Veterans Pilot

BOC® Veterans Pilot Program - Creating Job Opportunities, Saving Energy for Illinois

This unique pilot program will:

Provide Building Operator Certification (BOC®) to approximately 20 unemployed and underemployed veterans in Illinois;
Offer mentorships and job placements for unemployed or underemployed veterans and;
Deliver energy and cost savings for Illinois

BOC is a nationally recognized, competency-based training and certification program that offers improved job skills and knowledge to transform workplaces to be more comfortable, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

Schedule and Locations
TBD

How to Get Involved
MEEA is recruiting unemployed and underemployed veterans for participation in BOC in both the Springfield and Chicago areas. Additionally, we are partnering with employers interested in mentoring and hiring veterans enrolled in the project.

1. What are the Benefits for Illinois Veterans?

Eligible unemployed Illinois veterans will receive the following FREE benefits when accepted into the Springfield or Chicago BOC training programs:

Eight days of technical training
Nationally-recognized certification in building operations & maintenance
Job placement assistance
Mentoring from a facilities management professional
Transportation stipend to attend classes
Networking with building operators also enrolled in BOC class

2. Am I an Eligible Veteran?

Applicants for certification must be unemployed or underemployed and have one of the following:

Two or more years of experience working in operations and maintenance of a commercial or institutional facility and/or related experience in the military as an engineer, electrician, technician, HVAC maintenance and repair worker, boiler operator, etc. OR
A minimum of one year of work experience as described above AND one year of technical college level education in a facilities engineering related program

It is highly recommended that applicants for certification have a high school diploma or GED .

Please contact Eric Roach, eroach@mwalliance.org or 312-784-7277 for more information.

3. How do I serve as a Mentor?

MEEA is recruiting professionals in the facilities operations & maintenance (O&M) field based in the Springfield and Chicago areas to serve as mentors for veterans enrolled in this project. Mentors will be asked to:

Work with a BOC facilitator and a small group of veterans to provide building data and access to their facility sufficient to complete five BOC project assignments, such as a lighting system survey
Pass on knowledge of facility operations to mentees
Provide general career guidance

If your employer is looking to fill an O&M position then this is a great opportunity to work closely with prospective employees who are educated in energy efficient building operations.

Please contact us to learn more about the mentorship program benefits and requirements: Eric Roach, eroach@mwalliance.org or 312-784-7277

4. How can Employers Support Illinois Veterans?

Why Hire a BOC-certified Veteran?

Hiring veterans is good business – companies articulated ten reasons for hiring veterans, including leadership and teamwork skills, character, structure and discipline, expertise, effectiveness, and loyalty, according to a study by the Center for a New American Security
BOC certification is a way for employers to identify and recruit qualified building personnel who offer knowledge and experience in energy-efficient building practices
Independent evaluation research consistently shows that BOC-certified operators save money and energy in their facilities – an average of 172,000 kWh per participant per year, equivalent to $12,000 annually at national electricity rates

How Can I Get Involved?

MEEA is partnering with businesses and organizations in Central Illinois and the Chicago area that are interested in providing employment opportunities to BOC-certified veterans. Employers can get involved by:

Attending BOC classes to meet and network with veterans
Posting job openings on the BOC for Veterans web page
Participating in a breakfast or webinar to learn more (dates TBD)
Providing a staff person from your facilities department to serve as a mentor for veterans enrolled in BOC training – this is a great opportunity to work closely with prospective employees!

Please contact us to learn more about hiring qualified veterans to work in your facilities: Eric Roach, eroach@mwalliance.org or 312-784-7277

5. Project Partners

Funding for the Springfield Veterans Pilot program is made available by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Illinois Energy Office and the U.S. Department of Labor, State Energy Sector Partnership (SESP) grant. Additional project partners include the IL DCEO Office of Employment and Training, Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Delivery is provided by the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Land of Lincoln Workforce Alliance, and Lincoln Land Community College.

Funding for the DuPage County Veterans Pilot is from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Illinois Energy Office, the DuPage County Workforce Development Division, and the U.S. Department of Labor. Program partners inlclude:

6. Clinton Global Initiative 2012 Commitment to Action

The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes leaders to turn ideas into action. CGI Commitments to Action represent bold new ways that CGI members address global challenges—implemented through new methods of partnership and designed to maximize impact. Commitments can be small or large, global or local. No matter the size or scope, commitments help CGI members translate practical goals into meaningful and measurable results.

Click here to learn more about MEEA and DCEO's CGI commitment "Creating Job Opportunities, Saving Energy for Illinois".

7. Media

Program Highlighted in ABC and NBC News Segments

MEEA's BOC Veterans Building Operator Certification Program was highlighted in Springfield, Illinois ABC and NBC affiliate's news segments. Each segment gives an overview of the BOC program and how it helps returning veterans including an interview with a recent graduate of the program.

8. Job Links

Please click on the links to learn more about the job opening:

Illinois Job Link - Create an account, post resumes and search for a variety of jobs in Illinois.

General Maintenance Associate - Home Depot Distribution

Media Coverage

TV Coverage

MEEA's BOC Veterans Program was highlighted in Springfield, Illinois ABC and NBC affiliate's news segments. Each segment gives an overview of the BOC program and how it helps returning veterans, including an interview with a recent graduate of the program.

WICS -TV ABC

Radio Coverage

WDBC 90.5 FM College of DuPage

Print Media Coverage

Energy Manager Today

Glen Ellyn Patch

Elmhurst Patch

The Wall Street Journal's Marketwatch

Springfield Business Journal

MySuburbanLife.com

Program Sponsors and Partners

The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance would like to thank the following sponsors, delivery partners, mentors and employer partners that are helping successfully train, certify and employ Illinois returning service members and military veterans. Become a program partner today!

Sponsors

The BOC Veterans Pilot program is supported by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) State Energy Office, the U.S. Department of Labor, State Energy Sector Partnership (SESP) grant, and federal Workforce Investment Act funds through the DuPage County Workforce Development Division.

Delivery Partners

College of DuPage

DuPage County

DuPage County Workforce Development Division at workNet DuPage Career Center

IL DCEO Office of Employment and Training

Illinois Department of Employment Security

Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs

Land of Lincoln Workforce Alliance workNet Center

Lincoln Land Community College

Veterans Assistance Commission for DuPage County

Mentors and Employer Partners

DuPage County Facilities