Vermont Green Participant: Weatherization apprenticeship helps solidify career path
When Vermont Works for Women was launching FRESH Energy (a registered apprenticeship in weatherization) in 2009, they were looking for strong candidates to join the crew. So they called Judy Reynolds.
A few years earlier, Judy, who had no prior experience in the trades but had always wanted to work in carpentry and construction, had participated in VWW’s Step Up to Highway Construction and had received some additional training in heavy equipment operation. But she had a hard time finding steady work, particularly work that fit her desire for variety and movement on the job. When VWW called her about FRESH Energy, she was making ends meet as a homecare worker, traveling all over the state for a relatively low wage – and she was ready for a change. She saw the call as an opportunity to pursue her passion and quickly accepted.
 |
|
Judy Reynolds at work on a FRESH Energy job.
|
Two years later, Judy is an instrumental and invaluable part of FRESH Energy. In that time she’s received extensive on-the-job training in weatherization installation, residential energy auditing, lead remediation, as well as training in solar tracker installation, and is part of the team that installed the historic solar farm engineered by AllEarth Renewables in South Burlington in June under the supervision of J.A. Morrissey. With support from Vermont Green, Judy also completed classroom training in building science and received certifications in First Aid, CPR, OSHA, the EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP), NCCER Basic Safety and Introduction to Hand Tools, and Vermont Technical College’s Weatherization Installer and Infrared Camera Basics training and certification. The FRESH Energy crew also attended a one-week carpentry training at Yestermorrow Design/Build school that was funded by Vermont Green.
Judy will soon complete her apprenticeship hours and receive her certification of completion from the Department of Labor. Looking to the future, she plans to continue to work in weatherization and/or carpentry. “I enjoy what I do for work,” Judy said. “Every place is different. It’s the same general principles, but it’s different every time.”
“Judy has been with FRESH Energy from the beginning and is a vital contributor to the day-to-day work, as well as the program’s foundation. She’s really good at what she does and she really enjoys what she does. It doesn’t get much better than that,” says Erin Galloway, VWW’s Vermont Green career counselor. “As FRESH Energy expands its crew in the coming months, Judy will be an invaluable asset given her knowledge, experience, and history with FE. She’ll make a fantastic mentor and crew lead for the new apprentices.”