By Stacey Greenberg, Senior Communications Specialist, Memphis Light, Gas and Water, Tennessee
In Memphis, high school students are learning new skills like climbing utility poles and gaining hands-on experience using technology such as ArcMap and AutoCAD.
Memphis Light, Gas and Water is sparking interest in the utility industry. In partnership with Memphis Shelby County Schools, Southwest Tennessee Community College (SWTCC), and Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) they are developing a pipeline of local workforce talent. Educational opportunities abound at MLGW, and the utility is already reaping the benefits of its investment.
Learning the Ropes (and Wires) at Bootcamps
MLGW reached for the sky when it created the Utility Construction Bootcamp in 2023. The camp supports 10th and 12th grade students in MLGW’s service area with a three-week paid work-based learning experience at SWTCC.
Students went through safety training and learned principles of electric, water and gas. They completed technical and physical ability assessments before getting to strap into a harness and practice climbing utility poles at the Macon Cove Campus of SWTCC.
The utility construction bootcamp was so successful that in 2024 the utility added an automotive technology bootcamp. Automotive technology students learned automotive service principles like advanced engine diagnostics and advanced transmission. All campers engaged in decision-making/critical thinking, completed industry math and communications, and practiced using industry tools and equipment.
Both of the bootcamp programs are designed to bridge the transition from high school to a prospective career at MLGW in two hard-to-fill areas. Thirty-one students from four different high schools participated (15 in utility construction and 16 in automotive technology). Cody Beam, one of the utility construction campers from the 2023 class, is currently employed as a utility worker in MLGW's electric distribution division.
Angela R. Hewlett, interim HR director of talent acquisition, compensation/HRIS, and insurance/benefits said, “The success we have achieved with our new bootcamps is creating additional opportunities to expand. We are assessing adding a customer service representative curriculum to our 2025 programming.”
Meaningful Introductions to Utility Careers
Gone are the days of giving summer interns “busy work.” MLGW is creating meaningful experiences both inside and outside of the office in the hopes that talented interns will become valuable employees after graduation.
This year, 893 students applied for 22 paid positions within MLGW’s intern and co-op program. (Co-op students also receive school credit for their work.) Demand for the program allowed MLGW to select highly skilled and motivated individuals. Interns spent the summer working in various departments including accounting, engineering, corporate communications, IT, and mechanics.
Rosemary Brooks, MLGW talent acquisition coordinator shared, “Interns bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the table. They may have a different way of approaching tasks and problem-solving, which can lead to innovative solutions and fresh insights.”
MLGW interns and co-op students are assigned to real projects that give them meaningful and relevant work experience. For example:
- Tejeswarsai Sasipalli collected data in the field and digitized work orders by putting them in ArcMap and used AutoCAD to create sketches to update ArcMaps.
- Lesly Urbina redesigned multiple internal webpages for the IS department.
- Akash Purushothaman took scans of old sketches and digitized them for better reference and worked with engineers to better improve connectivity between the electric distribution outage management system and the supervisory control and data acquisition systems.
- Destiny Bonds and Jaden Kimbro recreated transformer shop rebuild work orders and created a workflow for the entire transformer process, identifying areas needing improvement. They also improved programs using Excel and GIS mapping.
The intern and co-op program also includes professional development, networking events and an invitation to participate in company-wide activities that broaden the educational experience. The 2024 summer interns took part in a team building TopGolf outing, tours of MLGW’s water lab and the Tennessee Valley Authority’s historic and active facilities, attended a special MLGW Technology Day and participated in “A Tour of Possibilities.” The latter is a Memphis tour company that highlights local African American history. It helped the interns and co-op participants gain a deeper understanding of Memphis’ past, learn from historical figures who overcame challenges and built legacies, develop a heightened appreciation for the city’s unique culture, and have the opportunity to think critically about current issues. As a result of these opportunities, the interns got together and initiated a volunteer day in which they served meals to unhoused community members at the Memphis Union Mission.
Brooks, who helped with the design of the program, said, “By offering substantial work experiences and guidance, we aim to foster a positive and mutually beneficial environment for both interns and MLGW, resulting in a rewarding experience for both the utility and the interns.”
“Together, let’s build a future where your ideas matter, your skills thrive, and your potential knows no bounds. Welcome to the place where your journey begins, and the possibilities are endless.”
Rosemary Brooks, MLGW Talent Acquisition Coordinator
Adam Moore, who will graduate in December with a degree in Computer Science, Mathematics and Electrical Engineering from Christian Brothers University, said that the experience of working in MLGW’s reliability & power quality department taught him cooperation and communication and greatly advanced his technical skills.
Darius Hamilton, who graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in Engineering Technology, said his internship with the radio shop (within the communication control department) taught him how hands on a job with the utility would be, the importance of communication, and the value of forming good relationships with his supervisor and coworkers.
Seven interns, including Moore and Hamilton, were offered full-time jobs. Hamilton, who is now employed as a Wireless Communications Technician said, “My internship helped me understand what would be expected of me and created a smooth transition to full-time work.”
Buoyed by the success of this year’s program, MLGW is creating an additional 10 internships in engineering for 2025.
Brooks said, “At MLGW, we believe in nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and embracing diversity. We are excited to welcome passionate individuals ready to contribute, grow, and make a meaningful impact.”
At the beginning of each summer session, she tells the students, “Together, let’s build a future where your ideas matter, your skills thrive, and your potential knows no bounds. Welcome to the place where your journey begins, and the possibilities are endless.”
Tying to Technology
MLGW Technology Days launched in 2017 to promote the innovations and technologies used at the utility and encourage middle school, high school, and college students to pursue a career in the utility industry. Normally held just once a year, demand has increased and MLGW held three Technology Days in 2024.
MLGW started hosting Technology Days for Memphis Shelby County Schools as a way to introduce middle and high school students to the technology used at MLGW as well as support its “Ready Grad” industry tours.
Darren Sharp, supervisor, client services, coordinates the event. He said, “We want to develop a pipeline of qualified candidates that want to join MLGW after completing college. Middle and high school students are exposed to our technology; college students have an opportunity to network with MLGW management, professionals and HR business partners.”
Technology Days incorporate classroom instruction and hands-on experience. For the latter, technology booths are set up to allow students to explore MLGW’s developments in advanced metering infrastructure, enterprise resource planning applications, data security, and web technologies.
Sharp said, “It’s a lot of work, but when a student tells me how much they learned, who they met and how much they enjoyed the event, it makes it worth it.”
Investing in a Shared Future
Division leadership is committed to workforce development with a goal of creating a talent pipeline of future employees who want to start their spark at MLGW. These programs and opportunities allow the Division to foster connections with students during different stages of their educational journey.
As a result of MLGW’s workforce development programs, including college co-op and internships, the utility is experiencing about a 5% conversion from student to full-time employment and is striving toward a 25% conversion.
These programs also create opportunities for students to develop relationships and lasting connections with employees and leaders of MLGW, SWTCC, and TCAT.
Hewlett sums it up best, “Investing in our youth by providing opportunities for work based learning in preparation for future employment just makes sense. Why would we not uplift and prepare our future employees and leaders? These types of programs, which support our students, demonstrate to the community that we are more than just a utility bill.”