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Training For The Future Black Hills Energy

Training For The Future Black Hills Energy. Mark Ernst and Evan Petersen. Identify the Need. Over the next 10 years we will have 43% of our work force reach retirement age. How will we be prepared to fill this gap with qualified employees?. Identify the Need.

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Training For The Future Black Hills Energy

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  1. Training For The Future Black Hills Energy Mark Ernst and Evan Petersen

  2. Identify the Need • Over the next 10 years we will have 43% of our work force reach retirement age. • How will we be prepared to fill this gap with qualified employees?

  3. Identify the Need • We have added several positions to our staff specifically for training to fill in for retiring staff. • We have recruited a lot of employees from our contractor. • This alone will not be enough to fill our needs. • We needed to have some kind of outside training to prepare individuals for the utilities industry.

  4. Training for the Future • We are being proactive in trying to attract more young people to utility work.

  5. Be Pro Active • Get Involved with Young People • Junior Achievement • Optimist Club • Dubuque Area Labor Management Council • Education-to-Employment Grants Program • 8th Grade Construction Expo

  6. Education-to-Employment Grants Program • The Purpose is to increase awareness of skilled jobs in the Dubuque area. • The workers need specific education or training.

  7. Education-to-Employment Grants Program • $1,000 Grants have been awarded to 117 students since 2000 • Teachers • Nurses • Accountants • Engineers • Building Trades

  8. 8th Grade Construction Expo • The students can get their hands dirty and ask questions about the various trades in the Dubuque area. • The students get an understanding of curriculum choices to make for high school, depending on areas of interest, and the advantages of working in the construction industry.

  9. 8th Grade Construction Expo • There is a large area impacted • 600 students will attend from 8 different Junior High Schools in the Dubuque Area.

  10. 8th Grade Construction Expo • Trades Demonstrated • Carpentry • Plumbing • Cement Mixing • Iron Working • Truck Driving • Electrical Work • Operating Heavy Equipment • Sheet Metal Work • Natural Gas Distribution Maintenance

  11. Career Day • Get involved with Career Day at the local High Schools. • Not all students are geared for 4 years of college.

  12. We were missing the education piece. What next?

  13. We needed to get a program put together to help meet our training needs • We started with talking to NICC in Peosta. • We visited Northeast Technical College in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They offer a Gas Utility Construction and Service Program. • We looked at their curriculum. They were very helpful and willing to help us get the program started.

  14. Gas Utility Program • After three years of investigating and number crunching, a New Gas Maintenance Program was started. • Partner with Northeast Iowa Community College in Peosta, Alliant, Black Hills Energy, and Infrasource.

  15. Gas Utility Program • NICC received an ACE Grant from the State of Iowa to start this program. • New Program starting in the Fall 2007

  16. Lessons Learned • Getting the right instructor was very critical in having a successful program. • NICC was unable to get a qualified instructor and asked if Black Hills Energy could help them find a part time instructor – 1040 hrs a year

  17. Be Creative • We certainly wanted this program to succeed • We needed/wanted the students that would come from the program • Black Hills Energy had a training need • What better way than to provide/contract an instructor to the college for part of the time and use them for some of our internal training the other part of the time? • So we agreed to find/contract an instructor

  18. Reality… • Our instructors/training folks were in Omaha NE – they weren’t interested in eastern IA… • Find the right person/posted the job • Again having the right person in the right location is the key • We were very fortunate to find a 30+ year employee willing to teach his experiences to this class - Bob Waechter

  19. Timing… • Is everything – Bob’s first day on the job as a Gas Ops Trainer for me was August 20th • Classes started August 22nd… • To say we were making this up as we went was an understatement • Bob would teach for a half day & then plan for his next days class • In his spare time he would chase down training material, learn NICC’s systems/processes, and try to find backhoes, compressors, trenchers, other tools that he could use

  20. 2 year program – Students will graduate with an Associate in Applied Science Degree Students will graduate with a very broad understanding of the gas utility business Along with some general education courses Composition/Public Speaking/Technical Writing Algebra/Technical Math Intro to Computer Business Applications Psychology of Human Relations NICC’s Gas Utility Program

  21. Gas Field Training IFall 1st 8 Weeks • Characteristics of Natural Gas • Safety/Operate tools safely/PPE • Operate Backhoes, Trenchers, Compressors • Bury Pipe • Join Pipe – Fusion and Mechanical Fittings • Locate Pipe • Excavation hazards/traffic & worker protection

  22. Gas Field Training IIFall 2nd 8 Weeks • Understand gas distribution systems • Install gas mains • Install gas service • Install meters and regulators • Cross training with power distribution • Install and maintain valves • Maintaining gas systems • Mapping and record keeping

  23. Regulation & MeasurementSpring 1st 8 Weeks • Units of natural gas measurement • Types of domestic regulating & metering devices • Types of commercial regulating & metering devices • Types of large volume regulating & metering devices • Pressure limiting devices

  24. Electronic ControlsSpring 2nd 8 Weeks • Provide students the opportunity to develop skills with electronic controls in the gas utility industry • SCADA and Telemetry Systems • Calibrate Temperature and Pressure transmitters • Program flow computers for different type systems.

  25. Pipeline IntegritySummer 8 Weeks • Recordkeeping • Pipe attributes/corrosion • Quality control plan – leak survey, line patrol, casing inspections, valve maintenance, etc • Communications – public awareness, contractor awareness, one call program • Knowledge and Training – understand different types of utility employees & their responsibilities, understand importance of Operator Qualification

  26. Field Training IIISummer 8 Weeks • Illustrate steel gas main distribution system • Join steel pipe/weld steel pipe • Protect steel systems from corrosion • Describe gate and regulating stations • Describe house piping codes • Install gas house piping • Use good customer service

  27. Field Training IVFall - Year 2 - First 8 Weeks • Explain gas water heaters, ranges, dryers • Explain conventional gas furnaces • Explore ventilation air for combustion • Compare venting of appliances • Compare high efficiency gas furnaces • Examine corrosion protection for steel mains • Examine PE fusion • Outline tapping and stopping for steel mains • Outline natural gas fire control

  28. OQ ModuleSpring - Year 2 - First 8 Weeks • Hands on training - saddle/butt fusion, electro-fusion, mechanical fittings, etc. • Hands on qualifications – qualify on a pipe locator, CGI, FI, etc. • Written/Oral interview evaluations – characteristics of natural gas, inside leak investigation, safety chain • Performance evaluations

  29. InternshipSpring - Year 2 – Second 8 Weeks • To Provide students the opportunity to develop gas utility skills and to be exposed to the jobs available in the industry. • Depending on the internships available, each student may encounter different aspects of the Gas Utilities Industry. • Each student will go through a resume/interview process.

  30. Other Topics CoveredBy Other Instructors • AC/DC – Basic Electricity • Metallurgy/Pipe Welding • Gas Appliances • Introduction to GIS • CDL Training

  31. Students • Started with 6 students in first year – two went to work for contractors after the first year – 4 are coming into the second year • Alliant offered three $1000 scholarships • Black Hills Energy will be sponsoring a student starting this year • 13 students signed up for the session that starts this week

  32. Wish List/Assistance Needed • More involvement from other utilities – would like more participation/contacts • Equipment needs – Backhoes, Trenchers, Compressors, Plows, Fusion Equipment • Material needs – PE/Steel Pipe – Fittings – Meters – Regs - You name it, if we use it in the gas business - they will use it… • Instructors – If anyone is aware of an experienced gas utility individual that would have an interest in teaching – please let me know – we need more help

  33. Questions?? • Bob Waechter is the instructor • Phone # 563-556-5110 x388 • Email – bob.waechter@blackhillscorp.com • Or contact me – Evan Petersen • Phone # 515-224-1404 x14 • Email – evan.petersen@blackhillscorp.com

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