Senior plumbers complete unique internship with Connecticut Natural Gas

Connecticut Natural Gas in Greenwich (CNG), a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc. , in partnership with the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 380, announced the successful graduation of two high school seniors from their inaugural Trade Internship Program. This program builds on the foundation of its sister company United Illuminating’s (UI) Trade Internship Program that launched its second iteration over the summer. Over the course of the 10-week training program, students received hands-on training and field work experience from front-line union workers in the natural gas utility industry, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and experience to join the utilities’ front-line union workforce upon high school graduation.

“I am proud to congratulate the graduates of CNG’s first Trade Internship Program,” said Frank Reynolds, President and CEO of CNG. “These talented students immersed themselves in the natural gas industry and various working environments to gain a deeper understanding of our organization and the services we provide to our customers. Like many trade industries, we’re focusing on recruiting the next generation of talent to ensure we have a strong frontline workforce for years to come. This program is one avenue we are taking to connect with local technical high schools to strengthen our workforce and builds a strong, talented pipeline, ensuring we meet our commitment to providing safe and reliable service. I look forward to expanding the program and enabling our veteran employees to share their knowledge and experience with the next generation.”

Over the past 10 weeks, two students, Nathaly Discua and Kai Lomax, from J.M. Wright Technical High School in Stamford, gained a comprehensive understanding of the natural gas industry by working closely with program trainers throughout CNG’s Greenwich service territory. They learned about the gas safety, pressure regulation, corrosion control, pipeline construction and distribution of natural gas. The students shadowed gas operators in the field, learning about dig safety when trenching and installing pipelines, operating and maintaining pipeline pressures, leak repairs, and managing gas distribution. They also learned how gas operators maintain service lines that deliver natural gas to homes and businesses, as well as how to install and inspect gas meters.

After successfully completing the program, the CNG interns participated in a graduation ceremony and final presentation at J.M. Wright Technical High School. The event was attended by program trainers, CNG management, J.M. Wright faculty, staff, and students. The interns received certificates of completion and showcased the skills and knowledge they developed during the summer program. Using the school’s natural gas meter, they demonstrated how the underground natural gas service line connects to the building and is metered, how natural gas pressure is regulated to meet equipment requirements and connects to the customer internal gas piping and flows into the building to provide service. To conclude the event, attendees toured the school’s facilities, viewing the welding and construction shops and seeing firsthand how students are provided with tools and resources for their chosen fields of study at the technical high school.

“The inaugural summer trade internship program was a tremendous success, as evidenced by the students’ confident presentations on the natural gas system and its operations for homes and businesses,” said Giancarlo Romero, Senior Director of Gas Operations at CNG. “I want to thank everyone involved in developing the comprehensive curriculum, which provided interns with a well-rounded understanding of the natural gas industry, our daily field operations, and the safety protocols we follow to ensure our crews return home safely each day. This program exemplifies our commitment to education, training, and safety, and we are proud of the knowledge and skills the interns have gained, which they will contribute to the utility industry after graduation.”

“It has been an honor to watch these two bright students grow into young professionals throughout the summer program,” said Charlie Piro, President of UWUA Local 380 and Operations Technician at CNG-Greenwich. “They started with limited knowledge of the natural gas industry, and after the 10-week program, they now have the building blocks to continue to build their understanding of our business and the essential services we provide to customers. I’ve enjoyed being part of their growth, serving as both a trainer and mentor, sharing the knowledge, skills, and experiences I’ve developed over my career at CNG. I look forward to seeing this program grow and expand, ensuring we continue to invest in the next generation of our utility workforce in Connecticut.”

“The ultimate goal of Wright Tech and all technical high schools is to provide a strong trade foundation for students to give them a leg up as they embark on a career after graduation,” said Joseph Sirico, Plumbing & Heating Department Head, J.W. Wright Technical High School. “By partnering with CNG, two of my students had an amazing opportunity to get hands-on experience in the field. The students were able to learn from workers who took the time to mentor them, be at a company that cares about the future of the trades and utilize what they have learned in school; they have a potential career option when they graduate. The trades have become increasingly important in this country, and these hands-on opportunities for our students are priceless.”