Jennifer Grove Gulf Power Company

1. Florida Energy Workforce Consortium Jennifer Grove Gulf Power Company Center for Energy Workforce Development – Southeastern Region Meeting

2. FEWC • First consortium to form in April 2006 to identify and develop solutions to meet the current and future workforce needs of utilities in Florida – now over 60 members • Comprised of utility representatives, contractors, contractor associations, state and local secondary and post-secondary education representatives, state and local workforce system representatives, IBEW, and building trades • Working Committees: State and National Outreach, Career Awareness, Policy & Education, Funding & Resources, and Untapped Pools of Labor Compete for a talent PUDDLE OR work to create a talent POOL!

3. FEWC: Why? • Multiple hurricanes impacting Florida in 2004 & 2005 - Utilities role in storm recovery efforts • Utilities current worker shortages & growing intensity of problem • Founded in April 2006 to address utility workforce challenges collaboratively • Co-led by Andra Cornelius, Workforce Florida, Inc. and Jennifer Grove, Gulf Power Company

4. FEWC: Who? FEWC Membership: Industry: Florida’s IOU’s, municipalities, electric cooperatives, associations, CEWD Workforce: State and local level Education: Community Colleges, School districts, State Dept. of Education Organized Labor: IBEW

5. FEWC: Year One • Validated high priority common occupations – shored up labor market data through FEWC member surveys – currently adding focus on “green jobs” • Asset mapping and sharing – continue to visit and replicate through regional partnerships successful energy workforce development secondary and post-secondary programs • Identification of energy industry as one of Florida’s “target industries” (makes state funding available to us) • Creation of an Employ Florida Banner Center for Energy at Lake Sumter Community College for post-secondary power delivery and power generation education (with state workforce funding)

6. FEWC: Year Two • Formation of committees: Executive; State and National Outreach; Policy & Education; Funding Sources; Untapped Sources of Labor • Additional replications of high school energy career academies in Lakeland and Jacksonville • Expansion of focus/ membership of FEWC to include contractors, contractor associations & building trades (joint meeting with SEMTA) • Secured $1.5M of state workforce funding for industry in rural areas • Creation of Banner Center for Alternative Energy • Career awareness and outreach presence at numerous events

7. FEWC: Year Three • Developed websites: www.getintoenergyflorida.com and www.fewc.com • Implemented Get into Energy Florida! studentcareer awareness branding campaign • Formalized the governance structure/ membership categories/ dues for FEWC • Continued engagement with various state energy and climate change committees to assist in education and outreach components of Florida energy legislation

8. FEWC: Next Steps • Pursue implementation of Florida version of CEFGA (Construction Education Foundation of GA) with dual focus on construction & energy • In partnership with FCURT • initial focus on implementation of Construction Workforce Development Center • ARRA funding opportunities • Assisting with definition of “green job” for Florida

9. Lessons Learned • Underscore criticality of need among all partners—public & private: The “House is on fire!” • Engage all critical stakeholders • Growing Your Own is Best Solution • Enhance Career & Technical Education (understand key policy role industry must play) • Link Energy Industry to State’s Economic Development Priorities

10. Jennifer Grove Gulf Power Company jlgrove@southernco.com 850-444-6821