AAEA Engagements: October in Motion
October 3-4: At the second annual River Valley Green Energy and Education Program (RV-GEEP) in Fort Smith, Executive Director Lauren Waldrip and Director of Workforce Development April Ambrose led discussions on renewable energy policy, workforce growth, and economic opportunities in Arkansas. They were joined by fellow AAEA members Parker Higgs from Entegrity and Charity Hallman from Hope Enterprise Corporation, contributing to an inspiring gathering of like-minded leaders. Special thanks to Joshua Robertson and the City of Fort Smith for their commitment to Arkansas’s green future. (Talk Business & Politics, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
October (Throughout): AAEA/AAEF teams collaborated with four groups on EPA Community Change grants, supporting community-driven projects focused on environmental and energy improvements.
October 11: April Ambrose presented on establishing apprenticeships within healthcare institutions to train facilities staff on HVAC and building controls at the Arkansas Healthcare Engineers Conference, aiming to improve energy efficiency. Lauren Waldrip attended and provided remarks to underscore AAEA and AAEF’s commitment to workforce development.
October 11: April Ambrose offered mentorship to two candidates in the national USGBC Mentorship Program, sharing her expertise on workforce development in the energy sector.
October 17: AAEA and AAEF staff engaged with the Arkansas Energy Office, providing feedback on workforce development strategies for the HOMES and HEERHA rebate programs, with a focus on workforce needs and skills enhancement.
October 22: April Ambrose presented an introduction and overview of green careers and the advanced energy industry at the 3rd Annual Green Careers Expo, hosted in collaboration with the Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation, the Arkansas Environmental Education Association, and Arkansas Tech University. April and Jill Balaster provided educational learning opportunities about advanced energy careers with an interactive booth as well. This free event at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville offered 8-12th grade students a chance to explore careers in environmental and conservation fields. (KATV)
