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This panel discussion at the Washington Workforce Conference aims to explore the importance of leadership skills and industry partnerships in developing competent foremen in the utility industry. Join us to learn about the industry's interest in digital transformation, advancing technology, and competency-based training validated by the industry.
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“A Centralia College Partnership” Leadership Foundations for Foremen in the Utility Industry Foreman Skills Profile Washington Workforce Conference November, 6, 2018
Panelists • Troy Nutter; Center of Excellence for Clean Energy Advisory Board Chair; Manager, Operational Training, Puget Sound Energy • Alan Hardcastle, Senior Researcher, WSU Energy Program • Barbara Hins-Turner, Director, Center of Excellence for Clean Energy
Why is industry interested? • Digital transformation • Advancing technology • Competency based • Validated by industry
The Grid Source: The Washington Jobs Project, May 2017
The Smarter Grid Source: The Washington Jobs Project, May 2017
Industry Sector Involvement • Advisory Panels • Regional Approach-one stop shops • Consistency across the skills providers • Cleaner energy is needed for economic growth
Washington’s Centers of Excellence • Aerospace & Advanced Materials Manufacturing • Agriculture • Allied Health • Careers in Education • Clean Energy • Construction • Global Trade & Supply Chain Management • Homeland Security & Emergency Mgmt. • Information & Computing Technology • Marine Manufacturing & Technology • Unmanned & Autonomous Systems
Mission Liaison between partners and the state’s education system to: • Drive the energy economy • Create highly skilled workforce • Meet industry needs • Provide state-wide coordination • “air traffic control” Vision Become national model to develop partnerships between: Business Industry Education Organized labor Workforce system Economic development
Foreman Skill Profile-Industry Partners • Avista Corp. • Bonneville Power Administration • Centralia City Light • Chelan Public Utility District • Clark Public Utilities • Energy Northwest • IBEW • Tacoma Power • Puget Sound Energy • Seattle City Light
Benefits of Skill Profiles • Communicate workplace expectations • Verify critical work functions, activities, qualifications and skills • Increase responsiveness and relevance of education, workforce programs, service providers, internal training • Enhance employability and portability of workforce skills
Background Research Industry Focus Group Draft Skill Profiles Verify Draft or Revise New Programs/Revisions Building and Using Profiles 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Why Foremen? • Key leadership role—a high-value catalyst • Most foremen ‘lead’ and ‘do’ simultaneously • Team-based work requires group cohesion • Adapting to new technologies and processes • Knowledge and skill expectations changing • Common challenge for Utilities • Retirements, turnover, skill gaps • Relevant to other industries, programs and certifications
Background Research • Variety of leadership programs available (NWPPA, WEI, Utilities, Colleges, etc.) • State, regional and federal resources • Utility partners offer some training; both passive and OJT/mentorships • May be different at each utility • Industry changes- Expectations/SkillsCompetitiveness/Performance
Research Gaps What we DON’T know or have: • Recent analyses of common functions, activities, skill needs • Employer expectations and sense of urgency • Foundational competencies, as a basis for training and best practices
Focus Group ‘Focus’ • Industry/Occupational Trends • Critical Work Functions (CWF) • Key Activities (KA) • Technical Knowledge and Skills • Workplace Competencies
Industry/Occupational Trends - Input Now and in the Future: Impact of technology, policy, markets on Foremen roles and skill requirements • Regulation-Related Workload • Knowledge and Skills Diversification • Age and Generational Issues
Technical Knowledge and Skills • For each Critical Work Function: • Identify Technical Knowledge/Skills (5-10) • Prioritize each list of skills • Confirm
Verify, Distribute, Evaluate Next Steps • Verification by Industry • Final Report and Dissemination • Review Uses and Impact, Potential • http://cleanenergyexcellence.org/industry/skill-standards/
Contacts • Troy Nutter, Puget Sound Energy, 360-647-6523, troy.nutter@pse.com • Alan Hardcastle, WSU Energy Program, 360-956-2167, hardcast@wsu.edu • Barbara Hins-Turner, Center of Excellence for Clean Energy, 360-623-8683, barbara.hins-turner@centralia.edu