Ohio Natural Energy Institute celebrates National Apprenticeship Week with student tour
The Ohio Natural Energy Institute, in collaboration with Encino Energy, celebrated National Apprenticeship Week by hosting local students for a tour of the company’s operations. The students were taking part in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) job shadow day, designed to inspire high school students to explore career opportunities in Ohio’s natural gas and oil sector.
The event, held during National Apprenticeship Week, featured a tour of an operational drilling and producing pad hosted by Encino Energy, Ohio’s largest oil producer. Students witnessed firsthand the advanced technologies, teamwork and skills that drive Ohio’s energy industry. With careers spanning electrical work, construction, engineering and technology, the event underscored the vast potential for young Ohioans in the state’s energy sector.
“Fifty-six percent of Encino’s workforce is in Ohio, and our operations support over 14,000 Ohio jobs,” said Jennifer Bass, Encino Energy’s Chief Human Resources Officer. “The oil and natural gas industry offers a vast landscape of career opportunities, and we are excited to showcase those options this week as we celebrate pathways to great careers during National Apprenticeship Week.”
This event also aligns with the Ohio Natural Energy Institute’s recent efforts to address environmental challenges and expand workforce development in Appalachia. The Ohio Natural Energy Institute was recently awarded a $50,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to launch a groundbreaking workforce training program aimed at plugging orphan wells and reducing methane emissions across Appalachia. The ARC-funded project, “Building a Skilled Workforce Partnership to Accelerate Methane Reduction in Ohio,” will develop a training curriculum in partnership with the Ohio Oil & Gas Association to prepare Ohioans for careers in orphan well-plugging.
"Developing a skilled local workforce to address Ohio's orphan wells is a win for both the environment and the economy," said Bruce Tague, Executive Director of the Ohio Natural Energy Institute. "This initiative represents an incredible opportunity to reduce methane emissions, restore land for productive use and create high-quality jobs for hardworking Ohioans.
The Apprentice Day event and the well-plugging initiative reflect the Ohio Natural Energy Institute’s dedication to educating the next generation of Ohioans.
About The Ohio Natural Energy Institute: The Ohio Natural Energy Institute is an organization of professionals who educate people about the essential energy that makes life better, specifically focusing on natural gas and oil production. In the community and in classrooms, they provide trusted, factual information through teacher workshops, first responder training, guest speaker programs, and more. Engage with the Ohio Natural Energy Institute via Facebook and follow on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.