Mike Ritz
Mike Ritz is Operations Training Manager at Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, where he leads training programs that support operational excellence across energy systems. He brings extensive experience from prior roles at Duke Energy, specializing in workforce development, curriculum design and performance improvement within utility operations.
Approaching Operations Training in the Utility Industry
My approach to operations training has always been, and will always be, on how to keep our employees safe, our equipment and facilities operational and, by extension, our customers safe.
I’ve had to rely on that training when I was working in the field or at the operations desk. It is important that our training programs provide the foundation and support to operations employees to work safely and effectively.
Ensuring Effective and Practical Training Programs
Open and regular dialogue with operations leaders is key to developing effective training programs. Operations are forced to adapt very quickly and suddenly, which is why keeping the groups aligned is imperative.
Other strategies include leveraging safety and performance metrics to help operations leaders develop continuous learning programs, refresher training programs and classroom and training surveys.
Factors Influencing Training and Workforce Readiness
Industry standards have and will continue to change. As long as training stays connected to operational teams, we will be able to update our training curriculums.
"Utility operations training has always been closely linked to compliance. We train in the fundamentals of the job, but craft training needs to focus on how to do the task."
Keeping up with the new technology and equipment that is coming into the industry is challenging. It’s exciting to see the advances, but for a training department, it requires us to be very agile in our planning and execution.
Challenges Training Leaders Need to Overcome
One challenge is ensuring existing employees get the continuous learning they need to work safely. As mentioned above, the utility industry is constantly changing.
We do a good job adjusting for new hires, but getting those existing employees back in for training requires a lot of coordination with operations.
The Evolution of Operations Training
Operations or utility training, in my opinion, has always been closely linked to compliance. We train in the fundamentals of the job, but craft training needs to focus on how to do the task. I do not see that impacting operations training.
Efficiency will be something that causes operations training to evolve, and I see that coming from the use of AI and VR/AR platforms. The technology is not ready to replace any technical training, but rather, it will give trainers, designers and other talent development teams the ability to create or update training faster.
Designing a Career in Operations Training and Development
First, emerging leaders in this space need to ensure the training program does not become outdated. It must continuously evolve to meet the changing landscape of the utility industry.
Second, build your relationships with operations and stay connected to the work that is happening. Having those relationships in place helps keep you and your team connected to the people closest to the work.
