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November 9, 2011

Recruiting the Next Generation of Water and Wastewater Operators Utility Workforce Workshop Robert F. Canova, PE, AAEE VA AWWA/VWEA. November 9, 2011. Introduction.

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November 9, 2011

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  1. Recruiting the Next Generation of Water and Wastewater Operators Utility Workforce Workshop Robert F. Canova, PE, AAEEVA AWWA/VWEA November 9, 2011

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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”

  7. Benefits of a Career in Water and Wastewater Operations • It is “green” • It is responsible • It is secure • It offers advancement opportunities

  8. 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.

  9. 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

  10. 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”

  11. 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

  12. 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.

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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.

  16. One-Stop Workforce Centers

  17. One-Stop Workforce Centers • 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. Virginia Work for Water Exhibit

  21. Educate school students & career counselors about local utilitiesEncourage plant tours and utility department involvement in schools

  22. 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)

  23. 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)

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. AWWA Recruitment Resources

  29. WEF Recruitment Resources

  30. 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

  31. 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

  32. 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

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