State Approves New Energy Career Pathway, Data Corner, Board Member Spotlight, & more!

The State’s First Energy Career Pathway Approved

The NCWorks Commission gave formal approval to the state’s first Energy Career Pathway during its quarterly meeting in August.

Driven by the energy sector’s need for a supply of skilled talent, the new NCWorks Certified Career Pathway provides guidance to help prepare students and workers for careers and advancement in the energy industry. The Carolinas Energy Workforce Consortium, a group of electric utilities, electric cooperatives, and contractor companies for these energy providers in both North and South Carolina, collaborated on the new pathway with local and state partners in education and workforce development.

The initiative also marks the first time that six local workforce development boards have collaborated on a single career pathway. The alliance includes Charlotte Works, the Region C, Mountain Area, Gaston, Western Piedmont, and Centralina Workforce Development Boards.

The Certified Energy Pathway covers many individual careers under one umbrella, including entry-level line workers as well as occupations in transmission & distribution energy technology, customer service, management, marketing and administration.

NCWorks NextGen program operated by ResCare Workforce Services Moves to Temporary Location

Effective September 3, the NCWorks NextGen program that has previously been housed at 5500 Executive Center Drive in Charlotte moved to the Goodwill Opportunity Campus.

The move only affects the NCWorks NextGen program operated by ResCare Workforce Services. The Goodwill campus will be a temporary location for this program until NCWorks and Charlotte Works move to a consolidated services building in the spring of 2020.

For more information on the NextGen program click here .

Board of Directors ‘Spotlight:’ Carol Morris

Company: Foundation For The Carolinas

Title: Vice President & Assistant Director, Civic Leadership

How did you get involved with Charlotte Works?

I’ve been involved with Charlotte Works in one form or another since 1999—before the Workforce Development Board was re-branded as Charlotte Works. As a planning consultant, I was hired to write the grant for Charlotte’s first JobLink Center and then provided planning support for many years to the staff and board. As part of this work, I did the board’s first strategic plan in 2005 and then working with the Lee Institute, did an assessment of Charlotte’s workforce system serving people with barriers to employment. That led to the creation of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Workforce Partners, which I have been part of since 2012. Foundation For The Carolinas, where I have worked since 2013, has allowed me to continue my involvement and I was appointed to the board a couple years later.

Why is workforce development so important to you?

Having a talent pool that sustains and grows our economy is critical. But equally important is helping people build skills and education that will enable them to access living wage employment. This is essential for addressing generational poverty and economic opportunity in Charlotte.

What excites you most about the direction of Charlotte Works and how will you contribute to it?

Having witnessed the evolution of Charlotte Works, I think the organization is the strongest it has ever been and is well positioned to move things forward with Danielle at the helm. Charlotte Works is finally at the table! I am a great fan of Charlotte Works and will continue to support the work and leadership where I can be most helpful.

Best piece of career advice you have received?

“ As you mature in your career, get to the point where people are relying on you for advice, not so much for all the labor.”

What are your hobbies/interests?

Tennis, funky garden design and art, kayaking, writing and feeding neighborhood cats. My husband and I just bought an old Winnebago, so driving back roads to explore America is high on my list.