Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is rolling out the welcome mat for its latest group of Water Pipe Worker Apprentices. The new class of twelve, which includes James Sykes, Tevita Moimoi, Tevita Puloka, Michael Calderon, Ivan Tyrsin, Brian McBain, Palko Rezucha, Jordan Workman, Victoria Asuega, Alex Navarro, Guy Durham, and Deonté Johnson, officially started their intensive training program on February 26, as reported by Seattle's utility news website.
For this cohort, the 10-week "First Class" is the introductory phase aimed to onboard the apprentices into the culture and demands of the trade. They're slated to secure their Commercial Driver Licenses (CDLs), partake in the City’s Race & Social Justice curriculum, and begin to practically apply their skills in fieldwork training. Todd Snider, SPU’s Apprenticeship Program Manager, recognized the exceptional nature of the apprentices. "You 12 are the top candidates to emerge from a very competitive, very expensive, and very lengthy process," Snider told Seattle's utility news website.
Snider also took the chance to elaborate on the rich heritage of the apprenticeship tradition, praising the transfer of knowledge from one experienced individual to the next. "You are about to embark on a strong and proud tradition—one that dates back to antiquity, where one skilled craftsperson teaches and mentors another, by hand, the skills they learned over a lifetime," Snider expressed. His comments underline both the historical significance and the contemporary relevance of such hands-on learning experiences.
Andrew Lee, SPU General Manager and CEO, shared his own career trajectory with the fresh batch of apprentices, underscoring the vital role they'll play in the maintenance and operation of Seattle's water infrastructure. In a speech surrounding the initiation of the program, he encouraged those present to take deep pride in their work. He outlined how this will positively impact not only their own lives but also those in the broader community they’re to serve.
Alex Chen, Water Line of Business and Utility Operations & Maintenance Deputy Director, emphasized the program’s significance as part of SPU’s broader succession planning strategy. Every alternate year, SPU launches either a Water Pipe Workers or a Drainage and Wastewater Collection System Workers Apprenticeship Program class. "After graduating from the programs, they have the opportunity to assess what their careers at SPU will bring and work with their supervisors to achieve their personal and professional goals," Chen explained in his statement to the same utility news outlet. The emphasis from SPU's side on professional development and skill acquisition indicates a long-term commitment to their workforce and the services they provide to the city of Seattle.
