More than 200 people attended the second annual Energy & Infrastructure Open House and Union Apprenticeship Awareness Day at Stony Brook University’s Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT) on August 12. The event was organized by the university’s Office for Research and Innovation, in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
The open house brought together representatives from energy developers, utilities, government agencies, trade unions, and advocacy groups to share information about career opportunities related to New York’s clean energy transition. Attendees had the chance to speak with organizations such as the New York State Department of Public Service, National Grid, New York Power Authority (NYPA), EmPower Solar, United Way of Long Island, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, offshore wind developers Ørsted, Vineyard Offshore, Equinor, and trade union leaders from Nassau and Suffolk Building Trades.
Interactive displays, virtual reality experiences, giveaways, and networking sessions were offered to students and jobseekers. Kevin Gardner, vice president for research and innovation at Stony Brook University said: “This is just one more example of how Stony Brook is a key economic development partner for Long Island and for the state. Whether it’s workforce training, awareness programs, or research that makes businesses more competitive, our message is: we are your partner, come work with us.”
The event also marked week six of “Summer Youth Employment Program: A Taste of the Trades,” a paid training initiative designed for high school students from underserved districts. This seven-week program introduces participants to clean energy production and infrastructure development.
Jannat Majid, a Bellport High School graduate who attended last year’s program and secured an internship with Haugland Group through contacts made during her participation said: “I learned so much through my internship with the Haugland Group about government structure, renewable energy, and even technical details like how the duct bank works. Taste of the Trades gave me my first professional experience and prepared me to step into this role. My advice to other students is, don’t be afraid. This is your future, and it’s worth it to make that initial connection.”
Selman Kurtoglu of Haugland Group spoke about building early awareness among students regarding skills needed in the industry. “We believe in filling the pipeline and creating awareness at an early age so we can address the skills gap in our industry,” Kurtoglu said. “Jannat has been phenomenal, and it’s exciting to see her start her career path before even beginning college. We need to come together — companies, unions, educators — to support the next generation. If we don’t do that, no one else will.”
Derek O’Connor from Stony Brook’s Office for Research and Innovation organized this year’s open house as both a convening point for innovators in energy fields across New York State as well as a practical exercise in workforce readiness.
Jaiden Francis—a senior mechanical engineering major at Stony Brook—attended seeking opportunities in renewable energy sectors: “Talking to companies working in offshore wind and other clean energy fields has been really eye-opening,” Francis said. “It’s encouraging to see how strong the demand is for people in these industries and to meet individuals whose job is to connect you with opportunities. This is the first time I’ve seen an event so focused on helping people break into the field, even if it’s not directly through the company they’re speaking with.”
O’Connor added: “Our students in Taste of the Trades get to showcase their newfound technical knowledge with potential employers while sharpening their networking abilities. Having a Summer Youth graduate not only return but as an employee with a leader like Haugland proves that the program is working.”
Leena Elbaroudy—a rising senior at Bellport High School—shared her experience: “I didn’t really know what I was going into at first,” she said. “I learned about the electrical grid, battery storage, welding CNC machining,and environmental impacts of green energy.It showed me therangeof possibilitiesand confirmedthat I wantto studyengineering.” She noted that conversations with offshore wind developers provided guidance on steps toward environmental engineering careers.“They showed me thesteps togetintoenvironmental engineeringandthecollegesI couldconsider.StonyBrookisdefinitelyatthetopofmylistbecauseoftheopportunitieshere.”
Industry representatives emphasized ongoing demand for skilled workers across multiple disciplines including construction,environ-mental science,and community engagement.Kurtoglu highlighted broad prospects available:“Everythingisconnected—frominfrastructuretotechnologytoSTEM.Exposuretothesefieldsearlyonhelpspeoplefocusonwhattheywanttodo.Myadviceis,dontbeafraidtofail,becurious,andaskquestions.Networkingiseverything.”