Partner Ecosystem Builds Diverse Utility Arboriculture Workforce

1. Partner Ecosystem Builds Diverse
Utility Arboriculture Workforce
Terrell Lockhart, DTE Energy
Mike Pittman, IBEW Local 17

2. Safety Update 2021
Partner Ecosystem Builds Diverse
Utility Arboriculture Workforce
IBEW Local 17 / DTE

3. IBEW Local 17 / DTE
Introductions
Mike Pittman – IBEW Local 17, Assistant Business Manager
Terrell Lockhart – DTE, Distribution Operations Manager – Local Resource Development

4. IBEW Local 17 / DTE
Line Clearance
Programs
• Parnall Prison Vocational Village
• Tree Trim Academy
• BootCamp – 9 day Apprenticeship Introduction
• DOL Registered Apprenticeship – 5,000 hours, 2.5 years

5. IBEW Local 17 / DTE Line Clearance
Partnerships
• Partners
• DTE
• IBEW Local 17
• Utility Arboriculture Contractors
• State of Michigan Department of Corrections
• Focus Hope
• Michigan Works!
• City of Detroit

7. Vocational Village
Parnall Prison
• Vocational Village opened in 2016
• Line Clearance added in June 2019
• Provide returning citizens a pathway to success
upon re-entering the workforce
• Aligns with their release date to ensure immediate
employment and entry into apprenticeship program
• Most sought-after and most applied to program
within Parnall’s Vocational Village
• Three Journeymen so far, completed 5,000 hour
apprenticeship, one of which has become an
instructor and mentor for our Tree Academy

8. Vocational Village
CNC Programming & Robotics
• Nationally recognized Emergent software
• Fanuk robotic certification

9. Vocational Village
Auto Mechanics
• Diesel engine repair
• Gasoline engine repair
• Complete rebuilds
• Diagnostics

10. Vocational Village
Auto Mechanics
• Michigan Master Mechanic Certification
• Full service shop
• Diesel
• Motorcycle
• Recreational Vehicles

11. Vocational Village
Building Trades
• Masonry & Concrete
• Carpentry
• Receive OSHA 30
• Same curriculum as Carpenters Union

12. Vocational Village
Concrete & Masonry

13. Vocational Village
Carpentry
• SawStop Table saw • Planers

14. Vocational Village
Carpentry
• Framing & Drywall • Sign Making

15. Vocational Village
Carpentry
• Finishing booth

16. Vocational Village
Commercial Driver License
• 2 month program
• Students receive hands on training utilizing 2 state of
the art Doran CDL simulators
• Students receive CDL Temporary Learner’s Permit upon
completion
• Registered with Dept. of Labor for theory portion of
new CDL law training
• Enrolled into FMCSA registered CDL class to receive
behind-the-wheel BTW training and test upon release

17. Vocational Village
Commercial Driver License
• State or the art Doran CDL Simulators

18. Vocational Village
Line Clearance
• Outdoor Climbing Structure

19. Vocational Village
Line Clearance
• Line Clearance Tool Crib Tag System

20. Vocational Village
Line Clearance
• Chainsaws (battery powered) • Rescue Mannequin & Climbing Gear

21. Vocational Village
Line Clearance
• Line Clearance Tool Crib • SRS Gear & Non Conductive Tools

22. Vocational Village
Line Clearance
• Indoor Climbing Structures

23. Vocational Village
Line Clearance
• Chainsaw Use Aloft

24. Vocational Village
Line Clearance
• Rigging Training

25. Vocational Village
Line Clearance
• Climbing Practice

26. Vocational Village
Line Clearance
• Classroom • Knot Board

28. IBEW Local 17 / DTE
Tree Trim Academy
• Welcome to the Tree Trim Academy

29. IBEW Local 17 / DTE
Tree Trim Academy
• 7 week pre-employment training at Rouge Park in
Detroit
• Two weeks career readiness, CDL permit
• Two weeks introduction to line clearance training.
Curriculum created and instructed by Local 17
Journeymen
• Three weeks driving school where students take road
test and obtain Class B CDL
• Wrap-around services with daily stipend

30. IBEW Local 17 / DTE
Tree Trim Academy
• 76 out of 104 graduates have been placed with
contractors
• 61 of 76 still employed
• 43 of the 61 currently working have entered
apprenticeship
• 10 cohorts completed

31. IBEW Local 17 / DTE
Tree Trim Academy
• Daily Stretches – Energize Your Life

32. IBEW Local 17 / DTE
Tree Trim Academy
• IBEW Code Of Excellence

33. IBEW Local 17 / DTE
Tree Trim Academy
• Getting comfortable with heights

34. IBEW Local 17 / DTE
Tree Trim Academy
• Intro to Roadside Set Up

35. IBEW Local 17 / DTE
Tree Trim Academy
• Chipper Training

36. IBEW Local 17 / DTE
Tree Trim Academy
Getting Comfortable with the Gear

37. IBEW Local 17 / DTE
Tree Trim Academy
• Michigan Works! Impact Award winner-
recognizing significant economic
accomplishments and showcasing the impact of
newly created jobs, transformational training and
effective talent pipeline development
• Nine cohorts scheduled for 2022
• 100 student goal for 2022
• Five Year Goal to train 400-500 students

38. Safety Update 2021
IBEW LOCAL 17 TREE TRIM ACADEMY

40. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
BootCamp Program
• 9 day pre apprenticeship class (currently employed as Woodsmen)
• Pass or fail to enter apprenticeship
• Allows Woodsmen/Groundmen to quickly identify if they want
to pursue a climbing career
• Builds foundational knowledge
• 2021
• 10 boot camps
• 147 new apprentices
• 2022 YTD
• 6 boot camps
• 85 new apprentices

41. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
BootCamp Program
• Topics covered
• Pre Job Brief
• Personal Protective Equipment PPE
• Ropes and Knots
• Ladder Safety
• Cutting Tool Basics
• Intro to Tree Identification
• Chipper Safety
• Electrical Hazard Awareness
• Aerial Rescue
• Climbing Safety

42. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
BootCamp Program
• Introduction to ropes and knots

43. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
BootCamp Program
• Introduction to electrical equipment
• Voltage identification
• Minimum approach distances

44. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
Apprenticeship Program
• What is an apprenticeship?
• Combination of On-The-Job learning (OJT), Related-
Technical-Instruction (RTI), and classroom training
• Must demonstrate competency in the defined subject
areas

45. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
Apprenticeship Program
• 9 day Boot Camp – pass or fail to enter apprenticeship
• Department of Labor Registered
• 2.5 years - 5,000 hours OJT
• Online coursework on Canvas LMS
• Monthly classes at IBEW Local 17 Training Center
• 2021
• 147 new Apprentices
• 65 new Journeymen
• 2022 YTD
• 85 new Apprentices
• 29 new Journeymen

46. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
Apprenticeship Program OJT
• OJT – On the Job Training
• Apprentices receive training from Journeymen

47. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
Apprentice Program RTI
• Canvas Online Learning Management
System
• Weekly Homework Assignments

48. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
Apprentice Program
• Canvas LMS
• Reading Assignments

49. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
Apprentice Program
• Canvas LMS
• Knot Quiz

50. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
Apprentice Program
• Canvas LMS
• Biology

51. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
Apprentice Program
• Canvas LMS
• Tree Identification

52. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
Apprentice Program
• Canvas LMS
• Incident and Near Miss Reports

53. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
Apprentice Program
• Canvas LMS Mobile App

54. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
Apprentice Program
• Classroom training held at Local 17 Training Property

55. IBEW Local 17 LCTT
Apprenticeship Program
• Benefits to Utilities & Utility Arboriculture Companies
• Increased safety
• Reduced turnover costs
• Highly skilled employees increase productivity
• Lower investment in recruitment
• More diverse workforce
• Consistent reliable workforce (Journeymen at each
contractor have same knowledge and highly consistent
skillset)
• Work performed energized (lower planned outages)
• Increased sense of pride in trade
• Capitalize on State Apprenticeship Expansion Grants

56. Partnerships a MUST
Established 130 year Partnership between IBEW Local 17, DTE, and Utility Tree Care Companies
Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship
All parties benefit
Changing lives and improving the Utility Arboriculture Industry!

57. Questions?

58. More photos available at
Vocational Village: Chainsaws, convicts
and hope (crainsdetroit.com)
Photographer Dale G Young

59. Young, D. (2022, April 12). Vocational
Village: Chainsaws, convicts and hope.
Crainsdetroit.
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/gallery
/photo-gallery/vocational-village-
chainsaws-convicts-and-hope