center for energy workforce development: midwest energy update

Partners in Excellence, Committed to Results

Center for Energy Workforce Development: Midwest Energy Update

Workforce Development

Center of Energy Workforce Development 2008

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Partners in Excellence, Committed to ResultsWorkforce Development

Presentation Outline MEA OverviewWorkforce Development CouncilLeadership Development Program Knowledge Management Electric Training InitiativeEnergetic WomenMake Safe Leak SimulationComments and Discussion


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Partners in Excellence, Committed to ResultsMEA Overview

• Since 1905, 103 years young• 501(c)6 Trade Association• 15-state Regional Trade Association for Distribution

Utility Industry• EnergyU.org the energy industry’s E-Learning Portal

(20,000 users and 250+ courses in 5 libraries)


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Who Is MEA?• Until 1999 we were the Midwest Gas

Association• Change our name and services to

accommodate changing industry (in Cleveland)

• 80 Gas and Electric Utilities primarily in the Midwest (IOU,municipals,co-ops,etc)


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MISSION: To make utility distribution safer and more efficient

VISION: To be the best association value for our members

PURPOSE: We are a consortium of energy industry organizations

that connect our electric and gas distribution employees, corporate services, and management personnel through MEA for the benefit of our customers, employees and our other stakeholders.


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Workforce Development Councilindustry diverse committee of 25+

Four task teams Technical Skills Team Recruiting Team Organizational Development Team Work life and Benefits Team


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Technical Skills Team

Electric and Safety Competencies Dialogue with interested parties, UAUW, vo-

techs etc.Course DevelopmentGas and Safety CompetenciesDialogue with interested unions, IUOE, UA,

Laborers, Course Development


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Recruiting TeamDiversity StrategiesCEWD Curriculum Development (External)Community College PartnershipsPartners in Education


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Organizational Development Team

Culture Research / Surveys/ Employee Engagement

Leader Competency Development, Training, Certification

Succession PlanningExecutive Education


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Work life Health Benefits Team

Pharmaceutical Buying CooperativeWork-life BalanceWellness & Disease ManagementReward & Recognition


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Partners in Excellence, Committed to ResultsLeadership Development

Leadership Development “The loss of critical knowledge and the

inability to find replacements with utility-specific skills are the two biggest challenges facing utilities as a result of workforce aging.”– from Center for Organizational Research

(CFOR) report sponsored by APPA on the future workforce.


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• 75% of new manager/supervisors (less than 5 years experience) spend 30% of their time looking for additional information to aid them in the decision making process.**

**2007 study results conducted by the U of M Carlson School of Management for Best Buy and Super Valu.


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Leadership Development addresses a major need

A thorough review of 3rd party course providers was conducted

Skill Soft and Harvard Management Mentor Plus were selected


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Leadership Programs Emerging Leader

Experienced LeaderEach program consists of 15 courses 2 Simulations 8 MEA EnergyU Specific Courses

– 5 SkillSoft Courses– Blended Learning Toolkit


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• http://www.energyu.org/leadership/Portal/Login.aspx?NoCache=0.06447317

http://www.energyu.org/leadership/Portal/Login.aspx?NoCache=0.06447317

http://www.energyu.org/leadership/Portal/Login.aspx?NoCache=0.06447317


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LD Results1,100 individuals enrolled22 member companies participatingFirst certificates issued in June of 2008Research available major university

Executive Education Programs


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Partners in Excellence, Committed to ResultsKnowledge Management

Why is Knowledge Management Strategic to MEA Members?

1 of three areas defined by the Board Strategic Planning Process

Loss of tacit knowledge within the organization (not in procedure manuals or training)

Pay to get it back!10% to 30% possible future retirements


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Purpose of Knowledge Management Make expertise available Shorten learningMost barriers to lack of success with KM are internal to the organizations which claim to want to make a success of KM.


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Goal:• We are looking to capture and make

available practices that:– Save Time– Save Money– Save Energy – Provide Community Service


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KM Results408 Searchable articles and successful

practices on www.midwestenergy.org100 new KM items added each year.20,000 hits divided by 130 working days =154

hits per working day. More articles expected from Ops Conf. and

Fall Roundtables. Ongoing collection and review.


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Partners in Excellence, Committed to ResultsElectric Training Initiative


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• Members are facing shortages of qualified personnel and are partnering with vocational schools to identify and train prospective workers.

• Escalating training costs and fewer experienced trainers are pushing members to use on-line learning in a mix with classroom/hands on.

• Members face potential regulatory pressure to re-train, refresh, or at least verify the competencies of employees already on the job, or face possible stroke of the pen regulation (2005 Energy Act)

• MEA already has thirty completed courses, We need to create the 36-40 additional courses needed to round out a full program.


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Industry consensus content organized into identified task sequences for lineman and underground construction and maintenance employees plus actual course materials.

Knowledge tests and performance evaluations.

Customization rights plus the tools and support to customize the content.


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Approved by MEA BoardProgram developed during 2008 & 200972 Courses, tests and evaluations to be

developedOn-line, Instructor Led and CD-ROM12/31/08 half or 34 courses, tests and

evaluations will be complete.


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http://www.energyu.org/pge/Portal/Login.aspx?NoCache=0.49794774




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Partners in Excellence, Committed to ResultsEnergetic Women

Purpose• Promote the energy industry to women and

provide resources for those seeking technical careers, such as engineers, field supervisors or managers in codes, measurement, and distribution or safety operations in a utility.

• Support and provide guidance or a sounding board for those with concerns or in need of assistance in their work roles.

• Connect and create an on-line community of individuals for questions and answers.

• Recognize the women who are in the utility industry as shining examples of the viable, long-term and rewarding careers available.


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Partners in Excellence, Committed to ResultsEnergetic Women

Initial Efforts• Successful Program June of 2008, more than 200 attendees in

Chicago• Formal mentoring program started• On-line forum established, quarterly news• Initial effort being conducted on how to provide scholarships or

grants to women interested in careers in the energy industry• June 2009 in Phoenix


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Partners in Excellence, Committed to ResultsMake Safe Leak Simulation


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Partners in Excellence, Committed to ResultsDiscussion

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