Teens abuzz about Tri-City Electric career fair and Place2Be

The air was abuzz and the atmosphere electric at the first career day in the new YWCA Quad Cities in Rock Island where The Place2Be teen drop-in center hosted Tri-City Day on Tuesday, May 9. The early evening event was organized by Tri-City Electric and the YWCA. The American Jobs Center also lent a hand. […]

The air was abuzz and the atmosphere electric at the first career day in the new YWCA Quad Cities in Rock Island where The Place2Be teen drop-in center hosted Tri-City Day on Tuesday, May 9.

The early evening event was organized by Tri-City Electric and the YWCA. The American Jobs Center also lent a hand. And it kicked off from the start with dozens of teens crowding the interactive booths set up in The Place2Be’s first dedicated space. (Prior to the new YW’s construction, the safe space for teens borrowed spaces wherever they were available at the old YW at 229 16th Street, barely a block away.) Tri-City Electric Co. and the trade union professionals eagerly engaged with the young people who crowded the booths. A Millwright Local 2158 union member, for example, was being quizzed by a quartet of young women. They wanted to learn more about jobs in a field that includes assembly, erection, installation and maintenance of industrial equipment and machinery according to layout plans, blueprints, and other schematic drawings. Many teens at Tri-City Day also were excited to get a glimpse of a small corner of the new YWCA at 513 17th St. in downtown Rock Island. Parts of the new YWCA building are still being outfitted and the new building isn’t  expected to open its doors to the public for a ribbon-cutting until early June. Place2Be Director Edwin Salazar said he was grateful for the drop-in center’s new  permanent home. And importantly he added, Tuesday’s career fair would not have been possible without it.

Sparking interest key

Sarah Potter, Tri-City Electric’s community outreach & workforce planning manager, organized the event to spread the word among Quad Cities youth about the wide range of high-paying construction jobs available after they graduate high school.  “Tri-City Electric is growing at a tremendous rate,” Ms. Potter said of the Davenport-based electrical contractor that employs around 1,800. “We’re actually one of the area’s largest employers, so between the company and the construction industry as a whole, there’s a lot of opportunity and growing demand,” she said. “So I thought it would be a great idea to partner with the YWCA because I knew they had youth services …  to do education and awareness around the different construction industry opportunities.” Because Tri-City partners with and hires workers through area unions, Ms. Potter said it also was important to include them in the effort to grow interest in a construction industry that is booming.  Since employees come to Tri-City via the unions, she said, “I would say the hiring isn’t difficult. It’s trying to get people interested in all the opportunities in the construction trades.” The construction trades have plenty of ammunition including the wide variety of jobs available and the way those jobs have changed.  To illustrate that, Tri-City and union professionals offered to the youth hands-on high-tech experiences including a 3D printer and an Oculus 3D headset. 

Jobs go high-tech

“It’s neat for them to see the technology,” Ms. Potter said. “I guess that’s the most surprising thing that students find is the technology involved in the construction industry.”  These days, for example, instead of putting plans on papers and rolling them out, project planners often use 2D and 3D software. “Then they put the Oculus on and virtually walk through and catch any problems when they (later) install it. It saves expense, too,” Ms. Potter said. For example ripping out wiring, structural cable, plumbing and pipes costs both time and money. Importantly, too, she said, “I think another surprising thing that students don't realize is the earning potential.” Once electricians complete their five-year apprenticeships, wages start in the low $80,000s, all with zero college debt. “And that doesn't even include the benefits package.”