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PECO’s Underground and Aerial Line School welcomed 27 new Aerial Line Apprentices and 10 new Underground Apprentices into the company after an intensive 12-week program. During the program, graduates developed fundamental skills needed to work safely on the company’s electric distribution system.

Friends, family, and school instructors joined the graduating class in celebrating this significant professional accomplishment. The new team reported to their assignments and joined PECO’s front lines on Monday, December 19. PECO received hundreds of applications for last year’s program. As part of the hiring process, the selected candidates went through a series of interviews and physical assessments before joining the workforce.

PECO also targets job seekers across the Philadelphia region and plays a critical role in helping diversify the energy sector. In 2021, PECO launched a 14-week Helper Pool Pre-Apprenticeship Program that was designed to remove barriers to workforce entry.

According to data from the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), Black and Latinx Americans make up 8% and 16% of energy workers in the U.S., respectively. This is compared to making up 12% and 18%, respectively, of the overall U.S. labor force.

Monte Stokes, David Garcia and Angelo Perez with Keith Henderson, Workforce Development Manager.

Monte Stokes, David Garcia and Angelo Perez were all a part of PECO’s Helper Pool Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The program is designed to help prepare individuals to apply for, and succeed in, energy jobs. Today, the graduates stand as an example of PECO’s mission to provide family-sustaining careers to individuals who never thought they could enter the force without prior work experience. Stokes, Garcia and Perez are all new Aerial Line Apprentices after graduating PECO’s Aerial Line School, an opportunity learned through the Helper Pool Pre-Apprenticeship Program.

Learn more about our HPPP graduates below:

David Garcia is a West Kensington resident who attended the Philadelphia Military Academy at Elverson and played sports on his free time. During a sports session with Timotheo, an organization designed to keep the youth engaged through sports, he learned about PECO’s Helper Pool Pre-Apprenticeship Program from his mentors. He says he was immediately interested but was unsure if he would get accepted. Months later, Garcia not only graduated from the Helper Pool Pre-apprenticeship program but the Aerial line School as an Aerial Line Apprentice. His main goal: to motivate the next generation and let them know that anything is possible. “It was a long road and I feel accomplished, PECO’s programs gave me a head start. I am from West Kensington, it’s possible to get to where you want,” David Garcia, Aerial Line School graduate.
Monte Stokes graduated from Monsignor Bonner High school in Delaware County. After high school, Stokes attended Penn State Berks in Reading, PA. Stokes admitted to being unsure about college at the time, before deciding to work full-time instead after two and half years of attendance. Stokes knew he wanted to pursue more and decided to take a leap of faith. He submitted his application for Orleans Technical College and studied electric. Soon after, his mentors presented him with the opportunity to apply for PECO’s Helper Pool Pre-Apprenticeship Program, where he graduated and attended PECO’s Aerial Line school. Stokes is now an Aerial Line Apprentice. He states he knew that it was the right path and although it was a long journey with a lot of lessons learned, he knows it changed his life forever. “I hope to learn a lot in my new career path and help my mom,” Stokes states.
Angelo Perez attended Jules E. Mastbaum Area Vocational High School. Perez’s concentration in high school was Electric where he took hands-on classes in the field. Perez says he will never forget his mentor, Jonathan Jacobs. Jacobs always instilled in Perez that PECO would be a great place to start his career and live a great life. Soon after high school, Perez joined the U.S Marine Corps. After his time there, Perez once again connected with Jacobs who presented him with the opportunity to apply for PECO’s Helper Pool Pre-Apprenticeship Program. Perez remembers being so excited because he wanted to become a lineman ever since he was in the 11th grade. Perez applied, graduated from the program and is now an Aerial Line Apprentice at PECO. Perez states being very grateful for Jonathan as he not only helped him with his career but hundreds of other students. “It’s my dream job, the younger me would not believe it,” Perez states.

To learn more about the opportunities available at PECO and the Workforce Development team visit peco.com/workforcedevelopment.


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