ACE –
A Career in Energy (February 8, 2005)
Lower Valley
Energy is currently in the preliminary phase of establishing a trade
school program, known as ACE (A Career in Energy), whose objective is to
produce highly trained, competent linemen. Part of the reason in
developing the school is to help maintain a viable amount of linemen for
a nationally aging workforce. In addition, the career development
program helps add job opportunities in the area. The program has been in
development for over 2 years and is being sponsored in cooperation with
the Utah Valley State College.
On the 7th
of December the ACE program held its inaugural board meeting. Attendees
and founding Board of Directors include Jim Rooks (Principal at Summit
High School in Jackson), Mark Taylor (Director of Instruction for LCSD
#2), Les Bishop (Central Wyoming College Outreach Coordinator), Rick
Knori (Director of Engineering at LVE), Bill Spaulding (Director of
Electrical Operations at LVE), Dean Lewis, (LVE Board Member), and Jim
Webb (President/CEO of LVE). The main goal of the meeting was to ratify
the Articles of Incorporation and adopt the Bylaws, thereby setting up
the program as a functioning business.
A month
later the program welcomed its first students, Jake Stewart and Dusty
Stump. Stewart and Stump are excited about the opportunity and eager for
the program to start.
ACE will
be the area training school for the energy industry focused on
exceptional educational opportunities, career development, safety, and
commitment to excellence. The vision of the program is to continually
seek the opportunity to teach, train, develop, and expand the
educational opportunities of those seeking a rewarding career in the
energy industry. Bill Spaulding hopes to see the school become a
regional entity and wishes to see participation from surrounding
organizations such as the Wyoming Rural Electric Association and the
Southeast Idaho Utilities.
Although ACE is
a new non-profit business, the program is affiliated with 47 utilities,
mainly in Utah, but covering 4 states in the area. The on-campus and
home study correspondence course for the Linemen Training Course will be
provided by Utah Valley State College. A.C.E. is linked with the
School-To-Careers programs in affiliation with the JHHS and SVHS.
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