Category: Workforce Development

Workforce Wednesday: Renewable energy careers | KTVA Anchorage CBS 11

The renewable energy industry is a growing with a wide range of professionals — like lawyers, engineers and financiers — bringing projects to life. That means there are plenty of jobs to fill.

Suzanne Gibson, senior director at CIRI Energy Development, joined Daybreak to talk about careers in the renewable energy industry where average pay can fall between $40,000 and $100,000 per year.

Gibson said she always knew she wanted to get into business, but what drove her toward energy was the lack of women in the field. She said there is opportunity for anyone who wants to learn.

“When I got into wind [energy] we didn’t really — I didn’t — know that much about it, but I did come with an attitude about how to learn,” Gibson said. “So I’m excited to do it and we’re excited to expand the project — Fire Island phase two — next year, which will bring a lot of jobs to Anchorage.”

Companies Hiring:

  • Emergya Wind Technologies
  • Jacobs Engineering Group
  • UniSea Inc.

Energy-Related Training:

  • AVTEC: Wind Turbine Mechanic
  • UAF Bristol Bay: Sustainable Energy Occupational Endorsement
  • Mat-Su College: Energy Construction program

Mat-Su College Employer Expo

  • APICC Booth
  • Wednesday, March 16
  • 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

For more information, click here.

Source: Workforce Wednesday: Renewable energy careers | KTVA Anchorage CBS 11

SitNews: Fisheries students participate first hand as halibut catch limits for 2016 are set

Some Fisheries students have first hand experience in fishing boats … but only rarely do students get a chance to listen, interact, and even influence the outcome of official fisheries management deliberations. This was the experience of a recent Fish Tech class at the University of Alaska Southeast Sitka.

Recently, Professor Joel Markis traveled to Juneau with a group of students enrolled in a Fisheries Policy course. Each year, the course syllabus calls for students to attend a different type of management meeting. This year, Markis and his students attended the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), alongside 360 other participants from both the US and Canada.

“It’s great when students can actually become a part of their course subject, beyond just learning about topics in the classroom,” commented Professor Markis. “I think of this as an example of us being true to our mission of coupling hands on learning with distance delivered coursework.”

Read the full article here.

Source: SitNews: Fisheries students participate first hand as Halibut catch limits for 2016 are set

MAPTS staff Recognized with President’s UA Spotlight Award

Mike Azzara, René Azzara, Daren Case, Elizabeth Hardie and Jim Smith of the Mining and Petroleum Training Service, or MAPTS, were recognized with the President’s Spotlight Award during the Statewide Town Hall meeting on Feb. 23. The team was recognized for its work in developing a state-of-the-art mining training program in partnership with industry and the Yukon College.

The UA Spotlight Award recognizes UA System employees and teams who perform a singular accomplishment above and beyond the norm. The Award is a way to timely demonstrate appreciation for one-time exceptional employee accomplishments.

Read the full article here.

Source: Transitions & Recognition | Voice

Workforce Wednesday: Food service and hospitality careers in Alaska | KTVA Anchorage CBS 11

A career in the food service and hospitality industry is perfect for those with a friendly personality that also enjoys serving others.  Last year, the sector provided more than 17,000 jobs in Anchorage alone. State-wide, that number was nearly 35,0000.

The Alaska Travel Industry Association predicts tourism will grow up to 3% this year. That means job growth, especially in this particular industry.

Wednesday, Jana Lage with the Alaska Process Industry Career Consortium and Executive Chef, Tim Farley, joined Daybreak to talk about  growth in the industry and how to get your foot in the door.

“I was determined,” Farley said. “Food is art and it’s about paying attention to the details of the plates of food that go out and that’s how flavors are composed.”

Salary ranges from $10 to $12 per hour, entry level and up to $90,000 per year for general managers.

Companies hiring right now include:

For more information visit the APICC website or contact its Outreach Coordinator, Martha Peck.

Source: Workforce Wednesday: Food service and hospitality careers in Alaska | KTVA Anchorage CBS 11

Helping students bridge to engineering careers

A UAA civil engineering professor has, over the years, quietly been growing connections between his senior capstone students and professionals in Alaska’s engineering community, providing a bridge from academia to careers.

In just a few months, it will be time for civil engineering students in a UAA professor’s senior capstone class to move that knowledge out of the classroom and into a new career.

Fortunately, Dr. Osama Abaza’s Seawolf Engineering initiative has given these students a head start. They work as if they were consultant design teams on real-world projects for clients like DOT, community councils, the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility and Alaska State Parks.

Now, they’re designing a Kasilof boat launch facility, trail connector in the Bicentennial Park area, beach tower slope protection at Point Woronzof and a reliable water source for the Alaska Pacific University Nordic ski summer-training facility on Eagle Glacier.

Read the full article here.

Source: Helping students bridge to engineering careers – Green & Gold News