Georgia Energy and Industrial Construction Consortium (GEICC)
How we got started February 2007 - Georgia Energy Executives met with the Governor s Office of Workforce Development to discuss utility workforce needs and challenges Decisions: Agreed to form committees in strategic areas to grow line workers in partnership with Technical Colleges Agreed to utilize Work Ready Agreed to co-host Energy Industry Forums across the state to raise awareness about utility workforce needs with educators
Where we Are Now Officially formed Georgia Energy and Industrial Construction Consortium (GEICC) in August 2007 at the Southeast Skilled Labor Summit in Biloxi Formed in partnership with Electric and natural gas utilities, oil & gas, nuclear industries and related industries Governor s Office of Workforce Development Department of Labor US DOL ETA, Georgia DOL ETA, US DOL of Apprenticeship Education: DOE, TSOG, CTAE Industrial Construction Utility Associations Bi-monthly meetings; hosted by a member company
GEICC Mission To engage electric, nuclear, natural gas utilities and construction in strategic, unified, and results-oriented efforts to ensure a skilled workforce to meet future industry needs.
GEICC Objectives Implement a management structure and obtain resources to implement Consortium Action Plan priorities. (Governance and Management Committee) Create and support performance-based education and training programs for skilled, craft and professional labor. Focused on the development of entry level employees in critical skill areas. (Policy and Education) Plan and implement effective communications strategies that raise and create awareness among key audiences of the critical need for skilled craft and professional workers in the energy and industrial construction field. (Awareness and Outreach) Seek, leverage and identify existing resources (local, federal, state, associations, and partnerships from private and public sectors), to determine where to make or propose long and short term investments. (Funding Strategies) Develop and implement strategies to influence state policy to support and promote career pathways in secondary and post secondary schools, e.g. career and technical education, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship, and proprietary schools. (Policy and Education) Develop a recruiting pipeline from untapped labor sources to educate and train for construction and energy workforce needs. (Untapped Labor Sources)
GEICC Accomplishments to Date Formed Energy and Industrial Construction Consortium (GEICC) Elected management structure and developed five subcommittees: Governance and Management, Awareness and Outreach, Untapped Labor Sources, Policy, Education and Training and Funding Strategies Developed Subcommittee action plans and deliverables Applied for DOL Energy Grant: E.N.E.R.G.E
GEICC Accomplishments Continued Under construction: New web site www.geicc.org Working with attorneys to formalize our Consortium: 501c6 Energy Sponsor April 24-25, Career Expo/Skills USA 4500+ students expected Energy hosted over 6000 square feet Developed partnership with Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA) Certify NCCER curriculum at Technical Colleges and High Schools for approved Energy programs and instructors Provide interns from High School Construction Programs Continuing to grow Technical College Education Initiatives
Technical Lineworker Apprentice Certificate Program Prepares individuals for entry-level lineworker position Requires 7-8 weeks of coursework Workplace ethics Lineworker occupational skills such as climbing Operation of power tools/equipment Commercial driver licensing On-the-job training GP Hired 106 students, Electric Cities hired 6, EMC s hired 33, others hired 80
Electrical Lineworker Apprentice Certificate Program DeKalb Technical College. Lithonia, GA www.dekalbtech.edu 678-526-7384 North Georgia Technical College. Clarkesville, GA www.northgatech.edu 706-754-7700 Okefenokee Technical College. Waycross, GA www.okefenokeetech.edu 912-287-6584 South Georgia Technical College. Americus, GA www.southgatech.edu 229-931-2394
Electrical Utility Technology Associate Degree Program www.laniertech.edu 2-year curriculum Utilized an ARC Grant Graduates earn an Electrical Utility Technology Associate of Applied Science Degree Curriculum is designed to provide knowledge and skills required for entry level technical positions Learning opportunities help students gain the needed academic, technical and professional knowledge / skills they need to start and advance their careers
Where do we see our future? Hold 2009 Planning Session With Executive Committee Finalize 501C6 Approve Creation of Board of directors Select individual Members for Board of Director Positions Approve Changes to Executive Committee Structure Approve Membership Levels Establish Consortium as Corporation and Start 501c6 status Select Budget Coordinator Finalize Annual Budget Create New Subcommittee for Membership
Where Do We See Our Future, Continued? Implement our E.N.E.R.G.E plan (with or without the DOL Grant) Create Georgia Get Into Energy Brand using CEWD model Develop and Implement Georgia Industrial Construction Workforce Strategy Expand our Electric Utility Technology Associates Degree Keep Growing and Producing!!!!
For More Information: Debra Howell CSO Workforce Development Manager, Georgia Power dewhowel@southernco.com 770-808-3126
Questions?