Webinar on Emerging Workforce Trends in the U.S. Energy and Mining Industries

Arizona mining companies are having a hard time finding qualified candidates for even high paying jobs, and that's symptomatic of  the industry nationwide.  

SME and GSA are offering a webinar on "Emerging Workforce Trends in the U.S. Energy and Mining Industries" on Thursday, May 23.


Following is the announcement from the two professional societies:

Access to energy and mineral resources is essential to support the United States' high standard of living, economy, and security. The outlook is bright for U.S. energy and mining jobs as these industries should continue to grow and pay well, but the nation will have to overcome a looming retirement bubble and low number of prospective employees skilled in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).  Some innovative solutions are being pursued, but more action is needed if the nation is to maintain a skilled workforce able to supply its energy and mineral needs.  The National Research Council (NRC) report Emerging Workforce Trends in the Energy and Mining Industries:  A Call to Action examines the current and future workforce situation for the non-fuel mineral, oil and gas, coal, nuclear, geothermal, solar, wind, and carbon sequestration sectors and frames some steps the nation can take to help ensure it meets the country’s future needs in these industries.

Leigh Freeman and Jerry Ventre, professionals with the mining and solar industries, respectively, were members of the NRC committee that authored the report.  They’ll provide a brief synopsis of the report and take questions from the audience.

• LEIGH FREEMAN is the principal and general manager of Downing Teal, Inc. He has over 30 years of domestic and international experience in the resource industries.  Early in his career, Mr. Freeman served in technical, management, and executive positions with large and small resource companies.  He serves in leadership roles for the Society of Mining Engineers, Society of Economic Geologists, Industrial Minerals Association, International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technologies, as well as Montana Tech, South Dakota School of Mines, University of Arizona, and Queen’s University. Mr. Freeman received his B.S. in geological engineering from Montana Tech of the University of Montana.
  
  
  
• GERARD (“JERRY”) VENTRE is a consultant in photovoltaic (PV) systems engineering, specializing in workforce development, system design, and product assurance. He has over 35 years of experience in research, development, design, systems analysis, and education. For 20 of those years, he led the PV and distributed power programs at the Florida Solar Energy Center, a research institute of the University of Central Florida. During that time he also managed the U.S. DOE’s Photovoltaic Southeast Regional Experiment Station, with emphasis on test, evaluation, and application of PV and advanced technologies.  He received his B.S. degree in aerospace engineering, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in aerospace engineering and applied mechanics from the University of Cincinnati.

The full "Workforce Trends" report may be freely downloaded at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18250 

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. There is no cost to attend this Webinar.


2pm Eastern / 1pm Central / 12pm Mountain / 11am Pacific time

Space is limited.  Reserve your Webinar seat now at:  https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/981208314

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.6 or newer

Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet