Southfield residents graduate fromGreat Lakes Water Authority apprenticeship program
Two Oakland County residents have graduated from The Great Lakes Water Authority’s (GLWA) three-year apprenticeship program. Etuane Johnson and Gari Levy, both residents of Sou th - field, were among a group a 20 that completed the elec t r ical instrumentation control techn i c ian apprenticeship program. Both a re now working f u l l - t ime with the state’s largest provider of drinking water and wastewater services, which provides four million Michiganders in about 125 communities with such services.
Developed in partnership with Focus: HOPE and Henry Ford College, and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), the apprenticeship program demonstrates a “learn-while-you- earn” model with 5,200 hours of on-the-job training and 575 hours of education instruction at no cost to the participants.
As part of the program, apprentices worked oneonone with GLWA journey worker mentors and rotated assignments every six months to gain experience in repairing, testing, calibrating and installing instruments and control systems, in addition to attending customized courses designed specifically by GLWA journey workers at Henry Ford
College.
GLWA recently hosted a virtual graduation ceremony that included speakers from the USDOL, Focus: HOPE, Henry Ford College, as well as GLWA CEO Sue McCormick and team members from the Organizational Development Group.
Johnson and Levy spoke with The Oakland Press about their experience as well as their new careers with GLWA. Here are their responses:
OP: How did you become interested in GLWA’s EICT-I Apprenticeship Program?
• Johnson: I’ve always been interested in the mechanical engineering field. I came across GLWA through Focus: HOPE’s pre-apprenticeship program. When they introduced me to the program, I was excited to jump right into it and found out that this was exactly what I had wanted to do.
• Levy: I was previously working in the healthcare industry and looking for a sustainable career change when my father, who works at GLWA, sent me information on the Authority’s first- ever apprenticeship. After doing research about what an EICT-I apprentice entails, I realized this career path was a great fit forme. I’ve always been interested in electronics and figuring out how things work, so I was really excited when this opportunity came up.
OP: Over the course of the three-year program, what are some of the most important things you learned?
• Johnson: One of the most valuable skills I’ve gained from the apprenticeship is the ability to troubleshoot. What I’ve learned as an instrumentation technician has changed the entire problemsolving process in general for me, and it’s a skill I’ll continue to use throughout my career. I also learned the value of having a good team. At GLWA, the personal relationships we’ve developed with the journey workers have been key to our success. The team genuinely cares about our education as apprentices and helping us become the next generation of technicians.
• Levy: I learned how valuable an apprenticeship is to helping me build new skills while going to school and earning a certification in mechatronics, as well as receiving on-the-job training at GLWA. I appreciate that I was able to attend Henry Ford College at no cost to me because of the apprenticeship and the collaboration between GLWA and Henry Ford College.
OP: Why is having a career inwater so important to you? What do you hope to contribute to the field?
• Johnson: Water is essential to everyday life for everybody. I used to not think twice about it when turning on my water, but now I know all the work that goes into providing good, clean water for me and my family. When I go to work, I’m motivated knowing I’m doing something good formy community. Not only is it a check I collect from GLWA, but when I come home, I receive the water GLWA provides. I see the process come full circle, and I want to continue providing water of unquestionable quality to our communities. I am eager to take a more active role in the industry as I grow in my career.
• Levy: I have a lot of pride in knowing I play a part in providing highquality water to the community and my family. The collection and treatment ofwater is a massive system which many people may take for granted. My contribution to the entire process is very important to me, and I hope to bring innovative ideas and alternative ways to troubleshoot issues within the system.
OP: What excites you most about a career in water, especially right now?
• Johnson: Now that I’ve graduated and am working ful l- time at GLWA, I plan to continue my education with the assistance of GLWA’s tuition reimbursement program and get my bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering to become a controls engineer. There are so many opportunities for growth within GLWA and I’m very appreciative of what they provide. I want to continue supporting my community by working in the water industry and taking onmore active roles.
• Levy: I get excited knowing I can do my part to help the community, especially right now, ensuring we continue providing water during the global pandemic. I’m so grateful to be working despite the pandemic as a critical worker, as I know many people are out of work. This time in particular has made me realize that water can’t stop – no matter what. In the future, I see myself helping to make the system more efficient and imparting the knowledge I’ve learned to future apprentices just like others have done for me.