June is traditionally the time for high school and college graduations, but this year another group finished its classwork in June: students in NEPPA’s six-week "Professional Skills for Office Personnel" series.
This first-time program, held at the Littleton, Mass. Electric Light & Water Departments, attracted 28 students from 13 utilities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut (see box below). Students had the option of choosing from among the topics or enrolling in all six.
An eclectic collection of topics was covered, all built around a common theme of professionalism: "Practicing Effective Interpersonal Skills," "Communicating with Email," "Working with Different Generations," "Communicating Upward," "Dealing with Difficult Employees" and "Managing Your Time and Getting Organized."
Those who attended all sessions earned a certificate of completion and gathered for a group photo:
(Kneeling, l-r): Paula Travers, Helen Panico.
(Front row, l-r): Rose Teele, Lori Czarnecki, Karen Marchand, Pamela Howard.
(Middle row, l-r): Marianne Fabbri, Kathy Webster, Rockie Blunt (instructor), Jeanne Foti, Patty Mellino.
(Back row, l-r): Mark Cousins, Rachael Thierken, Eric Grover, Glenn Metallic, Janis Ford.
(Missing from photo: Thomas Berry.)
Participating Utilities
Massachusetts
Braintree Electric Light Department
Georgetown Municipal Light Department
Hull Municipal Light Plant
Ipswich Municipal Light Department
Littleton Electric Light & Water Departments
Reading Municipal Light Department
Rowley Municipal Lighting Plant
Sterling Municipal Light Department
Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant
Templeton Municipal Light & Water Department
Westfield Gas & Electric Light Department
Rhode Island
Pascoag Utility District
Connecticut
Town of Wallingford Electric Division