REV2024: Growing a Skilled Workforce Through Apprenticeships

Thursday, October 17th, 2024 – 10:45-11:45 a.m.

 


Largely driven by new labor standards contained in the IRA, renewable energy employers are increasingly using apprenticeships as a strategy to train a skilled and diverse workforce across a wide variety of occupations. This panel will feature representatives from employers who are utilizing apprenticeships to discuss their experiences, and from IREC to provide options, strategies, and resources available to implement apprenticeships.

Moderator: Richard Lawrence, Senior Director of Workforce and Industry Engagement, Interstate Renewable Energy Council

Richard Lawrence is Sr. Director, Workforce & Industry Engagement at IREC. Mr. Lawrence leads the Solar Ready Vets Network, a U.S. Department of Energy sponsored initiative that connects veterans and transitioning service members to training, certifications, apprenticeships, and careers in the solar industry; and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeships in Clean Energy (ACE) Network that is expanding Registered Apprenticeship opportunities in the clean energy industry.

 

Sponsored by VGS

Speakers


Brie O’Malley Director, ReVision Energy Training Center, ReVision Energy

Brie O’Malley, SHRM-SCP, is the Director of the ReVision Energy Training Center (RETC). In this role, she supports ReVision Energy’s mission to build a just and equitable electric future by overseeing the training and program development initiatives of the RETC. These efforts focus on encouraging underrepresented populations—such as refugees, women, and BIPOC members—to join the clean energy industry. The RETC offers registered apprenticeship programs, continuing education, and credentialing support to help New England meet its workforce demands and achieve its sustainability goals.

Russ Flanigan, Senior Energy Specialist, Building Energy

Russ is a Senior Energy Specialist as well as a Solar and Heatpump Project Manager at Building Energy in Williston, VT. He has been involved in the building trades since the 1980’s and focuses on energy efficiency and solar since 2005 both in Vermont and Southern California. He is a veteran of hundreds of energy audits and efficiency projects, from insulation to solar to carbon accounting. While here in Vermont, Russ has had long-standing relationships with Efficiency Vermont, The Building Performance Institute, The Vermont Department of Labor and REV.

Sara Knight, Program Administrator for Apprenticeships, VT Department of Labor

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