The energy and utilities sector is poised for growth. But many local people lack the education and specialized training they need to get and keep jobs in this sector.

On July's edition of United Way's Community Connections with Ray Dunaway, aired live on Saturday, July 30, from 8 to 9 a.m. on WTIC 1080-AM, we learned about a partnership to create pathways to good jobs in the energy/utilities field.

Susan Dunn, president and CEO of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, and Ray Dunaway spoke with Judy Resnick, executive director of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) Education Foundation and director of workforce development and training for CBIA, and with Tom Burns, who co-chairs the Connecticut Energy Workforce Development Consortium and directs training at Northeast Utilities.

We learned how partnerships among businesses, nonprofits, schools and government are creating new roads into the energy/utilities sector for lower-skilled workers. We also saw how our neighbors’ job readiness affects all of us, we discovered the difference that cross-sector collaboration can make, and we heard what the partners have learned so far.

To listen, click an mp3 segment below.
(Note: Requires mp3 player software. Click here to download Windows Media Player. Or click here to download iTunes.)

Segment 1 - Introduction: Show host Ray Dunaway and Susan Dunn, president and CEO of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut (5:17; 4.9 MB)

Segment 2: Judy Resnick, executive director of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) Education Foundation and director of workforce development and training for CBIA (8:28; 7.9 MB)

Segment 3: Tom Burns, co-chair of the Connecticut Energy Workforce Development Consortium and director of training at Northeast Utilities (8:09; 7.6 MB)

Segment 4 - Conclusion: Ray, Tom, Judy and Susan (5:09; 4.8 MB)