Episode 33: Beyond the Classroom: Expanding Energy Opportunities

Where will the next generation of our industry's workforce come from? How is that pipeline of talent growing? At our 2025 Lignite Energy Council annual conference, I sat down with three people across the spectrum of energy workforce development. Shawn Brink, the North Dakota Energy Education Coordinator, shared his passion for helping middle and high school students find their "ah-ha!" moment. Dr. Daniel Leingang, interim president at Bismarck State College, discussed how programs are being developed and added to meet the industry's evolving needs. And Pat Bertagnolli, Executive Director of Job Service North Dakota, discussed equipping adults with the skills they need to change their careers. We talked about the role of technology in education, how they're dealing with AI and automation, and how they need more involvement from those currently in the energy sector to support their efforts.