LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – In partnership with the Arkansas Apprenticeship Alliance, Entegrity Energy Partners announces the launch of the nation’s first apprenticeship in the green building industry to help Arkansas’ talent achieve their LEED Green Associate credential. The Arkansas Apprenticeship Alliance, with support from the Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation, has helped Entegrity to formulate this apprenticeship to meet their growth needs in the emerging green building industry.
Arkansas has been on the forefront of the green building movement nationally and is one of the first states in the U.S. to have a USGBC (US Green Building Council) Chapter. As the market develops, the titles, responsibilities, and market strategies for these roles have differed greatly from company to company. Accordingly, like most, Entegrity has always home-grown their employees with internal education, on-the-job training, and company-sponsored exam prep and test fees, continuing education, etc. As the company continues its growth, the apprenticeship model offers standardization, national recognition, training reimbursement funding, and a state tax credit to further enhance their program.
“Since its founding over four years ago, ACDS has helped 130 organizations discover success through the supplemental staffing strategy of registered apprenticeships,” says ACDS Apprenticeship Director Lonnie Emard. “Now, through the Arkansas Apprenticeship Alliance, we have the opportunity to offer that same success to the energy sector and others. We look forward to helping Entegrity solve their talent challenges.”
In the final stages of development, the specific position piloting the apprenticeship model is the Sustainability Coordinator role within the Sustainability Department at Entegrity. The US DOL Registered Apprenticeship is a Technical Content Professional and is a one year apprenticeship which includes 144 hours of classroom training, including Microsoft Excel, LEED GA test prep, and more, while the on-the-job-training includes documentation of LEED credits for current construction projects, development of templates for future projects, and experience working for a consulting and development company.
“We are excited to be developing this apprenticeship model to help support the continued growth of our newest team members at Entegrity,” says Entegrity Vice President – Sustainability Meredith Hendricks. “Hopefully this model will be able to be replicated at other companies.”
April Ambrose, Director of Energy and Environment for the Arkansas Apprenticeship Alliance, attended the USGBC South Central Tour, Education and Leadership Awards this month to recognize Entegrity for their role in advancing the industry, while educating other attendees about how apprenticeship can provide diverse, skilled talent in emerging industries.