Stafford Technical Center

Business Partner Profile

CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION

One of the secrets to Stafford Technical Center’s success is the strong relationships they have cultivated with area businesses. With the launch of Stafford’s Cooperative Education Program over twenty years ago, students have experienced invaluable learning opportunities through a variety of career options. Many are able, as second year students, to work in job that is relevant to their program area, gaining new skills and knowledge all while earning high school credits. This can often lead to future employment with that company or organization.

Stafford’s collaboration with Central Vermont Public Service Corporation (CVPS) began approximately three years ago between Business Systems Analyst Phil Smith with Stafford’s Architecture Engineering Design Program and Duane Dickinson with Stafford’s Forestry and Natural Resources Program. Since that time it has grown into a successful partnership with student participation from such Stafford programs as Forestry and Natural Resources, Electrical/Plumbing, Hospitality & Entrepreneurship, and Architecture Engineering Design. This program is facilitated by Melissa Norman, Senior Human Resource Consultant and Darlene Miglorie, Stafford Cooperative Education Coordinator.

When students are placed with CVPS, they are required to complete an interview with the Human Resources Department, a hiring manager, and an employee from the department where they will potentially be working. If they are selected, they commence a yearlong internship where they invest about 16-24 hours, two to three days per week. These students must still complete their class work at Stafford while doing their co-op.

Over time, Stafford Alumni such as Megan Loso, a former Hospitality/Entrepreneurship student, worked for 1 year as a co-op student performing administrative duties in their Transportation Department. Now she is employed full-time at CVPS in that same department. Zachary Whipple, a former Architecture Engineering Design student, worked on mapping in their forestry department. Zach is now enrolled at the Savannah College of Art and Design and will be employed again this summer at CVPS. Another former Architecture Engineering Design student Wyatt Rysewyk, now enrolled at Norwich University, works in CVPS Geo Spatial Technology Department as a summer employee.

Currently Stafford has three of its Electrical/Plumbing students working at CVPS; David Booska, Michael Mayhew, and Shawn Mandolare. Mike is focused on the plumbing side and works under the supervision of Master Plumber Bob Weeden. Some of the projects Mayhew has completed are replacing the cooling tower at the Grove Street location and replacing failed piping. Mayhew’s future plans are to continue in the Vermont Plumbing Apprenticeship Program. Booska’s concentration is with the electrical piece and he works under the direction of CVPS’s Master Electricians Paul Carlson and Rick Ferrell. An example of his responsibilities has included retro fitting energy efficient lighting. He plans to attend Kennebec Community College’s Electrical Line Worker program in the fall of 2009. Mandolare is also involved in the electrical side and rotated throughout the company under the direction of Cindy Fowler (another Stafford Alumni) gaining knowledge of all aspects of electrical system operations and electrical safety requirements. Like Booska, he will also be attending the Kennebec Community College’s Electrical Line Worker program this fall.

Future Stafford Technical Center students will play an integral role in CVPS’s planned solar project which is underway. Under the supervision of CVPS, Central Vermont Solar and Wind, and ReKnew Energy Systems Inc., the students will assist in the installation of 265 solar panels that will provide energy for about 50 homes.

The staff at CVPS who have worked closely with Stafford had high praise for the entire program. According to Melissa Norman, “the students from Stafford come to CVPS very well prepared to handle their job assignments. Stafford has given them a wonderful foundation and skill set to be successful in a real world employment setting.”

Becky Mandolare “loves the program”. She says “the students have a great opportunity to learn what is expected of them in a corporate setting such as appropriate behaviors and workplace readiness.” She also added that Stafford helps them “find their career path”.

Darlene Miglorie, Stafford’s Co-op Coordinator summed it up nicely by saying; “CVPS employees have exceeded our expectations by providing a professional, engaging learning environment that cannot be duplicated in the classroom. Stafford Technical Center looks forward to many more years of a co-op partnership with Central Vermont Public Service.”