Linemen inspire tiny home builders to pursue CPS Energy internship
Taylor Chavez, a junior at Warren High School, has been honing her professional and technical skills at the Construction Careers Academy. At the academy, she and her classmates work as a team to build tiny homes that will eventually sell at auction. The program is one of the only kind in the U.S. with on-the-job training that prepares students for careers in the construction industry. As a Construction Manager on the project, Taylor has excelled at carpentry and framing while learning valuable lessons about leadership, good communication, safety and teamwork. Now she’s setting her sites on developing another set of skills that could send her reaching new heights. She’s applied to spend a summer working with CPS Energy’s linemen through our Distribution Trainee summer internship program.
“I’ve thought about it a lot and it’s something I really want to do,” said Taylor. “I drive on the street and see (linemen) working on poles and in backyards. It looks really cool and like a really fun job.”
Last week, Taylor and her classmates got some inspiration from our linemen to apply for the internship during a visit to the training grounds at our Eastside Service Center. Students watched linemen operate a bucket truck, climb poles and install utility equipment. They also watched team members simulate an electric arc to demonstrate dangers around power lines.
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After seeing the linemen in action, many students said they would apply for the internship. Last year, CPS Energy launched the program and hired three seniors from MacArthur High School. The interns worked alongside the linemen to learn their day-to-day responsibilities and how to safely keep power on in our growing community.
The program gives CPS Energy an opportunity to tap into the next generation of utility workers. Perhaps Taylor and her classmates will be part of that future generation of lineworkers. Are you interested or know someone who may want to apply for one of our internships? Check out our Career Center on cpsenergy.com to learn more.
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