Training is essential to career growth for Gas Utility Construction and Service graduate
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Every day is a learning experience for Monahan, and it’s what he enjoys the most about his career.
Whether your career choice is in the information technology, construction, nursing or energy industry, the consensus among employers is that to succeed in a profession, you must keep learning.
Tyler Monahan, a new weld/operations tech for Black Hills Energy, understands that professionals need to keep pace with change and technology through training.
“As soon as I began my job at Black Hills Energy last May, I’ve been enrolled in training programs. I earned my certified welder credential, safety certification and I’m practicing my welding skills in stick and pipe welding,” Monahan said.
A 2013 graduate of Northeast Iowa Community College’s Gas Utility Construction and Service program, Monahan arrived at Black Hills Energy after working as a technician in Cedar Rapids for Mid-American Energy from 2014-2019. The East Dubuque (IL) High School graduate believes his career in the energy industry aligns with exactly what he wanted in a career.
“I’ve never wanted to be working in an office all day. I want to be outside, doing work with my hands. At Mid-American Energy, my position as a tech was also limited. At Black Hills, service technicians do it all – meter-to-street service, going into homes for customers, pipe welding and more,” he said.
Community colleges like NICC serve an important role in workforce preparation and continuing education, Monahan said. “At Northeast Iowa Community College, we worked with the test plot on campus, operating machines, getting pipes in the ground, putting air on it and tapping the pipe. I especially like the welding we did in the mornings,” he said.
Al Dolan, NICC Gas Utility Construction and Service instructor, sees nothing but futures with bright careers unfolding for his students. Dolan worked for Black Hills Energy for 20 years, with the first 10 years devoted to service technician work and the last half as a welder and operations technician. As an operations tech, Dolan performed service and construction work on large volume meter sets and odorizers, as well as conducting leak investigations and inspections of crews.
"The employment opportunities for graduates who complete the one-year program at Northeast Iowa Community College are so much greater than they are for someone who has a four-year degree. Once you gain experience in this field, you can go anywhere,” Dolan said.
Every day is a learning experience for Monahan, and it’s what he enjoys the most about his career. “The thing I love about a gas utility career is that you encounter different obstacles every day; different people and situations. You see something new and you’re always learning,” Monahan said.
The Gas Utility Construction and Service program at NICC prepares students to install, maintain and operate both high and low-pressure natural gas distribution systems used to supply residential, commercial and industrial companies. Program graduates will be qualified to enter one of the most technologically intensive industries in today's economy with potential careers in gas construction mechanics, gas meter mechanics, gas service mechanics, gas clerk estimation, gas regulator maintenance mechanics, gas appliance repair and underground facilities location. More information about the one-year diploma program is available at www.nicc.edu/gasutility.
Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves 1.27 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com and www.blackhillsenergy.com.