2011 NEW ARTICLES

Good turn out again for the 3rd MA Green Career Conference

Press Release Date:  October 1, 2011

On September 30, 2011 people across the Commonwealth gathered again in Marlborough for the 3rd Massachusetts Green Career Conference.

The conference attracted nearly 300 people from government, education and business along with several workforce development and career services professionals, and job seekers transitioning into the green economy.   

“Each year we attract a variety of people interested in green careers,” said the conference director, Jen Boudrie.  “This year we also had some college students interested in sustainable development at the conference.  We even had a teacher from a technical high school who brought three of her students.“

The three keynote speakers were Kevin Doyle, author of four green career guides; Susan Dobscha, Associate Professor of Marketing at Bentley University; and Patrick Cloney, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

"Each year we showcase current and emerging initiatives.  This year there was a stronger interest in solar energy,” noted Jen Boudrie.

According to a keynote speaker, Patrick Cloney, Massachusetts has grown from 50 to 200 solar installation companies in recent years.  Says Cloney, “We are in the process of creating a new industry.  Massachusetts currently has more than 50MW of solar electricity installed and by the end of the year we will expect to have 90MW.”

Businesses were accepting resumes at the conference from several job seekers.  The HR director of Next Step Living, a home weatherization business which grew from 5 to 180 employees in the past 4 years, had a busy day at the conference.  “Look at all the resumes I collected,” she said at the end of the day.  “This was a good day.  I expect some of the candidates I met today will be joining us. The company’s growing and we need more staff."    

When the keynote speakers were asked about what careers and training needed will be needed in the future for sustainable development, Kevin Doyle said “The industry is seeking people in science and technology, as well as management skills.  Having a well rounded employee who has several skills is important.  We need people who can get the work done.”

One of the 35 presenters and 20 exhibitors was David Schmidt, Chair of the Energy Management Department at Mount Wachusett Community College.  He described the Energy Manager degree and certificate program taught at their Devens campus, and mentioned their Gardner campus sustainability initiative which includes getting 97% of their electricity supply from renewable energy.

Another conference presenter was Marlborough resident and businessman Greg Minott who is principal of the D.R.E.A.M (Development, Revitalization, Energy, Architecture, Management) Collaborative who spoke about his success and marketing.

Also on hand were two students from the Business and Technology Department at Assabet Valley Technical High School who helped out at the conference by assisting the conference registration staff.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center which is investing in business and workforce development in Massachusetts was a platinum sponsor for the conference. 

We’re looking forward to having the conference again next year,” says Jen Boudrie.  “Folks want to learn about sustainable development and emerging opportunities.  This conference helps people find their role in the green economy.” 

Post-conference information will be posted at www.MassGreenCareers.com.  

2011 Photos by Felipe Zamora

2010 NEW ARTICLES

Massachusetts green economy is second in US

As total jobs decreased, state’s clean jobs rose

By Elaine Thompson, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, September 26, 2010

Sumayal Shrestha has planned out her part in trying to prevent the human race from going the way of the dinosaurs, Romans and other extinct civilizations and cultures.

“If we continue to use up resources at the current rate, I guess humans will be next in line,” said Ms. Shrestha, a graduate student in environmental science and policy at Clark University in Worcester. “There is so much scientific evidence about climate change happening. We as consumers, residents, it’s our duty to restore Earth back to its balance. All of us can do a little bit to help have a better environment.”

The 24-year-old native of Nepal plans to return home after graduation next spring, where she said there is a great need for knowledge in the use and preservation of the developing country’s rich biodiversity and natural resources.

She and Suzanne Edmunds of Bolton, an undergraduate in environmental science and policy at Clark, will exhibit work they’ve done at the second annual Massachusetts Green Careers Conference from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday at the Holiday Inn in Marlboro. Ms. Edmunds’ work focuses on recycling. Ms. Shrestha’s is an analysis of solar and energy suitability in Stow, using geographic information system mapping tools. It was a project that she and other students in Assistant Professor Will O’Brien’s Green Business Management course did last spring for Stow Energy Group.

The theme of the conference is “Find Your Role in the New Green Economy.” As happened last year, hundreds of people throughout New England are expected to attend. Forty experts will be available to provide information about the green economy and related training and careers. Several area colleges will have information on their environmental, energy and sustainability programs established to help meet workforce demands. This year, businesses will be accepting résumés for several jobs, including marketing, sales, customer service, energy efficiency, weatherization and technical support.

The host of the conference is Green Workforce Training and Associates, founded by Jen Boudrie of Marlboro, an instruction designer for the past 20 years and leader of a local environmental group called Green Marlboro.  Ms. Boudrie said she created the annual conference because so many people are eager to learn about and transition into green careers.

“I think some people will find jobs. Some people will find training. Some people will find inspiration. Some people will find a bigger network. And some will find knowledge they need,” she said. People can get more information and register for the conference at www.massgreencareers.com. Tickets may be available at the door. The conference sold out five days in advance last year.

Keynote panelists are Patrick Cloney, executive director of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center; Kevin Doyle, principal of Green Economy and co-chairman of the New England Clean Energy Council; and Joan Fitzgerald, a Northeastern University professor and author of “Emerald Cities: Urban Sustainability and Economic Development,” “Moving Up in the New Economy: Career Ladders for U.S. Workers” and “Economic Revitalization: Cases and Strategies for City and Suburb.”

The future of diverse green careers in Massachusetts is very bright. The state is on the forefront when it comes to legislation, incentives, investments, innovation resources and job creation. Massachusetts ranks second, behind California , in the top 10 leading clean-energy states, according to a study by the state Clean Energy Center commissioned earlier this year. The states were compared in 56 categories encompassing regulatory and financial incentives, knowledge capital and economic and workforce development.

Ms. Fitzgerald said the problem faced by the green industry in this country is a lack of national policy. There are state strategies, but companies such as Evergreen are leaving for China and other countries that have national policies to provide free land, tax breaks and support for their research and development. She said the U.S. Senate should take the U.S. House’s lead and pass energy and climate legislation.

“We’ve got a policy gap. We’re starting some companies, but we’re not keeping the manufacturing jobs. Given the rate of unemployment, we need to have those manufacturing jobs located in the U.S.,” she said.

U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., said he was optimistic regarding the fate of climate legislation.

“The work we’ve done over the past two years will remain the foundation for passing climate change. We’ve built an unprecedented coalition of support and I’m convinced President Obama, Majority Leader (Harry) Reid, and the overwhelming majority of the Democratic caucus want to continue this fight and win. They know climate legislation will create millions of American jobs, strengthen national security, and give us cleaner air. I can’t tell you that it’ll be next year, but we’ll get there because the issue gets more urgent every year. I know we can get there,” Mr. Kerry said.

Clean energy was the No. 10 industry in the state in 2007, according to a study by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and the former Renewable Energy Trust. A study released by The Pew Charitable Trust last year shows that between 1998 and 2007, Massachusetts was among only seven states in which total jobs decreased but clean energy jobs increased. The Pew study also determined that Massachusetts ranked sixth among states in clean technology patents, with 384 from 1999 through 2008; and second in clean technology venture capital funding, with nearly $1.3 billion in private investment from 2006 through 2008.

“To us, what that says is that Massachusetts has been and continues to be a leader in clean energy jobs and businesses and in innovation,” said Phyllis Cuttino, who directs the Pew Environment Group’s Global Warming Campaign. “When you look around the world, the place the United States is the clear leader in is the area of clean energy innovation, and in many ways Massachusetts is really home to much of that leadership.”

She said that even during the global recession, the clean energy market has grown 230 percent over the last five years. While the U.S. remains the leader in clean energy innovation, the country has fallen behind when it comes to financial investment, primarily because of not having federal legislation.

“This country has had an Internet revolution and we led that worldwide. I think we’re poised on a cusp of a clean energy revolution, but the question for all of us is, ‘Are we going to be a leader in that revolution?’ That question, frankly, is unanswered,” said Ms. Cuttino. “It could be the dawning of a new day or we could be missing a huge opportunity.  If we want to lead in the clean energy economy, the United States has to pass a clean energy policy.”

Old skills fit new field at Green Career Conference in Marlborough

By Paul Crocetti/Daily News staff, The MetroWest Daily News October 02, 2010

Green jobs are "the future," but much of the work involves occupations that have been around for some time, a panel of experts said yesterday.

Speaking to a crowd of hundreds at the second Massachusetts Green Career Conference, author and Northeastern professor Joan Fitzgerald pointed to jobs in plumbing, electrical and carpentry.

"A lot of it is the same occupations we've always had, being applied to green sectors," Fitzgerald said at the Holiday Inn.

The sold-out conference brought together businesses, schools, experts, students, state workers and job seekers for a day that included informational sessions, exhibits and networking. When conference director Jennifer Boudrie polled the crowd about reasons for attending, many people indicated they were thinking about changing careers.

"Green jobs can be created anywhere," Fitzgerald said.

The panelists pointed to a need for engineers.

"Engineering is fun, it's exciting, it's well-paid," said Kevin Doyle of the New England Clean Energy Council. "It's time to stop saying, 'That's someone else.' "

Panelists stressed the importance of green jobs.

"We are the future," Doyle said. "These industries cannot be held down by everything holding us back now."

Doyle said he was upset about the recession's effect but said he realized green companies are in it for the long haul.

"This is a great time to be talking and researching green jobs," even though it's not an ideal time to look for work, Doyle said.

Doyle advised job-seekers to "push through the system" and apply for any jobs they feel they could do, even if they call for an overwhelming amount of experience.

"It's basically a brand-new industry," said Patrick Cloney, executive director of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center . "We have a whole portfolio of really exciting companies on the verge of explosive growth."

The growth has been smaller than hoped so far, Doyle said.

"Future economic development ... will rely on green careers," said Mark Sylvia, director of the green communities division in the state Energy Resources Department.

Wind and battery manufacturing have grown in the United States , said David Hess, a professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

"Manufacturing is a key part of the green economy," Fitzgerald said.

Andrea Perrault, program developer for work force development at the state Education Department, said she liked the quality of the speakers.

"It's really old jobs being retrofitted for the new economy," Perrault said following the panel discussion.  

Big turnout for Green Conference

Focusing on jobs and eco-friendly initiatives

Main Street Journal, Marlborough, October 12, 2010

According to Conference Director Jen Boudrie, the Massachusetts Green Career Conference sold out in advance for the second year in a row. The conference was held earlier this month at the Marlborough Holiday Inn. Altogether 350 people came to learn about the green economy and careers. 

Most of the attendees were stakeholders from colleges and high schools who attended to learn about green career options for their students. Other stakeholders were from businesses and government, while about one quarter of the attendees were people seeking career transitions and new jobs.

The conference offered a mix of lectures, coaching, exhibits and workshops.  Four leading experts on the green economy and green careers participated on the keynote panel. Six green career coaches met with 40 people for one-on-one sessions. A total of 34 exhibits included businesses accepting resumes, colleges and professional career resources. More than 30 experts hosted sessions on such topics as green careers, education/training, and business. 

The two most popular sessions were “The Green Economy and Careers in Massachusetts ” and “Green Career Transitions and Pathways” which were attended by 120 and 150 people respectively.

“Everyone who came was interested in green careers,” said Boudrie, “This conference connects people to resources.  If we want a strong eco-friendly workforce we need good career resources, education and jobs.  It can’t happen in a vacuum.  We need people working together to accelerate green economic and career growth.”

Boudrie said a conference will be held in Marlborough again next year, and she expects it to be even bigger. “The green economy and green careers will continue to grow and expand, and we will keep people up to date with our experts and exhibitors,” she said. “I have designed this conference to be informative and practical, with a little fun thrown in, so people get a lot out of it and enjoy it.” For more information, visit www.MassGreenCareers.com.

Shown in bottom-right picture below, the keynote panel with four experts kicked off the conference with a discussion about green careers.   The panel included (l-r) David Hess, professor in Rensselaer’s Department of Science and Technology Studies and author of the Green Jobs Project about state and local government policies in the U.S; Kevin Doyle, principal of Green Economy and Workforce Development co-chair at the New England Clean Energy Council; Patrick Cloney, executive director of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center which is accelerating the growth of the clean energy industry in Massachusetts through direct investments in businesses and workforce development; and Joan Fitzgerald, author of Emerald Cities: Urban Sustainability and Economic Development, and professor/director at Northeastern University.

Shown in bottom-left picture below (l-r) from the New England Laborers Union are John Phillips and Kevin Farias at one of the 34 conference exhibits.  Photos by Matt Baldelli.

2009 PHOTOS by Matt Baldelli

2009 NEWS ARTICLES

Job seekers going green

By Elaine Thompson, Worcester Telegram & Gazette Staff, October 3, 2009

Nancy Keenan, from Qteros in Marlborough, speaks at the conference. (T&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR)

MARLBORO —  Hundreds of people from New England and as far away as New York crammed into the Holiday Inn yesterday to learn how they can get training and jobs in the emerging green economy.

Green Workforce Training and Associates hosted the First Massachusetts Green Career Conference with panels of leading experts in the green industry, as well as representatives of companies that are hiring and people with resources on how to get training for green jobs.

“I’m looking to go back to work now that my three kids are grown, and this is a market that interests me,” said 44-year-old Debbie J. Noyes of Harvard, a former software developer. “This time I want to do something that’s meaningful. Going from high tech to clean tech is appealing to me.”

Keynote speaker Kevin Doyle, principal of Green Economy and co-chairman of the New England Clean Energy Council, said Massachusetts is a leader in the green revolution because of important legislation the Legislature passed in 2008.

“The Green Jobs Act, the Green Communities Act, the Global Warming Solutions Act and the BioFuels Act — all of these acts are doing what government needs to do. They are increasing the demand side by increasing the standards that this economy and especially this energy economy needs to match,” he said.

He said most of the energy-efficiency jobs have existed for years. Employees need a little bit of “green-up” training to take advantage of the huge investment in energy efficiency the state is making, he said.

In 2007, a study by the Massachusetts Collaborative and the Renewable Energy Trust determined that, with 14,000 employees, clean energy was the No. 10 industry in the state. A study released in June by the Pew Charitable Trust found that clean energy jobs in Massachusetts had nearly doubled.

Mr. Doyle said Environment Northeast held a press conference at the Statehouse Thursday to announce that for every $1 million invested in energy efficiency, almost 36 jobs are created. He said the state plans to invest more than $400 million in energy efficiency over the next three to four years. He said hundreds of companies in Massachusetts are leading the green economy, including 334 companies that are classified in the solar energy cluster.

Many entry-level green jobs only require “ramp-up” training from on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs. But more important, the public school system needs to radically and dramatically improve its ability to prepare people for science, technology, engineering and math, he said.

“There is no way around that. If we want a technologically advanced economy with people that are trained for it, we need to put the money into it. We need to improve our schools and we need parents and students to demand it,” he said.

Expansion of green jobs unhindered by slump

By Ted Seifer, Boston Globe Correspondent, October 11, 2009

It wasn’t long ago that a professional environmentalist could be accurately characterized as someone sporting Birkenstocks, facial hair, and a penchant for field guides.

Judging by the clean-cut crowd at the Green Career Conference in Marlborough in early October, this is no longer the case. The sold-out event drew around 300 job seekers and representatives from companies large and small, including A123 Systems, the Watertown electric car battery maker that recently raised more than a half-billion dollars from its initial public stock offering and a massive federal grant.

Under the rubric of “clean energy,’’ these and other firms have created thousands of jobs in Massachusetts in recent years, and for the most part, the growth has continued through the recession. Global Insight, an economic analysis firm in Lexington , estimated there were 14,400 clean energy jobs in the state, with the most in energy efficiency, consulting, and renewable energy. Kevin Doyle, an environmental careers researcher and author, estimates there are around 1,500 employers in the clean energy sector employing 20,000 people, based on an analysis of payroll records and other data.

So how to get one of these green jobs, short of going back to school to study electrical engineering? A first step might be parting with the idea that there is such a thing as a green job, per se.

"If someone has a program called ‘green job training,’ walk in the other direction,’’ said Doyle, who gave the keynote address at the Marlborough conference. “We tell people over and over again to find the more general part of the workforce you want to be a part of, and then find the green component. For example, if you want to be a solar installer, a better idea might be to become a certified electrician."

In other words, environmental initiatives have created opportunities across the professional spectrum. A recent report for the Department of Labor, “Greening of the World of Work,’’ identifies 91 “new and emerging’’ occupations. These include energy auditors, who measure the energy efficiency of buildings; carbon traders, brokers who deal in carbon credits; and chief sustainability officers, who oversee a company’s environmental policies.

Then there are the so-called green-collar jobs. Around $8 billion in federal stimulus money has been designated for the hands-on work of weatherization and otherwise boosting the energy efficiency of buildings and homes. Massachusetts is spending millions on training programs for these jobs through its Clean Energy Center . But these efforts have largely targeted low-income populations, and, as Doyle points out, there are also plenty of out-of-work builders, plumbers, and electricians these days who are eager to fill these positions.

However, several local colleges are taking green-collar jobs to higher levels. This spring, Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner plans to roll out an associate’s program in energy management, a field encompassing all the things a company or household might do to reduce their energy consumption.

UMass Boston is putting together a program on energy literacy. A primer on the scientific principles behind emerging green technologies, it’s the first program geared toward managerial-level professionals and entrepreneurs being funded by the Clean Energy Center , according to Marybeth Campbell, its director of workforce development.

For those angling for higher-level, nontechnical jobs in the green sector, such general knowledge - along with passion for the field - may go further than a discrete set of skills. “In an interview situation, if you’ve never done this kind of work before, we expect you to have done your homework,’’ said Nancy Keenan, human resources director at Marlborough’s Qteros, which uses a patented microbe to convert biomass into ethanol fuel. “We’re doing something important for the world. To think of this as just another job, that doesn’t work for us."

Palmer Moore offers similar advice. He had been working for a high-end yacht builder until early this year, when he joined Nexamp, an energy management firm based in North Andover that specializes in solar installations.

While trained as a marine engineer, Moore now wears many hats. “In this sector, you have to come into it with energy and passion, and a illingness to learn quickly and resolve whatever you need to resolve. The nice thing is it’s not limited to one demographic or one select group of clientele. Everyone has to pay their utility bills.’’

City hosts first statewide ‘Green Career Conference’

By Angela Greiner Community Reporter, Community Advocate, October 8, 2009

PHOTO/ANGELA GREINER (l to r) President and CEO of the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce Susanne Morreale Leeber; Kevin Doyle, author of “Green Economy and Environmental Careers” and cochair of the New England Clean Energy Council’s Workforce Development Group; and Jennifer Boudrie, City Council candidate and founder of Green Marlborough, gather at the first Massachusetts Green Career Conference Oct. 2 in Marlborough.

Marlborough - Business owners, professionals, green activists, and local and state legislators flocked to the first statewide Green Career Conference, held Oct. 2 in Marlborough. Organized by local environmental educator Jennifer Boudrie, the event assembled many of the key figures leading the charge in creating a green economy in the area. Keynote speaker Kevin Doyle, author of “Green Economy and Environmental Careers” and cochair of the New England Clean Energy Council’s Workforce Development Group, discussed career paths that are being newly created and entrepreneurial ideas coming out of the emerging eco-friendly economy.

     Conference attendees included a local architect who asked how she could help her clients navigate through the rebates, and others who asked about ratings on the wide variety of energy-efficient products emerging on the market.

    “There is a job creation opportunity for what you are talking about,” Doyle responded. “People are looking for sources of good information.”

     The sold-out conference drew over 300 people from across the state. Boudrie explained that 40 percent of the audience consisted of people transitioning into green careers and looking for jobs; staff from one-stop career centers and colleges helping people find jobs were another 40 percent; and staff from businesses and local and state government made up the remaining 20 percent.

    “This conference was an important milestone in the emerging green economy,” Boudrie said.

    Attendees learned about green career opportunities, and stakeholders from government, business and education had an opportunity to exchange ideas.

     Featuring over 30 guest speakers, the conference also offered a panel of Massachusetts exhibitors from alternative and renewable energy companies, and college sustainability/green programs.

    Although the conference did serve as an educational opportunity for local officials and companies to tap into potential green dollars and future career opportunities, it also had companies present who were hiring. Companies looking for new employers included manufacturers of clean energy, energy-efficient and alternative energy products and services.

    Boudrie explained that she chose to host the venue locally, because the city is centrally located and easily accessible for people coming from all over the state. 

    “I was happy to have the conference locally,” she said. “It is good to stimulate interest in the emerging green economy and green careers locally.”

     Attending the event were several city representatives including State Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, who applauded Boudrie for her efforts.

     “Jennifer has done a fabulous job,” said Peggy Ayers, district director for Eldridge. “It has slowly been getting to the point that people realize that there are white collar, blue collar and green collar jobs.”

      Echoing Ayers’s review of the day and praise for Boudrie for organizing the event, Marlborough City Planner Nancy Savoie said she was very proud to have the event take place in Marlborough.