For Immediate Release
Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: March 6, 2023
EPD program to be featured in national video
Fennimore -A video production crew from Osuego Creative, based in Lakewood, Colorado, was on campus March 1 to record footage of the Electrical Power Distribution (EPD) program. The company is a joint venture between the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) and NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association). According to Nick Webber, with IBEW Local Union 953, Osuego Creative documents unique stories within the electrical field to showcase on two platforms: IBEW Hour Power, and Electric TV.
Joe Randall is interviewed by the crew from Osuego Creative.
IBEW Local Union 953 pitched the story to the board. “Southwest Wisconsin is a hotbed for utility construction in terms of renewable energy generation and the building of infrastructure to transmit and distribute clean energy to a growing community,” stated Webber. “The need for workers in this field is growing due to an aging workforce and historic investments in utility infrastructure. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College’s Electrical Power Distribution program is a critical resource to both the IBEW and NECA who rely on staff for these critical jobs. Consistently, this program graduates some of the most prepared graduates to enter our field, which is a testament to the instructors and institution, as a whole.”
The video production crew interviewed EPD alumni currently working on the Cardinal-Hickory Creek Transmission Project in the area (a 3rd-step apprentice and an equipment operator), who are both local to the area, working on a historic project, right after graduation. The crew also interviewed Joe Randall, EPD instructor at Southwest Tech, and recording footage of current students working in the pole field on campus.
The video production crew gets footage of EPD students working on campus.
“This is an awesome honor,” said Randall. “To be chosen for the tour and to be highlighted really speaks volumes about SWTC and the EPD program. I think it shows the strong reputation that the EPD program and our graduates have had in the industry. I’m also extremely proud of our EPD alumni. They have gotten great reviews from the employers and I’m very proud with what they have accomplished, and also how well they have represented the college.”
A main theme of the video will be showcasing the industry’s relationship with Southwest Tech training the next generation of IBEW members working for NECA contractors. Webber indicated the video will be completed in the next month or two.
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, a finalist for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, is one of 16 institutions that comprise the Wisconsin Technical College System. Southwest Tech offers more than 60 programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Courses are offered on campus, online, HyFlex and in a blended format. The college provides apprenticeship, certificate, technical diploma, and associate degree programs that respond to district workforce needs and prepare student for family-sustaining jobs and career advancement. |