Three nonprofit organizations will host a Workforce Development summit featuring regional and state level workforce experts and leaders Thursday March 30, 2023 from 9 am – 1:30 pm at the Energy Innovation Center in Pittsburgh. Networking and refreshments will be available at 8:15 am.
Members of the media are invited to attend.
The event, Workforce Development: The Clean Energy Challenge in Southwest PA, will be held in the Covestro Bright Space at the Energy Innovation Center, 1435 Bedford Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Overview
The Clean Energy Economy continues to build momentum in Southwestern PA. But is our region positioned to meet the demands for clean energy workers with a diverse and appropriately trained workforce? Are these jobs apparent and visible in our workforce system??
Join the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance, Sustainable Pittsburgh, and E2 for a Workforce Development Leadership Circle event as we tackle this challenge. Hear about how a neighboring region is finding success, and what our community groups, prospective workers, training and workforce development agencies, employers, and government officials are saying about the challenges. Help to ignite solutions at this half-day workshop, which will focus on overcoming fragmentation by building fresh ideas, connections, and coordination to achieve our goal.
Keynote Speakers
The featured keynote speaker is Brandon Dennison, CEO of Coalfield Development in West Virginia. Born and raised in West Virginia, Dennison is Founder and CEO of Coalfield Development, which incubates social enterprises designed to diversify Appalachia’s coal-based economy and cultivate opportunity for people facing barriers to employment. Dennison graduated from Shepherd University with a B.A. in History. He holds a Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University. In 2017, Brandon was named West Virginian of the Year by WV Living Magazine. He is winner of the JMK Social Innovation Prize, is a DRK Entrepreneur, and is an Ashoka Fellow. In 2019, Brandon was awarded the Heinz Award for Economy and Employment. He recently testified before Congress on how the Coalfield model could be used to combat climate change, and he currently serves as Entrepreneur in Residence at Marshall University.
Panelists
The first panel, which focuses on “Training & Recruiting Perspectives” features:
- Kerry Campbell, Environmental Program Manager, PA Department of Environmental Protection
- Alison Diehl, Executive Director, Clean Energy Center
- Jim Kunz, III, Administrator, PA Foundation for Fair Contracting
- Walter Lewis, President & CEO, Homewood Children’s Village
- Bonny Yeager, Manager of Industry Solutions, Partner4Work
The second panel, which focuses on “Employer Perspectives” features:
- Brian Guzek, Vice President – Corporate Strategy, DLC
- Joe Morinville, President, Energy Independent Solutions
- Brittany Ramos, Strategic Communications Director, Eaton
- Dan Sullivan, Housing Stabilization Program Manager, ACTION Housing
Agenda
9:00am: Welcome
- Joylette Portlock, Ph.D., Executive Director, Sustainable Pittsburgh
9:05am: Setting the Stage
- What We Know Now, Jeaneen Zappa, Executive Director, The Energy Efficiency
Alliance
- Policy Lay of the Land, Matt Mahoney, Director of Government Affairs, Sustainable Pittsburgh
9:15am: E2 PA Jobs Report
- Dan Siegel, E2 Pennsylvania
9:30am: Barriers and Needs
- Joylette Portlock, Ph.D., Executive Director, Sustainable Pittsburgh
- Jeaneen Zappa, Executive Director, The Energy Efficiency Alliance
9:50am: Keynote Presentation Brandon Dennison, Executive Director, Coalfield Development
10:10am: Break
10:20am: Panel 1: Training and Recruitment Perspectives
11:20am: Employer Perspectives
12:15pm Discussion over lunch
1:25pm: Closing Remarks
About the host organizations
The three organizing groups are: the Energy Efficiency Alliance (EEA), a nonprofit devoted to advancing energy efficiency as the foundation of a clean, just, and resilient energy economy; Sustainable Pittsburgh, whose mission is to empower decision-making that builds a fundamentally equitable, resilient, healthy, and prosperous region; and Environmental Entrepreneurs – better known as E2. E2 is a national, nonpartisan group of business leaders, investors, and professionals from every sector of the economy who advocate for smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment.