Workforce Ready: Preparing the Solar & Storage Talent Pipeline

Description

As the solar and energy storage sectors continue to expand across the Mid-Atlantic and nationwide, the need for a skilled, adaptable, and diverse workforce has never been more important. This webinar brings together leaders working across training, community engagement, employer partnerships, and workforce development to explore how the industry can build and sustain the talent pipeline required for long-term growth.

Join us for a conversation on the strategies, programs, and collaborative models shaping the clean energy workforce of today and tomorrow — from hands-on training and wraparound support services to employer readiness and career pathways that help workers thrive.

We are grateful to have such a strong group of speakers joining us for this session. Their combined perspectives will help illuminate what it takes to prepare workers, support employers, and strengthen the solar and storage workforce across the region.

Speakers:

Cherie Brooks, Power52 Foundation

Cherie Brooks is the Co-Founder, President & CEO of Power52 Foundation, leading clean energy workforce training and community resilience initiatives across Maryland. She established the Power52 Energy Institute—the state’s first clean-energy–focused private career school—and is nationally recognized for her leadership in energy justice and workforce access.

Rickey Stuchell, Rinker Design Associates (Project Vanguard)

Rickey Stuchell brings over 20 years of land acquisition and renewable energy development experience, including work across wind, solar, and battery storage projects. At Rinker Design Associates, he leads business development for Alternative Energy programs and specializes in innovative strategies for advancing project siting and development.

Molly Tidwell, Civic Works

Molly Tidwell is the Associate Director of Employer Engagement and Career Services at Civic Works in Baltimore, where she connects construction training graduates with employers and supports pathways to long-term, quality careers. Her career spans national workforce initiatives, employer network development, and international economic development programs.

David Peterson, SHINE

David Peterson is the Executive Director of SHINE, where he leads efforts to build solar career pathways and expand a skilled, inclusive clean energy workforce in Virginia. With a background in nonprofit entrepreneurship and workforce development, he also serves as co-chair of the Virginia Energy Workforce Consortium (VEWC). David is a Virginia Tech alumnus and an avid tennis player.