More than most, natural gas utilities recognize the ability of specialized education to enhance economic development and increase the quality of life for employees and, by extension, the community at large.
So, when Memphis Light, Gas and Water, the largest threeservice municipal utility in the nation, identified a critical need for workers with specialized training in fields including electronics, mechanics and computer sciences, it partnered with two telecommunications giants to offer area students a workforce initiative that delivers customized training and a direct connection to employment opportunities.
Named after the three participating companies—MLGW, AT&T and Comcast—the M.A.C. Workforce Initiative introduces students at Southwest Tennessee Community College to the skill sets and training needed for technical, IT, engineering, automation and similar positions at the three companies. The program was announced on Feb. 28 at an event at the college’s Macon Cove Campus.
Throughout the school year, staff from the companies will visit M.A.C. classes as guest speakers, providing real-life scenarios, giving in-person demonstrations and offering course recommendations.
MLGW’s Economic and Community Development team pitched the initiative to AT&T and Comcast in 2019, when it recognized the need to grow the talent pipeline in West Tennessee. Now, potential employees can join career paths including mechanic, machinist, LNG plant operator and construction specialist, thanks to the program’s multiple curricula.
“There is a wealth of opportunity available for students interested in following the M.A.C. career path,” MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen said. “People who work in the skilled trades are in high demand across the country.”