Avangrid-Union Partnership Boosts Workforce Development

Jose Ferreira stood humbly among 11 trade intern graduates Wednesday as his proud parents and more than 100 invited guests cheered, applauded, and raised their cell phones.

“I used to watch the electric line workers outside when I was younger,” said Jose, a senior at Butler Davis Technical High School in Bridgeport. “Now I think it might be my career.”

The Aug. 20 graduation ceremony at Avangrid, Inc.’s Trumbull training facility capped off a 10-week, paid internship designed to introduce high school and community college students to in-demand careers in the energy and utility industries.

“This program offers students a true window into the world of electric operations,” said Christine Pariseau, senior manager of electric operations at United Illuminating. 

“These students are not just shadowing—they are engaging directly with the equipment, teams, and safety practices that keep our systems running every day.” 

Collaboration

Now in its third year, the Trade Internship and Union Scholars Program is a collaborative effort between a number of Avangrid subsidiaries, their human resource teams, and their respective unions.

In Connecticut, UI, Connecticut Natural Gas, and Southern Connecticut Gas partner with the Utility Workers Union of America Local 470-1 and United Steel Workers Local 12000 and 12000-1.  

“We’re helping shape a new generation of energy professionals who reflect the communities we serve.”

UI’s Frank Reynolds

“Each year, more students see UI and SCG not only as utility companies, but as a place where they can build real careers in skilled trades that power their communities,” said Frank Reynolds, president and chief operating officer of UI and SCG.

“By offering access to union-led training and exposure to field operations, we’re helping shape a new generation of energy professionals who reflect the communities we serve.” 

To date, 13 former trade interns have been hired full-time to UI and Avangrid as rotational utility workers.

Skills Demonstration

During the ceremony, interns in training gear conducted demonstrations of their recently acquired skills in gas and electric field operations.

At three different training stations, they took tuns with a microphone to detail each step involved with a job, such as installing a residential gas meter and changing out an overhead fuse.

“The dean of my school told my shop teacher about this program, and he asked me if I could do it,” said Cassidi Paige, a UI intern from Bullard-Havens Technical High School in Bridgeport.

“I was in the carpentry program at the time, but I’ve always loved building things with my hands, and I picked this up quickly,” she said. “Now I love it and hope to get hired.”

‘Full of Potential’

The ceremony featured a proclamation from Gov. Ned Lamont recognizing the program’s two leaders—Christine Pariseau, senior manager of electric operations at UI, and Moses Rams, chief line crew leader at UI and president of UWUA Local 470-1.

“Programs like this weren’t available when I was starting out,” said Rams.

“It’s a privilege to now support these interns as they take their first steps into a field that’s vital, respected, and full of potential.”

“It’s a privilege to support them as they take their first steps into a field that’s vital, respected, and full of potential.”

UWUA Local 470-1’s Moses Rams

Sen. Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden), Rep. Kathy Kennedy (R-Milford), and Rep. David Rutigliano (R-Trumbull) were among the crowd at the event.

A few steps away, Jose Ferreira’s parents quietly beamed as their son stood before the audience.

“We are blessed to have our son picked from all the kids who applied,” said Jose Ferreira, a bilingual billing representative for Avangrid.

“To have kids so young in this program is great. This is where we have to put our focus—on the future.”