Transcript Slide 1

Recruiting the Next Generation of
Water and Wastewater Operators
Utility Workforce Workshop
Robert F. Canova, PE, AAEE
VA AWWA/VWEA
May 18, 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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 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 noncompetitive salaries.
• This presentation defines water and wastewater
operator recruitment opportunities, both high
school graduates and displaced adult workers
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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”
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
Benefits of a Career in Water and
Wastewater Operations
•
•
•
•
It is “green”
It is responsible
It is secure
It offers advancement
opportunities
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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.
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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 councilors for students
attending career/technical classes
• No water/wastewater treatment classes in the 16
States’ Career Clusters Initiative structure
• No water/wastewater career opportunities on VA
Dept of Education website “knowhowva.org”
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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 may offer middle school
career exploration activities.
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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.
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
One-Stop Workforce Centers
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
One-Stop Workforce Centers
• After 13 Years of Workforce Investment Act,
Virginia has not 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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
Recruit to Local Operator
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)
• Central VA CC Career Studies Certificate
Program in Water & Wastewater Management
(Dan French in Lynchburg)
• Wytheville CC Short Courses
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
Recruit to Local Operator
Education and Training Programs
• Mt. Empire CC On-Line 2-yr Associate of
Applied Science Degree (Big Stone Gap)
• Hampton Roads Public Works Academy
(http://www.hrpwa.org/index/#topnav)
• Fairfax County Sewer Science Program
• VA Western CC Career Studies Program for
Water and Wastewater Operators (Roanoke)
• Roanoke Valley Public Works Academy
• Southside CC, Blackstone Campus (Ft Pickett)
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
AWWA Recruitment Resources
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WEF Recruitment Resources
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
Virginia Work for Water Exhibit
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
Water/Wastewater Career
Descriptions 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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
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
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011
Next Steps in Operator Recruitment
• Create educational exhibit graphics for elementary
and middle school career fairs
• Upgrade Virginia Work for Water display with
tablecloth, banner, handouts, etc.
• Make presentations to Workforce Investment
Boards at each One-Stop Workforce Center
• Contact VA Dept of Education to add water and
wastewater career opportunities to their website
“knowhowva.org”
• Make presentations to local Career and Technical
Education Directors and Career Coaches
Utility Workforce Workshop, May 18, 2011