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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.a. Receive recap of 2024 Externship ProgramPage 1 of 16 Item 9.a. 110ENTRAL SAN October 17, 2024 FROM: CHRISTINA GEE, MANAGEMENT ANALYST REVIEWED BY: TEJI O'MALLEY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER ROGER S. BAILEY, GENERAL MANAGER SUBJECT: RECEIVE RECAP OF 2024 EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM Please see the attached memo for a recap of Central San's 2024 Externship Program. Strategic Plan Tie -In GOAL ONE: Customer and Community Strategy 1— Deliver high-quality customer service, Strategy 2 - Promote initiatives to advance affordable and equitable access to services GOAL TWO: Environmental Stewardship Strategy 1 - Achieve compliance in all regulations, Strategy 2 - Educate on pollution prevention and environmental protection GOAL THREE: Workforce Diversity and Development Strategy 1 - Recruit from a diverse pool of qualified applicants, Strategy 4 - Foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion ATTACHMENTS: 1. Memo 2. Background Information on 2024 Externs 3. Presentation October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 92 of 209 Page 2 of 16 ATTACHMENT11 CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT October 17, 2024 TO: HONORABLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS VIA: TEJI O'MALLEY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER ROGER S. BAILEY, GENERAL MANAGER FROM: CHRISTINA GEE, MANAGEMENT ANALYST SUBJECT: RECAP OF 2024 EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM In 2021, Central San developed and implemented its first Externship Program, to perform outreach to college students and recent graduates to share an insider look at multiple career paths in the wastewater industry and local government, create networking opportunities for the externs and staff, build awareness for Central San's environmental messages and existence as an employer of choice, expand the externs' general knowledge, and give them tips on how to get a job at an agency like Central San. The 2021 and 2022 programs were virtual and hosted 67 externs for a week (45 in 2021 and 22 in 2022). The 2023 program was held in person and hosted six externs for a week. To maximize participation, engagement, and quality of programming, the 2024 session was held in a hybrid format, with one on-site tour day and three days of virtual programming. Curriculum The Externship Program is designed to cover every division at Central San. The 2024 program was organized as follows: On Site Tours (8/5) • Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (HHWCF) • Recycled Water Residential Fill Station • Laboratory • Collection System Operations (CSO) • Mechanical Shop • Treatment Plant Administration (8/6) Operations and Engineering (8/7) Engineering and Environmental Protection (8/8) The on-site tour, which hosted 16 externs in person, was also attended by new Central San employees taking their New Employee Tour. This was a great opportunity to combine resources and give the externs a chance to meet more professionals in real October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 93 of 209 Page 3 of 16 Central San Recap of 2024 Externship Program Page 2 of 7 life. The event was livestreamed for the virtual externs, which was the first time Central San has ever livestreamed a tour. Throughout the program, staff delivered motivating and lively verbal presentations, speaking candidly about their educational and professional path, proudly talking about what they enjoy doing in their chosen jobs, and offering general advice for those considering a future in wastewater or government. Externs When the program was announced in early July, there were 35 people who had signed up for the mailing list to receive updates. Following the announcement and advertisement of the 2024 program, Central San received 125 sign-ups for the session. In the end, 45 externs attended at least one of the four meetings of the program (17 externs attended all four meetings). Below is a summary of the background of the 45 externs: • All live in California, spread across the state but mostly in the Bay Area • 27 attend or graduated from UC Berkeley • 3 were high school students and 1 was a high school graduate taking a gap year • 2 were Central San Academy graduates from the 2024 session • 15 (33% of the externs) graduated a year or less than a year ago, followed by college seniors which comprised 8 externs (18%), as shown in the chart below: Academic Standing of the Externs ■ High School Senior Graduated High School - taking a gap year College Freshman College Sophomore College Junior College Senior ■ Completing a certification program ■ Graduate Student ■ Vocational student ■ Graduated a year or less than one year ago October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 94 of 209 Page 4 of 16 Central San Recap of 2024 Externship Program Page 3 of 7 In total, 19 schools were represented, with one from each of the following schools, except UC Berkeley as noted: • Acalanes High School (graduated in 2024, taking a gap year) • Cal State East Bay • California State University, Chico • California State University, Los Angeles • Carondelet High School • Castro Valley Adult School • California State University, East Bay • Diablo Valley College • Dougherty Valley High School • Merritt College • Miramonte High School • San Francisco State University • Santa Clara University • Solano Community College • University of California, Berkeley (27 externs) • University of California, San Diego • University of California, Merced • University of California, Davis • Woodland Community College The below chart shows what type of school was represented, as well as the contingent who attended from UC Berkeley: Schools Represented ■ High School UC Berkeley Other College/University Vocational School For more background on the externs, a list of the externs' city of residence, school, major, academic standing, and interest(s) is attached (Attachment 2). October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 95 of 209 Page 5 of 16 Central San Recap of 2024 Externship Program Page 4 of 7 Feedback Below are excerpts from emails and surveys from the externs demonstrating the impact of the program: • On day 2 [Teji O'Malley] went through the open positions at Central San and the general application/hiring process of government positions. This gave me a lot of insight and more confidence in applying and I have actually been placed on the Eligibility List for a position in Berkeley. • After this externship I have applied to quite a few government positions, I will definitely be on the lookout for openings at CS! • This program definitely inspired me to consider a position with Central San as everyone seemed very friendly and nice to work with. I am particularly interested in the DEI and HR departments. • I'm learning that within environmental science/studies/management you must obtain certifications and licenses to work. From wastewater, air pollution, arboriculture, park ranger, restoration management, and more. The technical jobs require some form of expertise. • Central San is phenomenal for creating the externship because environmental management is interdisciplinary and young adults need direction. My inspiration is to expand my skillset, network, and work at [a] wastewater facility. I'm ready to shift my focus within environmental care. • Central San Externship Program confirmed my interest in Wastewater Treatment. I am currently enrolled in [the] Drinking Water and Wastewater Program at Woodland Community College. After completion of this program and getting certified, I would love to explore career opportunities Central San might have to offer. • [The program] has inspired me to look for a full-time engineering/tech position at Central San. • 1 would love to get an internship at Central San. Everyone that spoke loves to work there and has so much knowledge to share. • This program has inspired me to consider an internship or career in wastewater, particularly with Central San. The program has highlighted the importance of effective wastewater management and the impact it has on the community and environment. It has sparked my interest in exploring opportunities within this field to contribute to sustainable practices and gain hands-on experience. I am motivated to pursue an internship or entry-level position to deepen my understanding of wastewater operations and contribute to Central San's mission of maintaining high-quality service and environmental stewardship. Below are excerpts from emails and surveys from the externs with feedback on the program: • 1 think for me [what] I found interesting was day 2 and 3 learning more in depth about the certain aspects in admin to plant operations. October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 96 of 209 Page 6 of 16 Central San Recap of 2024 Externship Program Page 5of7 • 1 don't know how feasible this is, but if there was more media/video on what each position does on the day to day it would be really helpful in envisioning the work. Even if it was just a video of what an intern did the day before I think it would be helpful. • Community and junior colleges are often overlooked. However, these are spaces in which young people are attending to work directly after high school. Certifications and associate degrees are pathways for the workforce. I encourage Central San to collaborate with such institutions to be a pipeline with Central San and other wastewater facilities in the surrounding counties (Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Francisco). • The whole on-site tour was amazing. • 1 believed, for most people, the purposes of participating in this program were to find potential job opportunities, but I found that there were not many open positions/internships available in your website now. I think it would be helpful if you hold this event before the internship application is open. • Thank you for providing us with such a valuable experience and for helping us capture some memorable photos. • Thank you so much for coordinating this amazing orientation for us. As someone adding on certifications and exploring different career paths, you all are differently doing a service for those us within environmental studies/sciences. • 1 really appreciate all the effort it took to coordinate the externship. I know coordinating different departments isn't the easiest task. • Thank you for providing us with such a valuable experience. Below are responses to the survey question, "How would you describe Central San and its staff in one word?": • Invigorating and inspiring • Easy going and friendly • Friendly, efficient, united • Life -changing • Cooperative • Organized • Environmentally friendly • Dedicated Future Session After experimenting with different formats the past years, staff has concluded that the hybrid approach allows us to reach a broader audience while also giving an opportunity for in-person networking and experiences. Therefore, the program will continue to be held in a hybrid fashion next year. October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 97 of 209 Page 7 of 16 Central San Recap of 2024 Externship Program Page 6of7 While some registrants were unable to attend due to conflicts with summer classes or planned vacations, many were able to attend on their summer break before fall instruction began. Since many externs were looking for job and internship opportunities, next year's program can be utilized as a recruiting tool and be held while Central San is actively recruiting for interns and summer students. As with every program, there was attrition in attendance as the days went on (from 36 attendees on the first day to 20 on the fourth), so staff will consider reducing the virtual curriculum more, from three days to two. Additionally, to make presentations more educational and engaging, staff may also want to consider adding more media to their presentations to paint a picture of what day to day life is like in their job. BAYWORK (a consortium of local water/wastewater agencies) recently reached out to Central San wanting to learn more about our program and potentially collaborate on a future session. Staff will be giving a presentation to the signatories and will explore possibly co -hosting next year with BAYWORK and other agencies. Acknowledgments Central San's fourth Externship Program would not have been possible without the participation of 39 Central San'ers who took the time to prepare unique and engaging presentations and tailor them to the externs' interests. It is because of them that the program was so impactful and successful. The presenters included myself and the following staff: • Teji O'Malley, Human Resources and Organizational Development Manager • Ben Lavender, Community Affairs Representative • Dave Wyatt, HHW Program Administrator • Winston Ingram, Senior HHW Technician • Blake Brown, Laboratory Program Administrator • Jesse McDermott, Supervising Chemist • Jason Crowe, Lead Maintenance Crew Member • Randy Petitt, Lead Maintenance Crew Member • Sean Sarras, Lead Maintenance Crew Member • Marco Burciaga, Maintenance Crew Member II • Larry Kennedy, Maintenance Crew Member II • Andrew Walus, Maintenance Crew Member II • Brian Walters, Lead Maintenance Technician, Mechanical Shop • Angel Prado, Maintenance Technician II, Mechanical Shop • Roger S. Bailey, General Manager • Phil Leiber, Deputy General Manager —Administration • Kevin Mizuno, Finance Manager • Katie Young, Secretary of the District October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 98 of 209 Page 8 of 16 Central San Recap of 2024 Externship Program Page 7 of 7 • Charles Mallory, IT Manager • Matt Hart, Cybersecurity Analyst • Emily Barnett, Communication and Government Relations Manager • Greg Norby, Deputy General Manager — Engineering and Operations • Paul Seitz, CSO Division Manager • Alan Weer, Plant Operations Manager • Mike Allen, Plant Operations Superintendent • Neil Meyer, Plant Maintenance Manager • Sean Sullivan, Superintendent, Operations and Maintenance • Zach Lee, Associate Engineer, Reliability Engineering • Edgar Lopez, Capital Projects Manager • Nitin Goel, Operations Optimization Manager • Michael Cunningham, Associate Engineer, Operations Optimization • Khae Bohan, Asset Management Program Administrator • Rob Linne, Utility Systems Engineer • Danea Gemmell, Planning and Development Services Manager • Dan Frost, Senior Engineer, Planning and Applied Research • Melody LaBella, Resource Recovery Program Manager • Lori Schectel, Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Manager • Robert Hess, Associate Engineer, Regulatory Compliance • Colleen Henry, Senior Environmental Compliance Inspector Thank you also to the following people for supporting the tour — especially to the Communications team for coordinating and conducting the innovative livestream: • Joy Smith, Administrative Services Assistant • Velisa Parks, Administrative Services Supervisor • Joe Zumbo, Digital Media Content Specialist • Nasser Albaqqal, Communications Intern • Stephanie Badua-Smail, Communications Intern Attachments: • Background Information on 2024 Externs (Attachment 2) • Presentation (Attachment 3) October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 99 of 209 Page 9 of 16 Page 1 ATTACHMENT Background Information on 2024 Externs CITYOFRESIDENCE SCHOOL MAJOR ACADEMIC STANDING INTEREST(S) I am interested in the engineering sector and would love to learn Acalanes High School (Graduated High School Graduate - about the management process and planning that goes behind Lafayette 05/31/2024) N/A Taking gap year large projects. Pittsburg Cal State East Bay Chemistry College Junior Through my college career, I have gravitated towards human resources. I love the idea of de HR allows you to form deep connections through working with each induvial employee to help them excel in their careers. Upon searching the Central San job categories, I was intrigued by the program management and Antioch, CA California State University, Chico Business Administration College Senior safety categories and would like to learn more about them. Long Beach California State University, Los Angeles Material Science and Engineering Graduate Student Utility Systems Engineer Discovery Bay Carondelet High School High School Senior High School Senior Central San website or social media Hayward, CA Castro Valley Adult School Wastewater Plant Operator Program Vocational student Administration, Waterwater operation Oakland CSUEB Communications College Junior Resource recovery I would like to learn more about the administrative side and also Martinez Diablo Valley College Public Health College Sophomore how the plant and collection system operations work San Ramon Dougherty Valley High School N/A High School Senior Operations and Treatment or Planning and Development Completing a certification Oakland Merritt College Natural History & Sustainability program Treatment plants, pumping stations, and recycled water Orinda Miramonte High School n/a High School Senior Public Relations Graduated a year or less San Pablo, CA San Francisco State University Business than one year ago Graduated a year or less Currently, I am interested in engineering as well as purchasing Dublin, CA Santa Clara University Business Analytics than one year ago domain and would like to explore other domains as well Martinez Solano Community College Biochemistry College Sophomore Engineering San Diego UC Berkeley Economics College Freshman Finance Wilmington, CA UC Berkeley Civil & Enviornmental Engineering College Senior planning and development of projects I'm interested in Plant and collection system operations and any Berkeley, CA UC Berkeley Ecosystem Management and Forestry College Senior conservation or ecology positions San Jose UC Berkeley Sociology College Senior Human Resources Whittier UC Berkeley Undeclared College Sophomore EI Segundo, California UC Berkeley Civil Engineering College Sophomore Berkeley, CA UC Berkeley Environmental Engineering Graduate Student Graduated a year or less Walnut Creek UC Berkeley Spanish and Communications than one year ago PR, HR, IT, planning and development I. Open Graduated a year or less Union City,CA UC Berkeley Statistics and Data Science than one year ago Data Science/Statistics and finance related field Graduated a year or less Berkeley UC Berkeley Environmental Engineering than one year ago Engineering, GIS/RS Graduated a year or less Union City,CA UC Berkeley Data Science, Statistics than one year ago Data Science, Statistics, Information technology, etc. Graduated a year or less San Francisco UC Berkeley Sociology than one year ago Administrative fields such as human resources or public relations I would like to learn more about the involvement of local Hollister, CA UC Berkeley Political Science College Freshman government in the wastewater industry. Burlingame UC Berkeley Environmental Engineering College Junior Water and wastewater treatment, resource recovery, lab Would love to hear more about regulatory compliance, planning and development. Also any operations paths available at Central San Francisco UC Berkeley Environment Science College Junior San. Public relations and regulatory compliance are two fields of study I am interested in as it tailors to my educational background in legal studies and media marketing. I wish to pursue a career in public interest law so learning about these two fields of study would allow me to become a more knowledge leader of local systems of governance. If there are additional insights into legal/policy related fields of study, that would also be of great interest to me. Before entering the legal field, I want to have a comprehensive background in local governance and policy and Berkeley UC Berkeley Legal Studies College Junior work on the city -level to see my impact on a more personal level. Political Economy: Concentration in Administration, Policy Analysis, Etc. Opportunities for Rodeo UC Berkeley Sustainability College Senior Veterans/Military Reservists the water sector as it relates to engineering, resource recovery, Escondido, CA UC Berkeley environmental engineering science College Senior laboratory, regulatory compliance College Senior (Will Electrical Engineering and Computer graduate early August of Oakland, CA UC Berkeley Sciences this year) Technology and Engineering October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 100 of 209 Page 10 of 16 Page 2 Background Information on 2024 Externs October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 101 of 209 I would like to learn more about the engineering projects and Fremont UC Berkeley Environmental Engineering Science College Sophomore laboratory responsibilities and tests. I am very interested in recourse recovery, regulatory compliance, San Lorenzo UC Berkeley Environmental Engineering Graduate Student and also water quality improvement. Graduated a year or less Hercules UC Berkeley Geography than one year ago All of the above Graduated a year or less San Francisco UC Berkeley Public Health, Statistics than one year ago information technology, public relations, data analytics Graduated a year or less EI Sobrante UC Berkeley Statistics than one year ago Data Analyst Graduated a year or less Engineering (design and operations especially), laboratory, San Francisco UC Berkeley Civil Engineering than one year ago innovation Graduated a year or less Milpitas, CA UC Berkeley History, Computer Science than one year ago Planning and Development Graduated a year or less I would love to learn about your careers in information Berkeley UC Berkeley EECS than one year ago technology, specifically the technician and analyst roles. Graduated a year or less Hayward University of California - San Diego Chemical Engineering than one year ago Engineering (Regulatory Compliance) and laboratory work Graduated a year or less I would be interested in learning more about information Ceres University of California Merced Computer Science and Engineering than one year ago technology and most engineering positions. Double majoring in Psychology and University of California, Davis (UC Spanish, and minoring in Human San Ramon Davis) Rights (Civil Rights). CollegeJunior Water sustainability. Wastewater plant operations, Mechanical maintenance and West Sacramento Woodland Community College Environmental Technology College Senior Electrical and Instrumentation Control. October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 101 of 209 Page 11 of 16 ATTACHMENT 3 Externship Program History Launched in 2021 as a virtual program Held in person in 2023 73 externs hosted prior to 2024 Objectives Share an insider look at multiple career paths in the water/wastewater industry and local government Create networking opportunities Build awareness for Central San's environmental messages and existence as an employer of choice Expand externs' general knowledge Give tips on how to get a job October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 102 of 209 Interest in the Program • Interest from teachers and two adults looking into wastewater careers r • High school, college, and postgraduate students and recent graduates • 16 externs came in person for the tour • 17 attended all four sessions 3 Background of Externs All live in California, spread across the state but mostly in the Bay Area 3 high school students and 1 high school graduate taking a gap year 2 Central San Academy 2024 graduates Most were recent graduates 15 (33% of the externs) graduated :51 year ago 8 (18%) were college seniors 4 Page 12 of 16 Academic Standing ■ High School Senior Graduated High School - taking a gap year College Freshman College Sophomore College Junior — College Senior ■ Completing a certification program ■ Graduate Student ■ Vocational student ■ Graduated a year or less than one year ago October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 103 of 209 2 Schools Represented Acalanes High School (graduated in 2024, taking a gap year) • Cal State East Bay • California State University, Chico • California State University, Los Angeles • Carondelet High School Castro Valley Adult School • California State University, East Bay • Diablo Valley College • Dougherty Valley High School • Merritt College Miramonte High School • San Francisco State University • Santa Clara University • Solano Community College • University of California, Berkeley (27 externs) University of California, San Diego University of California, Merced University of California, Davis Woodland Community College ■ High School ■ Other College/University UC Berkeley Vocational School Page 13 of 16 October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 104 of 209 3 Curriculum On -Site Tours (8/5) 9 am to 1 pm (in person and livestreamed) Administration (8/6) 10 am to 1 pm (virtual) Operations and Engineering (8/7) 10 am to 1 pm (virtual) Engineering and Environmental Protection (8/8) 10 am to 1 pm (virtual) C On day z, the presenter went through the open positions at Central San and the general application/hiring process of government positions. This gave me a lot of insight and more confidence in applying and I have actually been placed on the Eligibility List for a position in Berkeley. I Page 14 of 16 Central San is Phenomena/ for creating tke externs 1,- because environmental w,anagennent is I This program definitely interdisciplinary and oun P 9 V need direction. M y g adults inspired me to consider a ex and y inspiration is to position with Central San p nny skillset, network, and work at wastewater facility. as everyone seemed very friendly and nice to work with. A6 Thank you so much for coordinating this amazing orientation for us. As someone adding on certifications and exploring hfterthts extervshtp i have different career paths, you all are applted to quite a few governvKewt y doing a service for those us postttows, i wttt dery Ctve be on differentl g within environmental studies/sciences. the 1001Z0kt for opentv�gs at as i October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 105 of 209 4 Next Session t7 the virtual instruction even -;. further to two days ]� Continue offering in a hybrid format Host during recruitment period for interns and summer students Request from BAYWORK to present and potentially collaborate 07 Page 15 of 16 Thank You to... The Board of Directors The Executive Team Teji O'Malley, Human Resources and Organizational Development Manager Joy Smith, Administrative Services Assistant Velisa Parks, Administrative Services Supervisor Joe Zumbo, Digital Media Content Specialist Nasser Albaqqal, Communications Intern Stephanie Badua-Smail, Communications Intern kfthlb, wood.. 10 October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 106 of 209 5 Page 16 of 16 11 Questions? 12 October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 107 of 209 6 • Charles Mallory, IT Manager ... and to the Presenters: Matt Hart, Cybersecurity Analyst • Emily Barnett, Communication and Government Relations Manager • Teji O'Malley, Human Resources and Organizational Development Manager • Greg Norby, Deputy General Manager— Engineering and Operations • Ben Lavender, Community Affairs Representative • Paul Seitz, CSO Division Manager • Dave Wyatt, HHW Program Administrator • Alan Weer, Plant Operations Manager • Winston Ingram, Senior HHW Technician • Mike Allen, Plant Operations Superintendent • Blake Brown, Laboratory Program Administrator • Neil Meyer, Plant Maintenance Manager • Jesse McDermott, Supervising Chemist • Sean Sullivan, Superintendent, Operations and Maintenance • Jason Crowe, Lead Maintenance Crew Member • Zach Lee, Associate Engineer, Reliability Engineering • Randy Petitt, Lead Maintenance Crew Member • Edgar Lopez, Capital Projects Manager • Sean Sarras, Lead Maintenance Crew Member • Nitin Goel, Operations Optimization Manager • Marco Burciaga, Maintenance Crew Member II • Michael Cunningham, Associate Engineer, Operations Optimization • Larry Kennedy, Maintenance Crew Member II • Khae Bohan, Asset Management Program Administrator • Andrew Walus, Maintenance Crew Member II • Rob Linne, Utility Systems Engineer • Brian Walters, Lead Maintenance Technician, Mechanical Shop • Danea Gemmell, Planning and Development Services Manager • Angel Prado, Maintenance Technician II, Mechanical Shop • Dan Frost, Senior Engineer, Planning and Applied Research • Roger S. Bailey, General Manager • Melody LaBella, Resource Recovery Program Manager • Phil Leiber, Deputy General Manager — Administration • Lori Schectel, Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Manager • Kevin Mizuno, Finance Manager • Robert Hess, Associate Engineer, Regulatory Compliance • Katie Young, Secretary of the District • Colleen Henry, Senior Environmental Compliance Inspector 11 Questions? 12 October 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 107 of 209 6