The 2008 IEEE PES Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition has announced a new initiative in workforce development. The 2008 T and D event will feature a first-ever Collegiate Job Fair, an exclusive Collegiate/GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Reception and an Industry Luncheon. All three events are designed to help organizations recruit the next generation of engineers. The Conference and Exposition is scheduled for April 21-24, 2008 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.

The exclusive Collegiate/GOLD Reception will be held Tuesday, April 22, 2008 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Collegiate Job Fair will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the Collegiate/GOLD/Industry Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 beginning at 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.. All of these events provide an excellent opportunity to recruit the best power and energy students from well-known universities and colleges. Support opportunities are available for all three events.

The Collegiate/GOLD Reception offers exclusive access to students for a single organization or company, while the Collegiate Job Fair and Industry Luncheon events provide the opportunities for multiple organizations to meet and recruit students.

All support reservations and payments must be received by March 17, 2008. Your support helps offset the costs of the Collegiate/GOLD program and housing for students while they are attending the conference.The Collegiate/GOLD Reception supporting company or organization will receive the following benefits: organization's name on the reception entrance sign, one literature rack for promotional material near the entrance, representation in the welcoming reception line and a list of student attendees and colleges. The exclusive Collegiate/GOLD Reception support opportunity is available for $3000 to the first organization submitting the application form below.

The Job Fair affords participants from utilities and contracted exhibitors the opportunity to purchase a table at the Job Fair for $500. The Job Fair setting allows companies to conduct interviews with students who are interested in a career in the power and energy industry. The purchase of a Job Fair booth will include an area of 10 ft. X 10 ft. and a 8 ft. backwall and a 3 ft. draped side rail. Also included in the booth package is a standard 7 in. X 44 in. company ID sign, one 6 ft. skirted table and 4 chairs. Companies participating in the Job Fair will also receive one complimentary ticket to the Collegiate /GOLD/Industry Luncheon.

Companies interested in participating in the Job Fair will have the opportunity to review student resumes, contact students and arrange interviews or booth visits at the 2008 T and D prior to the opening of the conference and exposition. Students who attend the conference will post their resumes online at the PES-Careers (www.PES-careers.org) web site prior to the booth deadline reservation date.

Job Fair Recruiters:

Alliant Energy
Ameren
American Superconductor
AREVA T&D
AZZ, Inc.
Bonneville Power Admin
Burns & McDonnell
CDM
ComEd
Commonwealth Associates, Inc.
Cooper Power Systems
Duke Energy
EnerNex Corporation
FPL Group
G&W Electric Company
Hipotronics
Hubbell Power Systems, Inc.
Megger
MidAmerican Energy
Myers Power Products, Inc.
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Power Plus Engineering
Praxair, Inc.
S&C Electric Company
San Diego Gas & Electric Company
Sargent & Lundy,LLC
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc
Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution, Inc
Stanley Consultants, Inc.
Synergetic Design, Inc.
Tyco Electronics Corporation/Energy Division
Ulteig Engineers
Waukesha Electric Systems

Collegiate/GOLD/Industry Luncheon

In addition to the Job Fair, the IEEE Power Engineering Society welcomes support from participating utility companies, attendees and exhibiting companies for its Collegiate/GOLD/Industry Luncheon. Participants are encouraged to reserve a table for 8 at the industry luncheon where students can discuss careers and opportunities in the industry in a relaxed setting. The fee for a table of 8 is $300. This year's invited guest speaker is Paul McCoy, President and co-founder of Trans-Elect. Trans-Elect was the first independent electric transmission company in North America. The company purchased the transmission assets of Consumers Energy in Michigan and became a co-general partner of a consortium that acquired the transmission assets of TransAlta in Alberta Canada. McCoy's remarks will focus on Integrating Large-Scale Remote (Wind) Resources into the Grid.