workforce summit

Workforce Summit

September 14, 2009

Betsy Levingston, SPHR

Director of Training & Workforce Development

2009 APPA B&F 2009 APPA B&F ConferenceConference

Workforce Challenges

• Tomorrow’s (TODAY’S) jobs require:

– more knowledge

– more use and understanding of technology

– more flexible workers• Tomorrow’s (TODAY’S) workers want to:

– understand career ladders, lattices and webs

– continually update knowledge and skills

– adapt to a more complex workplace

– possess a better understanding of the big picture

– Have their lifestyle expectations met


Situation Analysis*

An Aging Workforce52% in the 45 + age group28% in the 35-44 age group17% in the 25-34 age group

3% in the less than 25 age group

Experience Drain50% of employees are “retirement eligible”Retirement eligible experience = 10,703 years!

Average Age and Years of Service 46 years 20 years of service (42.5% have 20+ years)* Industry Averages


Lakeland Electric Workforce Retirement Projection 2009-2012

8%2%

9%

49%

5%

22%

5% ADMINISTRATIVE

CEO/GM

ENGINEERS

SKILLED TRADES

SR. MGR

SUPERVISORS

SYSTEM OPS


Lakeland Electric’s Journey• Strategic Workforce Plans

– External Analysis• Regulatory • Technology• Growth/Decline Projections• Labor Force Projections

– Internal Analysis• Budgetary Constraints/Priorities• Policies/Practices

– Education Assistance– Referral Bonuses– Flexible Schedules

• Workforce– Demographics/Generational Expectations– Skills Gaps2009 APPA B&F 2009 APPA B&F

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Workforce Strategy

• Retain current employees• Knowledge capture and transfer

– High tech/High touch• Create industry awareness• Collaborate with Education, Utility

Partners, Workforce Board, and DOL• Recruit—traditional and non-traditional • Grow Our Own…


Partnership with Education• Lakeland Electric Power Academy

– Industry Certification– Integrated technical/academic curriculum– 74 Students last year… 91 this year– Received 2009 “Superintendent’s Partner of

the Year” Award


2008-2009 Students

• 4 Seniors• 15 Juniors• 27 Sophomores• 28 Freshmen

8

Year One • Built Solar Cookers• Disassembled and Reassembled washer

and dryer• Researched and developed power point

presentations on:– Photovoltaic panels– Gamma waves– Microwaves– X-rays– Radio, infrared and cosmic waves

9

Year One continued…• Students climbed utility pole• Students conducted home energy audits• Designed, built and tested hovercrafts• First year students—NCCER certification

in four areas • Second year students—NCCER

certification in all Core Curriculum areas


2009 - 2010 School Year

Freshmen 37 Sophomores 31Juniors 24Seniors 16

*Accepted applicants for 2009-2010 = 108

(91 accepted into program)


Industry & Education Collaboration

What is the Measure of Success?– Trained Workforce

• Proper Certifications• Right Attitude and Drive• Job Satisfaction

– Lower Employee Turnover Rates

– Improved Student Performance (Goal)

• Graduation Rates• GPA Performance• Attendance • Attitude


FEWC…WHO?

Industry: Florida’s municipal

utilities, IOU’s, electric

cooperatives, associations, &

CEWD

Workforce: State and local

Education: Community Colleges, School

Districts, State Dept. of Education

Organized Labor: IBEW, UWUA


What do we, as utility partners, contribute?

• Offer workshops to help teachers learn about the energy industry

• Sponsor special activities at the school• Judge events (i.e. SKILLS USA and

Science Fair)• Coordinate Mentor programs• Design H.S. Energy Tech. Curriculum• Sponsor field trips• Host Summer Energy Camps


What do we contribute, continued

• Serve as advisors to academy teachers

• Donate materials and supplies when requested

• Offer summer internship opportunities

• Host annual awards program to recognize successes

• Provide safety tools—hard hats/glasses

• Host career days for teachers2009 APPA B&F 2009 APPA B&F

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Resources for teachers and students

http://www.getintoenergy.com/


Resources• CareersinPublicPower.com• National Career Academy Coalition

(NCACINC.com)• Advanced Technology Environmental and

Energy Center (ATEEC)• NCCER.org• NEED.org


Questions? Questions?


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