Featuring a cohort of 24 juniors and seniors from six of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the third annual Accessing Careers in Energy Summit (ACES) concluded in Little Rock last week with high hopes for the future of energy and the talent that will ultimately drive its success.

The three-day program, cohosted by MISO, SPP, Entergy, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and PJM, provided participants with a comprehensive view into the energy industry and the careers that will power it into the future.

The event was filled with enlightening discussions, valuable networking opportunities and a case competition that encouraged students to think critically and use their unique skills and perspectives to examine the issue of demand response resources.

Keynote speakers, including top executives from each partnering organization, discussed the evolving landscape of the energy industry and the challenges it currently faces— all while emphasizing the need for diverse talent and innovative thinking to drive the sector forward.

The “energy industry can offer you more than just a career, it offers a challenge,” said Aubrey Johnson, MISO’ s vice president of system planning. “You can make a direct impact by being part of a critical need,” he added.

In its third year, ACES is proving to be a gold mine for MISO’s future talent, with six former program alumni successfully securing positions since the program’s inception.

As for this year’s participants, the message was clear: the future of energy is bright, and you can have a vital role in shaping it. With the support and guidance of today’s industry leaders, the path to a fulfilling and impactful career in energy has never been more accessible. MISO takes pride in leading the charge to empower the next generation of leaders and looks eagerly ahead at both the future of energy and the visionary leaders who will shape it.

“Our industry will face even more significant change in the coming years, and it's critical that our future talent possess the right skills and motivation to meet those challenges head on,” said MISO CEO, John Bear. More importantly, he continued, “we need to be thoughtful about creating a diverse workforce that looks like the communities we serve.”