Real People - Real Jobs™ (Click on the photos to read CEWTP trainees' success stories)

Scott Kelly was laid off in July of 2008 from his job as a construction supervisor. After many frustrating months painting and remodeling bathrooms, he challenged himself to get his general contractor's license and start his own construction business. A friend mentioned to him news about the new CEWTP program at Long Beach Community College and the rest is history. He got his first job remodeling a 90 year old Spanish house which he says allowed him to apply the skills learned in the program.

As a result, Scott recently pitched an idea to a friend who had recently been cast on a new show on Bravo called Million Dollar Decorator. As a result he appeared this Spring in segments of the show featuring the decorator Nathan Turner and also recently remodeled Dr. Robert Rey's office in Beverly Hills, also known as Dr. 90210! He says, "I couldn't have dreamed for better results!" This year he became involved in the Energy Upgrade California Program.

Seeking a new direction in his career, Joey (or Solar Joey as he has come to be known) took solar training classes with North Orange County Community College District's CEWTP program and their Enviroment Training Center. Since taking the training Joey has done very well for himself in the solar field. He started his own business and has teamed up with American Solar Direct, a program which helps home owners install solar panels on their home for little to no money out-of-pocket.

Joey's business is currently booming and he is looking to expand his capacity into the future. He has even started his own blog, www.solarjoey.com. Be sure to check it out!

Quincy Harris worked as an auto mechanic in the Bay area until the economic downtown that closed down dealerships put him out of work. Deciding he needed a more promising career, he took classes at the RichmondBuild energy training program. After graduation he was hired as an Energy Survey Specialist by an Oakland-based company called Energy Conservation Options (ECO).

Quincy received his certification as a HERS rater, and today he does assessments of residential homes, of offices, of large and small commercial projects, finding ways to cut their energy use.

Quincy is proud of his new career. He feels like he is doing his part to cut energy waste and to help fight climate change. As he puts it, "I feel like I'm helping to make a difference."

The Marin BERST "Building Energy Retrofit and Solar Transformation" efforts to standardize green building ordinances brought together building officials, designers, real estate and construction professionals as well as architects throughout Marin County. As a result of community outreach efforts of BERST, VMI Architecture learned of the CEWTP Project GREEN retraining program in Marin. The firm had gone through layoffs and reduction of hours for the remaining staff who found themselves underemployed as a result of the decline in the construction industry. Mohit Garg and Karen Quinto undertook such retraining:

Mohit Garg: "I wanted to have a multi-dimensional professional skill set in architecture. Now as a Certified Green Building Professional and a Green Point Adviser, I can bring more to the table both for my employer and our clients." The certification requires an understanding of sustainable building practices and their application to home building design.

Karen Quinto, an underemployed Production Associate at VMI Architecture, took advantage of the opportunity to advance her credentials. Karen held a LEED AP and was eager to learn more about energy efficiency and green building. She completed Title 24 certification and became a Certified Green Building Professional. She continues to do green building consulting in her expanding role with VMI.

"The green job training program at Long Beach Community College was the perfect opportunity to learn about LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Working in the architectural field, LEED accreditation is definitely a plus. Many clients insist on two things - Revit (3D modeling software) and LEED. Fortunately, Long Beach Community College offered both.

I was laid off for about a year before I began the green training. During the training I learned about green building practices, the latest energy codes, and much more all taught from industry experts. This prepared me for the LEED Green Associate (GA) exam and now I'm a LEED GA.

Currently, I'm happy to say that I'm working on a LEED project using Revit. And because this program also offers job leads and placement, the future is promising."

Dave Dennis was a graduate from the Introduction to Green Technology Spring 2010 class, taught at Cuesta College, as part of the Clean Energy Workforce Training Program.

Dave has been a plumber for 10 years, working in the residential and small commercial sector. After the recession hit, Dave was laid off and decided to enroll in the Introduction to Green Technology course through the OneStop Center in Grover Beach.

Towards the end of the course, the class was studying solar hot water systems with the help of local solar electric business owner Mike Emerich. With Mike overseeing and instructing the students how to install the system, he took notice to Dave's plumbing skills and his ability to teach his fellow classmates how to solder, cut pipe and other plumbing tricks of the trade. After the lab was complete Mike gave Dave his card and asked him to give him a call, saying he was looking to hire a new plumber.

Weeks later, Dave was hired and is now working full time with benefits installing solar hot water systems and radiant floor heating systems on homes and businesses in San Luis Obispo County. As a recent father, Dave is thankful for the opportunity to have taken the Green Technology course and is proud of the work he is doing.

Ben Ramos was a graduate from the Introduction to Green Technology Spring 2010 class, taught at Cuesta College, as part of the Clean Energy Workforce Training Program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Ben had years of experience working in construction and roofing in the San Luis Obispo region. He was laid off when the company dried up and the owner moved on, leaving him unemployed and seeking ways to support his family. He decided to enroll in the OneStop Center in San Luis Obispo and quickly signed up for the Green Technology course for the Spring of 2010.

About half way through the energy auditing portion of the course, Ben applied for a position with the Community Action Partnership in San Luis Obispo (CAP SLO) as a full time home energy weatherization technician. Ninety people applied for the one open position. The people at CAP SLO were so impressed with Ben that soon after he was hired.

Ben is currently working full time with CAP SLO weatherization team, 40hrs a week with benefits. When we speak to him, he expresses appreciation for the chance to have taken the Green Technology course and is proud that he's on the front lines of fighting climate change.

Victor Orozco worked with clean technologies before most people acknowledged the need. He worked as a station engineer for the Southern California Gas Company during the 1980s but after 14 years in the industry, he left to pursue a career in real estate.

He experienced a successful career working in the home mortgage department of Wells Fargo and toiling in real estate for the hospitality industry until the market took a big dip. When Victor read about President Obama releasing money for green job training, he saw an opportunity for reinvention. He signed up for Water and Energy Efficiency Building and Retrofits training at Long Beach Community College through the Clean Energy Workforce Training Program.

Victor began attending numerous networking events where his entrepreneurial spirit guided him to several opportunities. For example, he met the owner of a patent for increased efficiency sprinkler valves and is now working to find financial backing to begin local manufacturing to help put even more people to work.

Eventually, Victor would like to enter the political arena, taking a seat on a Municipal Water Board. Until then, he is busy working to start his own company and hopes that some of his fellow Clean Energy Workforce Training Program participants will come on board.

With an extensive background in construction, Rick had been doing cost estimating and claims consulting for a high-end commercial consulting firm until the bottom dropped out of the commercial construction market. Rick discovered Marin Employment Connection and eagerly pursued retraining in energy efficiency and green building through the organization's Project GREEN. A year later Rick has several industry-recognized certificates as a Certified Green Building Professional and Green Point Advisor focusing on new construction and existing homes.

According to Rick, "While we may be ahead of the curve with many jobs yet to materialize, the training has been invaluable. I am now finishing my formal training with an emphasis on NxLevel Entrepreneurial training through the Small Business Development Center in Santa Rosa to ensure my marketing and financial plans can sustain my business until the economy begins to recover."

Rick also says, "The building performance classes have been great. They give an even broader perspective on green building. It is one thing to do what is necessary to achieve points and another to do what's best from a performance point of view. All this has helped me develop a solid business model."

Michael Nickelberry worked at Stater Brothers in the City of Anaheim and learned very quickly that education was the only option he had to better support his family after he got laid off. As a result, Michael was thrilled to hear of the green technology training provided by the North Orange County Community College District under the American Reinvestment Recovery Act.

As Michael describes, "My dreams and my goals I cherish and with this opportunity I don't just see the half mile, I see the whole mile; and with all of the certificates that I have received from the Environmental Training center, it has not only left a smile upon my face and a sense of direction in my life but it also has put smiles upon my son and daughter's face. To those who never took the first step toward their education, opportunity is constant, you must run with the torch and when you are done caring it you must pass it on to the next person."

Michael is now working for the Recycling Company, Republic Services, where he is responsible for recycling system maintenance work throughout the Anaheim region.

Before William Hoffarth registered in the Green Building Training Program with the North Orange County Community College District, he had great difficulty coping with the demands of today's economy. As a construction worker, he saw first hand the crippling effects the recession had and lost his job.

William was referred to the Green Building Training Program staff by the local One-Stop. His first email was poignant: He explained to the ETC staff that he had recently become homeless and felt that he desperately needed new skills if he was to reach his professional goals.

After his training, William secured a job with a local non-profit which offers free weatherization for low-income households. William states, "It is so neat that the NOCCD stepped up to the plate and will train people to make things green."

William is currently working to become BPI certified. He is positive about his future and happy to have found a niche in today's green sector.