Andy Tveter, handyman for NorthWestern Energy in Great Falls, Montana, is learning self-confidence and job skills, thanks to the utility’s investment in him.
The recent graduate of Great Falls High School landed his job through the Secondary Life Skills Program, which trains special-needs students and helps them find employment.
“At first, it was scary to think about getting a new job, but now it’s not anymore,” Tveter told American Gas. At NorthWestern Energy, he gained experience in staying focused and following a schedule—skills that any future employer will value.
NorthWestern Energy—a participant in the program for three decades—was recently named Employer of the Year by the Great Falls School District, which noted that all the Life Skills students who worked at the utility are employed.
Bob Vinson, NorthWestern Energy’s local manager of operations, isn’t surprised; he sees many students who have gone through the program on the job at local restaurants and grocery stores.
“It’s gratifying to see many of our former Life Skills employees working in different capacities around our community,” Vinson told American Gas. — Carolyn Kimmel