Have you ever wondered how your electric service gets repaired during an outage? What training do those utility workers receive? Do you know anyone, perhaps a family member, who may be looking for an exciting new career opportunity?
FirstEnergy’s Power Systems Institute (PSI) is an award-winning program for recruiting and developing the next generation of line and substation workers. Established in 2000, PSI is a unique, two-year program that combines classroom learning with hands-on training. Students who successfully complete the program earn an Associate Degree in Electric Utility Technology, which can lead to a career as a lineworker or substation electrician in the electric utility industry. Since the program’s inception, FirstEnergy has hired more than 2,100 graduates across its service territory.
Lance Fry is the Manager of Workforce Strategy and Planning with FirstEnergy, where he is responsible for the oversight of the Power Systems Institute (PSI) program. PSI is a unique training program in that it prepares line workers and substation electricians while attaining an Associate Degree in Electric Utility Technology. Lance’s other responsibilities include utility staffing plan & strategies, staffing regulatory responses, training forecasting, web delivery technology, instructor certification and job skills demonstration facilitation.
Lance began his career as a high school science teacher. After 10 years, he transitioned to working in environmental laboratories, first with Environmental Science Corporation in TN and later with FirstEnergy’s BETA laboratory. His work concentrated on managing sample testing processes to ensure EPA compliance. Following 15 years in the laboratory, he moved over to his current position in Workforce Development.
He lives in Solon, OH with his wife and four children. Lance enjoys spending time with his family, volunteering at his church, playing tennis and riding his motorcycle.
Lance will be joined by Rob Petit, Supervisor of FirstEnergy’s Power Systems Institute (PSI) Program. Rob will explain the details of the program and how candidates can apply. Rob has led the PSI program for three (3) years. He is a graduate of the University of Akron. He currently resides in Wadsworth, OH and enjoys spending time with his wife, Sara, and their two small children, Robbie and Charlotte.
Happy Tuesday! I’m excited to announce that The Rotary Club of Canton will be returning to downtown Canton this Friday. Our in-person meeting will be held at Bender’s Tavern as we gather to hear from Lance Fry and Rob Petit from FirstEnergy. As always, we will still be co-hosting a Zoom meeting to accommodate all of our Rotarians that are unable to make it to the in-person meeting. It is my hope that we can continue to increase the attendance on both the Zoom and in-person meetings. If you have any questions about how to participate, please feel free to reach out to me.
Have a great week and I hope to see you on Friday.
Veterans day originated as "Armistice Day" on November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and November 11th became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day honors military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation. A national ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
THANK YOU to the following Canton Rotarians who have served in the U.S. Military:
Anthony Bertin
Jim Blake
Chris Burt
Bob Carr
Dave Ewing
Paul Feaser
Dave Hursh
Bill Liber
Bill Luntz
Joe Niamtu
Jerry Ortman
Bob Pattison
Ernie Schott
Chuck Smith
Don Sultzbach
Pete Taflan
John Werren
Paul White
Harold Ziegler
Recognition for these members will be held during the November 6th meeting.
At our Zoom meeting on October 30, 2020, President Drew Pelger opened the meeting by welcoming a total of 26 Canton Rotarians ('live' at John's Bar and also via Zoom),our speaker, Kelli Viscounte and her guest, Shelby Wyant from Love Our Community.
Club Secretary, Paula Mastroianni presented some interesting historical facts for the day and announced that the following famous people were Rotarians: Cecie B. DeMille, Joyce Hall, the founder of Hallmark cards, Charles Lindburg and Diane Feinstein.
President Drew also received "Happy Bucks" from Becky Clark, President-Elect Mark Clendenin, Rick Taylor and Robert Matthews.
Announcements:
President Drew asked everyone to consider buying a "Brew Card" to help support this year's Oktoberfest project. Drew also announced that he is still waiting on the Massillon Rotary Club to set a date for the wing-eating challenge.
Vice President Julia Dick welcomed our speaker, Kelli Viscounte from Love Our Community.
This week's program will be Lance Fry and Rob Petit from First Energy.
(Editor's note: as you probably realize, our Canton Rotary Charitable Fund is challenged this year, since we have not been able to hold our normal slate of fundraisers due to COVID. Thanks to Oktoberfest Chairperson, Raquel Raderchak, this BREW CARD creatively takes the place of our live Oktoberfest, and gives us all an opportunity to 1) support Canton Rotary and our Charitable Fund and 2) support local breweries/restaurants that have been hit by COVID challenges, too. And it can be a great gift, especially for your relatives, friends, and associates who are younger-than-Boomer-age and LOVE craft beers! Please consider buying the new Canton Rotary BREW CARD.)
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