MISO was recently named one of the country's Top 50 Early Career Programs by Ripple Match. The award honors organizations for nurturing early career talent in recruitment and development efforts emphasized by diversity and inclusion.

Through a multi-faceted approach, MISO's recruiting team is dedicated to building a diverse workforce in conjunction with colleges and universities in person and online. In partnership with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), MISO tailors its recruiting events to the needs of students. Resume reviews, interview preparation and general information sessions on MISO's work in the industry can help students get a professional head start post-graduation. An award-winning Summer Internship Program at MISO also gives students hands-on industry experience. Still, new programs are surfacing.

MISO's latest effort in early career development is the Accessing Careers in Energy Summit (ACES), a three-day program in partnership with Southwest Power Pool, Entergy and Quanta Services, Inc., introducing students from five HBCUs to career opportunities in the field. Its inaugural event hosted 17 students, but two ACES success stories are those of former students turned full-time employees: Joshua Campbell, engineer, and Sean Whitaker, policy planner. ACES introduced Joshua and Sean to the energy industry; their knowledge helped them take the next step in their careers at MISO.

"The ACES program allowed me to gain knowledge of the energy world, specifically the role of transmission organizations," said Joshua. "The hands-on experience helped me gain a better understanding of the industry and prepared me for my current role as part of the Forward Reliability Engineering & Support (FRES) team."  

Sean found his interest in renewables ties in well with his new role in policy planning. According to Sean, "The ACES program was an invaluable experience. It provided me with the opportunity to learn about the energy industry, renewables and MISO's mission and culture. The experience gave me the confidence to join the team."  

The ACES program created opportunity for Joshua and Sean to network and connect with industry colleagues early. The fact that MISO could recruit Joshua and Sean to join its team is a testament to the value of MISO's early career talent development programs. In addition to these new hires, two ACES students will join MISO's internship program this summer. The Campus Forward Award recognizes MISO's commitment to career development and demonstrates the success of programs like ACES.  

MISO continues building awareness in local communities with outreach through its eight employee resource groups, even initiating STEM outreach programs at local elementary schools. In spring 2022, MISO also launched a mentorship program partnered with employees helping at-risk fifth graders. 

Introducing a diverse range of young professionals and students to the energy industry is pivotal to career development at any age. From elementary programs to ACES and summer internships, MISO gives meaningful, hands-on advantages to gaining industry experience. Laying a strong foundation for the future of its workforce proves critical to MISO's success.