CEWD TO EXPAND MEMBERSHIP BASE
New Members Invited to Strengthen Force of Workforce Development Initiatives
At their October meeting, CEWD’s Board of Directors unanimously endorsed changes to CEWD’s membership criteria that are expected to welcome new companies into the CEWD community. The changes, effective in January 2021, will welcome those who work with renewables, electric vehicle infrastructure support, and energy storage. The leadership felt many existing members already work in these areas and adding a workforce focus would be beneficial for career awareness initiatives, data development, and ensuring representation for the industry’s voice in a broader spectrum of workforce development priorities. In addition, CEWD will welcome business partners as associate members.
CEWD’s new Vice-Chair, Vivek Arora of Mears, led the task force that first-considered membership expansion possibilities. He and the working group comprised of Deb Caplan (NextEra), Sloane Drake (Southern Company), Pete Fojtik (Michels), Cathy Hendrian (Consumers), Sheila Rostiac (PSEG), and Maria Smedley (AECC) wanted to ensure any growth in CEWD’s membership would support existing members and not drain or dilute CEWD’s resources or service level. They prioritized membership expansion steps that felt “right and comfortable.”
With the recently approved changes, energy company membership will be open to U.S.-based entities and internationally based entities with significant business operations in the U.S. that generate, transmit, supply, store, or otherwise provide energy. CEWD is currently not accepting applications from internationally based entities with limited or no business operations in the U.S.
MEET VIVEK!
The Board elected to expand the definition of contractor members to reflect changes made to energy company membership, noting contractors shall be eligible for membership if they perform work on or off site at a utility or other energy service provider.
Perhaps the biggest change in the expanded membership is the decision to welcome industry business partners as Associate Members. This membership category will be open to any individual, firm, or corporation that supplies products, goods, or services to companies that generate, transmit, supply, store, or otherwise provide energy, and contractors in the energy industry. It is anticipated many such companies will be able to provide voice to CEWD’s strategic priorities. They will receive a variety of benefits from membership. Their dues have been set at $2500 annually.