Choptank Hosts Girl Power

1st Annual Girl Power Eastern Shore Event

By Katie Luckett, Manager Marketing, Communications and Education

Choptank Electric Cooperative was proud to host Girl Power Eastern Shore on October 3, 2024, at our training facility in Salisbury. Held by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives, this event welcomed 25 female students across the Eastern Shore and beyond to learn about the electric utility industry and its powerful careers.
  
While at Girl Power, participants were able to climb a pole, operate a bucket truck, splice fiber optic cables, drive a CDL simulator, practice using equipment and tools, try on safety gear, and more. “Not only did the girls have fun, but they realized they are capable of these jobs and can have a successful career in the utility sector without obtaining a four-year degree,” says Valerie Connelly, VP of Government Affairs and Public Relations at Choptank Electric Cooperative.
 
In addition to these hands-on activities, students also watched demonstrations of drone spraying, hotline switching, system control operations, and talked with finance and human resource professionals about joining the workforce after high school.
 
“Girl Power is a significant event for local workforce development and the future of our industry as it opens new opportunities for young women in our community,” shares Mike Malandro, President and CEO of Choptank Electric Cooperative. Entry-level operations roles can often lead to other opportunities within an organization, including leadership roles.
 
“This camp taught me that you don’t have to go to college to get a good job,” shares a participant from Talbot County. “I learned important safety measures in case something happens with electricity. I had fun and now consider this a future option in my career.”

Students were briefed on the importance of safety in the industry and for the day, specifically by Choptank Electric’s Nathaniel Smith and Tom Simpson. They also heard powerful messages from women in the industry during lunch, including Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative President and CEO Sonja Cox, River City Construction’s CEO Cindy Haddock and Wor-Wic Community College Powerline Worker Pre-Apprenticeship recent graduate Hunter Morton.
 
“We are seeing more women enter and excel in the energy industry today, especially in field and operations positions,” adds Paula Bishop, VP of Human Resources at Choptank Electric Cooperative. “Lineworkers are essential to keeping our lights on, and we have both males and females to thank for this necessity.”
 
Girl Power was powered by staff volunteers from Choptank Electric and many other electric cooperatives and utility providers who shared their experience and knowledge with the girls. Several partners helped to make this event possible, including G&W Electric, Choptank Fiber, Milwaukee Tool, AUI Power, Terex Utilities, Bulwark FR Protection, Bradley Electro Sales, CEEUS, Hilti, Sentinel Robotic Solutions, S&N Communications, River City Construction, Utility Service Agency, Utilitrain, Wor-Wic Community College, as well as Choptank, Southern Maryland, Delaware, Northern Neck and A&N Electric Cooperatives.
 
Stay tuned this summer for information about our 2025 Girl Power Eastern Shore event!