaluations tell us they continue to be impressed with the event.

2009 Energy Career Days Attracts Over 100 VIP’s

The VIP event at the 2009 Energy Career Days, October 6-7, 2009 had a record of over 100 participants which included 2 State Senators, Don Mares with the State Department of Labor and Larry Friedberg, State of Colorado Architect. The keynote speaker was Humberto Martinez, from the National Construction Career Days office.

Governor Ritter proclaimed, with an Honorary Proclamation, October 5 – 11, 2009, Colorado Careers in Construction Week and Don Mares presented it at the VIP program.

Energy Sector Expands Activities at 2009 Energy Career Days

For the first time in its seven year history, Colorado Construction Career Days expanded the “hands-on” activities for high school students to include energy experiences. Called Energy Career Days the students were exposed to potential jobs in the energy industry. Notable was the participation of Xcel Energy, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, United Power, Western Area Power Administration, Intermountain Rural Electric Association, Red Rocks Community College and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Students were able to try-out, participate in, hear and watch demonstrations in electric, natural gas and renewable energy operations. Skill activities included lineman and field technician gear and types of responsibilities, company wide GIS and mapping operations and types of positions, career paths, education needed and salaries. Students donned safety equipment, tried their hand at welding, operating circuits and valves, doing water analyses, using hot stick equipment, changing breakers, participating in bucket truck and service truck use, fusing plastic pipe, connecting solar and wind to the grid, designing and maintaining meter sets and climbing poles.

The energy activities and equipment were a great hit with the students and educators. Steve Aronson, Carpentry Instructor, Fossil Ridge High School, Fort Collins, said his students, “always like the hands-on component of this event and the equipment they get to try out. This year they were especially impressed with the Linemen. The folks in this event had a way with the students. They all liked it and many were thinking this could be a career for them. Kudos to the guys and gals that did this presentation.”

About Energy Career Days

"Promoting the Energy Industry to America’s Youth"

Energy Career Days is a “hands-on” event where students participate in selected electric energy career activity experiences.  Small groups of students will be escorted to the activities by industry volunteers. The guides serve as a source of information about the industry as well. There are two distinct areas: Heavy Equipment Area and Skills Area.

Suggestions on the content of activities are welcomed. Examples of potential activities are operating heavy equipment, wearing & operating lineman safety equipment, cable pulling contest, designing a simple electrical system, making a termination or splice, solving a dispatching problem, reading a meter, figuring a utility bill, inspecting a pole, and operating a vehicle GIS computer.  These types of activities will give students a glimpse of the diversity of careers in the electric energy industry.

Date and Location

Colorado Energy Career Days will be in conjunction with Colorado Construction Career Days which has been successful and growing for the past six years.  Last year there were 1700 students and administrators in attendance from 76 schools in 32 districts. Colorado Energy Career Days will be held at the Adams County Fairgrounds, October 4-5, 2011, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. each day.  The purpose is to broaden student knowledge about the multi-faceted opportunities available and promote careers in the electric energy industry.

Companies are invited to sponsor an activity.  Please contact Ed Blum
Energy Voice Institute
PO Box 3318
Parker, Colorado 80134
Phone: 303-506-4782
ed@energyvoiceinstitute.com

Learn more about construction career days at:
www.coloradoconstructioncareerdays.com

Schedule

Students attend a morning session which includes lunch.  Students are scheduled to arrive between 8:00 am and 8:30 am and then participate in the activities, try out the equipment, have lunch and assemble for a fun time of awarding prizes.

What will happen at Energy Career Days?

Heavy, Stationary Equipment Operations:  bucket trucks, service trucks, trenching, pole & tower installation, tree trimming.

Worker Personal and Safety Gear:  climbing, hot stick, fall protection, personal protective equipment.

Design & Management Activities: engineering, project management, billing, emission technologies, dispatching, smart grid

Hands-on activities: meter reading, lineman, boiler & pole inspection, renewables (solar and wind), GIS computer,

Education & Industry Professionals: representatives from post secondary training programs, apprenticeship programs, and internships will be there to provide information and answer questions