Powering Up Careers: Inside Our Expanding Apprenticeship ⚡

Ron Pelkey: I've been part of several programs within the industry, and our program is so robust. We take a lot of pride in what we do, and we're always taking that extra step. We want to create that ultimate apprentice so that they have the competencies and skills to be successful within the trade, and we do that through a lot of hard work, heavy lifting on their part, working with the code, and developing their soft skills. I don't think there's too many places that have their own training facility that is as state-of-the-art as CAMP. 

Katie Leonard: I think the biggest factor overall is just the support from the company, from the top down. The fact that Mitch was an apprentice and he's so supportive of the apprenticeship program and wants to see it succeed. Opening CAMP has been a big asset, and if we need another instructor or additional textbooks, the answer's always yes. I think that really helps us grow and make it the best program that it can be. 

Ron Pelkey: My favorite part is having that “aha moment”, as cliche as that may sound. As an instructor or teacher, when you facilitate technical training and see that light come on when it finally makes sense – that’s my favorite part. We’re giving them the ability to change their life forever. When they develop these skills, nobody can take that away from them. Mitch says it the best when he talks about how he started in the same place as our apprentices, and they can see what he’s accomplished and the path that they could have. It gives them that capability, and being a part of that process, that's what does it for me. 

Katie Leonard: We feel like we've gotten pretty good at electrical – it’s like a well-oiled machine at this point. There's still lots of places where you want to grow and change, but launching a new trade is a different ball game, and I think this really launches us to the next level as a company, too. We know as a company we're going to need future foreman, superintendents – it’s a whole new endeavor! We also have apprentices from all over the country getting to know each other, talking to each other, and forming relationships – and now we're going to be able to add the mechanical scope to that. We’re all one big family, and that's going to make a huge difference down the road. Oftentimes there can be a big conflict of the different trades on the job site, but we're going to be working together, which is really cool. 

Ron Pelkey: Each apprentice is a little different, but one thing that takes time is learning to navigate the code – that can be tricky. Thankfully, we have a training facility and instructors that are capable of delving into each student's needs, and I think we take that to the next level in this program. We are fully invested in each of our students. I tell my students they can call me anytime, and they take me up on that! When you bring that next level caring, they feel that. Some of these apprentices come from walks of life where they've never had anybody really believe in them or empower them to the point where they can achieve their goals. We try to make sure that we are very encouraging, and I think they're thankful for it. 

Katie Leonard: We’ve made a lot of effort in our trade advocacy, and I think that has really started to pay off. One of our newest electrical apprentices came to Power Youth, our summer learning program, two years ago. Now he's an apprentice, so that's a cool full circle moment. We've been investing in these programs for a couple years now, and we're starting to see those things pay off. The way we retain that talent is how we treat our people and support them through the program. It's a four-year program and I tell them, four years is a long time, they’re going to experience life. Happy things happen, but also sometimes tragic things happen. In those harder moments, we support them and say, ‘OK, how can we still ensure that you're going to graduate’? 

Ron Pelkey: Communication, confidence, and the code book. Most of them already understand the commitment that is necessary to be successful and are on board with it, but they need the skills and the tools to get them there. Learning to communicate properly and developing confidence to the point where you can get the job done is so important. Navigating the code book seems to be a different language for everybody, so we help break up a lot of that mysticism and give them the tools that they’ll need to fall back on throughout their entire career.