This week saw thirty Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority employees graduate from a rigorous 3-year PowerLine Workers Apprenticeship Program to become fully certified Electrical Lineworkers. The program, certified by the U.S. Department of Labor is “designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of utility employees in this field”, notes Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG), the non-profit organization that provided strategic and technical training over the last 3 years to Authority employees.
“The great thing about this program is it allows existing employees to expand their skillset through the utilization of industry best practices and safety standards. This program ensures lineworkers are qualified to perform their duties and equips them with the knowledge to perform their work safely”, notes Ashley Bryan, Director of Transmission and Distribution at the Authority.
On St. Thomas, a collaboration with the University of the Virgin Islands provided the use of the Reichold Center for the Arts grounds to conduct training, while on St. Croix, the Agricultural Fair Grounds served as the primary training space.
As the Virgin Islands Water & Power Authority continues to prioritize the safety of its employees and being able to serve the community effectively, programs like the PowerLine Workers Apprenticeship help accomplish both goals. “One of the most obvious components that directly impacts the success of an organization is its employees. Placing our team members in positions for continued growth and professional advancement is not only beneficial to the individual receiving the training, but also valuable in helping the Authority continue in a progressive direction”, notes CEO Andrew Smith.
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority extends heartfelt congratulations to the newly certified Lineworkers. “This is a tremendous accomplishment and we are proud to have such highly skilled employees serving our community” remarked Sabrina King-Leonce, Director of Human Resources.
Funding for employees to complete the program was provided through two grants awarded to the Authority by the Department of Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs.
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