For young people, entering the workforce can be a daunting prospect. But during recent guided tours of two OUC facilities, local high school students learned about the variety of good-paying – and fulfilling – careers in the utility industry.

These “Exploration Days” are the result of a partnership between OUC and CareerSource Central Florida, an organization that provides professional and skills development to job seekers and then matches them with local employers in various in-demand industries.

On October 23, OUC’s Gardenia Innovation & Operations Center hosted 25 students from Dr. Phillips High School. After a welcome from Jenise Osani, Vice President of Marketing & New Products, students toured three key OUC departments at the Gardenia Innovations & Operations Center.

In the Residential Customer Service Contact Center, Jasmine McNeal, Call Center Representative I, and Jose Vazquez Colon, Team Supervisor, highlighted people skills and problem-solving methods representatives use to assist customers with issues related to their electric and water service.

CareerSource Central Florida students visit OUC’s Residential Customer Service Contact Center.

In the Water Quality Lab, Jaritza Pluguez, Lab Supervisor, Christine Misner, Senior Chemist, John Burgos, Chemist, Satish Sinha, Chemist, and Jeffrey Stickel, Chemist, discussed their responsibilities, which include ensuring OUC water is free of contamination. During the tour, the OUC team members also demonstrated a water sample test.

Rubin York, Emerging Technologies Project Research Engineer, explained in the lab how he and his colleagues design custom parts for their projects and create them using a 3D printer.

Corey Johson, Manager of Water Operations, spoke on the importance and challenge of maintaining OUC’s water network, noting that hard-working, well-trained OUC crews are key to keeping the system running and fixing issues promptly. Outside, Johnson demonstrated a fire hydrant open at full capacity to emphasize the power of water.

Next, Maguire Mulligan, Emerging Technologies Research Engineer, conducted a drone demonstration flight. OUC’s drone fleet are used to complete damage assessments after storms and for other tasks, including osprey nest inventories. It’s just one of the cutting-edge technologies that OUC uses to better serve our customers.

Rubin York, Project Research Engineer, speaks to the CareerSource students in OUC’s Emerging Technologies lab.

On November 6, a second group of 21 students from Oak Ridge High School visited OUC’s Stanton Energy Center (SEC), site of the company’s primary power plant.

To kick things off, Thom Nealssohn, Director of New Products and Market Development, spoke about OUC’s role in the community and the importance of CareerSource in helping students understand job opportunities in the utility industry. Randy Brunette, Manager of Power Plant Engineering, provided insight about SEC and the critical work that goes on there.

The students also took part in tours, guided by Dale Woods, Supervisor of Power Plant Operations, Anthony Eddy, Supervisor of Power Plant Operations, Catherine Sailor, Power Plant Engineer, and Cameron Higgs, Lab Technician I.

The groups toured the exterior parts of SEC by bus, as well as various areas inside the power plant, including the boiler burner deck, main control room, and turbine deck. Throughout the day, they also learned about power generation, OUC’s commitment to staying within environmental guidelines and future career paths.

Anthony Eddy, Supervisor of Power Plant Operations, shows CareerSource students the inner workings of the power plant at SEC.

OUC Empowerment Zone Taskforce members were on hand to assist during both tours. With the Empowerment Zone initiative, OUC employees work to improve access to education, health and wellness, and sustainable housing in economically disadvantaged areas throughout the service territory. OUC’s inaugural Empowerment Zone is the 32805 ZIP code.

Alandus Sims, Manager of Community Partnerships and Projects, provided parting words of encouragement to the students. He also promoted OUC’s Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program, which provides hands-on instruction in construction, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, building maintenance and other skills. It’s the perfect next step for students to gain the experience they need to pursue good-paying skilled trades jobs.