The Westchester-Putnam Career Center Network is strengthening the region’s clean energy workforce by equipping frontline staff with specialized industry knowledge, employer connections, and innovative tools to better guide job seekers. Through a hands-on training workshop led by clean energy experts, career center staff gained practical insights into emerging career pathways, certifications, and local hiring opportunities. The initiative marks a major step toward positioning the network as a hub for clean energy workforce development and ensuring residents are prepared to take advantage of one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy.
Hands-on workshops equip frontline staff with tools, industry knowledge, and employer connections to support job seekers.
The Westchester-Putnam Career Center Network (WPCCN) has taken a significant step forward in preparing the region’s workforce for careers in clean energy through a comprehensive staff training workshop designed to strengthen knowledge, tools, and employer alignment across its four career centers.
The two-day workshop was held March 26th and 27th and focused on industry fundamentals, career pathways, and practical application. The sessions were led by clean energy workforce experts Angela N. Son, CEO of The Green Launchpad and Antuan Cannon, Vice President of Talent Development and Innovation at Willdan Energy Solutions. They guided participants through an interactive, discussion-based training approach.
The Westchester-Putnam Career Center Network, which serves as the area’s primary workforce access point, provides job seekers and businesses with employment services, career counseling, training connections, and labor market insights. Employment conselors play a critical role in connecting job seekers to high-demand industries and helping employers build a skilled talent pipeline.
In-depth knowledge of the clean energy sector is crucial, as they help customers develop their resumes, assess their skills and certifications, and advise them on how leverage the growing demand in clean energy careers.
Thom Kleiner, co-chair of the workforce committee of BCW’s Clean Energy Coalition, realized that the clean energy sector is both expansive and complex, presenting a wide range of opportunities that can be challenging to understand and navigate.
“I took the training earlier this year and immediately realized the importance of all frontline staff attending the workshop. It is an important step in ensuring our workforce system is aligned with where the economy is heading,” said Thom Kleiner, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board. “Our goal is to position the WPCCN as the hub for clean energy workforce development—so that both job seekers and employers are prepared for the opportunities ahead.”
Using a highly engaging format, facilitators introduced staff to the full scope of the clean energy sector—from renewable power and energy efficiency and storage to transportation and green construction—while breaking down complex concepts into real-world applications.
Staff participants reported a significant shift in their understanding of clean energy, moving from a general awareness to a more detailed and actionable grasp of the sector’s opportunities.
“Instead of sending someone to a general job board, we can now identify specific employers, required certifications, and clear next steps,” said OJ Yizar, Career Center Manager. “It makes our guidance much more precise and impactful, especially for job seekers who may not know where to start.”
The workshop also highlighted the evolving nature of the clean energy sector, with discussions centered on how policy shifts, economic conditions, and technological advancements continue to shape workforce demand. For staff, one of the biggest takeaways was how accessible the field becomes when broken down effectively.
“When you hear ‘clean energy,’ it can feel like this huge, complex space,” said Leslie Meggett, Supervisor and Program Specialist. “But the way the information was presented made it clear that these are real, attainable career paths from entry-level to advanced degree requirements. It helped simplify the terminology and show how people can realistically enter and grow within the field.”
A central feature of the training was the introduction of a newly developed workforce database that integrates career information, employer data, training providers, and certification pathways into a single, user-friendly platform. This tool allows career center staff to better match job seekers with relevant opportunities and provide more targeted, informed guidance. (insert url path here)
Kelly Acquah, Employment Counselor added, “A customer came in looking to transition into the clean energy field after earning a certification two years ago. Because of the what I learned in the workshop my plan is to dive into the database to find specific, targeted local employers who actively hire for his exact credentials. Instead of just sending someone to blindly upload their resume online, I can offer a targeted list of businesses looking for these certifications and provide a higher level of support. I'm excited to work through this process and see where we can successfully connect him.”
Leadership within the Westchester-Putnam Career Center Network is already building on the workshop’s momentum. Planned next steps include ongoing staff training, development of visual career pathway tools such as clean energy “career trees,” and deeper collaboration with employers and training providers.