Electrifying Duo – ILCC and ILEC

Morgan Larson, Writer

Many things come to mind when you hear “Iowa Lakes”. Referring to which “Iowa Lakes” can be difficult with just those words alone. To simplify the confusion, only two come to mind with an interest in electricity, education and the job opportunities. What better electrifying duo to touch on than Iowa Lakes Community College and Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative. Two ILCC professors and one retired ILEC employee explain how education and experience can go a long way.

This is the one of the prime times to pursue being an electrician. Doug Zemler, the program coordinator of the Electrical Technology program could not agree more during this time. The fact is many current electricians are looking “down the line” toward the end of their careers. To better understand why so many are, Doug explains,” The average age of an electrical worker in Iowa is in their early 50s”.   This leads to the obvious concept, the more retirees, the higher demand for electricians. 

Luckily, the State of Iowa is on top of that, offering new opportunities through the “Last Dollar Scholar” for any occupant living in Iowa.  Doug expresses that this is a great step students should take when approaching college.  “Individuals who enter these in demand programs will have an opportunity to have their college program paid for…once they graduate, they can go to work for an electrical contractor for a period of time and then take their Journeyman License test.” For incoming students, the Last Dollar Scholarship should be strongly considered when taking their first steps out of high school. It seems like a no brainer decision.

After students reach the end of their college career with ILCC, job opportunities become demanding.  Luckily, ILEC is local, thriving and has employed ILCC students. Oddly enough, Doug mentions that more ILCC students employed at ILEC come from a similar program.  “I have former wind students employed at ILEC… I do not have any former electrical students employed there.” Mike Gengler, colleague to Zemler, an ILCC professor for the Wind Energy & Turbine Technology program said, “We currently have two past students that work at ILEC.”

The Wind Energy & Turbine Technology professor touches on the programs view on job opportunities.  “One of the biggest benefits a student will receive from our program is a set of skills that will not only prove to be valuable in their chosen career but also in everyday life…after completing our programs they will have multiple opportunities.”  This goes to show that both programs within the ILCC Wind Energy Building have the qualitative skill sets from either program to do anything.  Gengler goes on to say, “A few examples are wind construction, site technician, traveling technician, or factory maintenance and many more.” 

However, keep in mind the similarities of the students employed at ILEC. Both programs have similar set courses as well as location at the college for hands on experience. Doug does say that, “We have a very good repour with ILEC…we have them in on our advisory boards.”  Job opportunities are always taking in and considering both wind energy and electrician students locally, state-wide and nationally. Mike provides his view on ILEC’s connection to his program. “Yes, not only do we use ILEC as a resource but their current manager for their renewable division was our first wind energy director.” These opportunities may lead to 30+ year careers, like Joe Cavens’.

Now retired, Joe Caven started and finished with ILEC which is something he takes pride in.   Although Joe is a not an ILCC graduate, his degree from Minnesota West Community and Technical College (MN West) qualifies him just the same as the operator from his post-position.  Caven states all the roles he played over the 30 years there, “I ran the Digger Dark most of my career and the Basket Truck, Backhoe, Trencher, Vibrating Row,” anything considered, “heavy equipment”. He shows that on the job learning and hands on work do go a long way to evolve someone as a great asset to their company.

 Just like at ILCC with Doug and Mike, the one major skill that can be learned through any program, is physically doing the task at hand. Rather than sitting at a desk reading about how to do it. Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative has been such a great influence on Joe. He considers ILEC to be the best company in the state of Iowa. “It’s made me a better man.” says Caven.

 Since retirement, Joe expresses what challenges he faced, both internally and externally of ILEC. “You have 15 minutes to get to the warehouse and less than two hours to get to people and big companies… sometimes working with people was tough at times.” To be clear, many major companies that ILEC provide services to are, “Syngenta, Rosenboom, and Brown Medical.”  Caven says that farmers are big contributors to ILEC’s purpose.  “If it wasn’t for farmers, ethanol plants, big hog and chicken buildings… Iowa Lakes Electrical Cooperative wouldn’t be here right now.”

It appears that ILEC makes profound impacts on its employees, no matter what age or program you take to be apart of their team.  Doug, Mike and Joe seem to show that ILCC and ILEC can go hand in hand with education and experience when it comes to employment success. Providing shocking life-long results.