Powering the Future: Stony Brook Hosts Second Energy & Infrastructure Open House
More than 200 community members gathered at Stony Brook University’s Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT) for the second annual Energy & Infrastructure Open House and Union Apprenticeship Awareness Day.
The August 12 event was hosted by the Stony Brook Office for Research and Innovation in collaboration with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). It brought together energy developers, utilities, government agencies and trade unions to share information about career pathways and the state’s clean energy transition.
Guests spoke with representatives from the New York State Department of Public Service, Department of State, the Haugland Group, National Grid, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) Brightcore Energy, EmPower Solar, United Way of Long Island, Long Island Clean Energy Hub, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, and offshore wind developers Ørsted, Vineyard Offshore, and Equinor, as well as trade union leadership from Nassau and Suffolk Building Trades.
The event featured virtual reality experiences, interactive displays and giveaways, while offering networking opportunities for jobseekers and students.
Kevin Gardner, vice president for research and innovation, emphasized Stony Brook’s role in supporting New York’s economic growth. “This is just one more example of how Stony Brook is a key economic development partner for Long Island and for the state,” Gardner said. “Whether it’s workforce training, awareness programs, or research that makes businesses more competitive, our message is: we are your partner, come work with us.”
The open house also marked week six of Stony Brook’s participation in the “Summer Youth Employment Program: A Taste of the Trades,” a seven-week paid training initiative for high school students from underserved districts. The program exposes students to clean energy production, infrastructure development and related career opportunities.
For one Taste of the Trades participant, the program has already led to real-world career connections. Bellport High School graduate Jannat Majid attended last year’s program and met representatives from the Haugland Group during a site visit. That introduction, paired with her own initiative on LinkedIn, led to a paid internship this summer as a Government and Community Affairs intern with the company.
“I learned so much through my internship with the Haugland Group about government structure, renewable energy, and even technical details like how the duct bank works,” Majid said. “Taste of the Trades gave me my first professional experience and prepared me to step into this role. My advice to other students is, don’t be afraid. This is your future, and it’s worth it to make that initial connection.”
Selman Kurtoglu, manager of external affairs and strategic engagement for Haugland Group, highlighted the need to teach high school and college students about the jobs and skills needed within the field. “We believe in filling the pipeline and creating awareness at an early age so we can address the skills gap in our industry,” Kurtoglu said. “Jannat has been phenomenal, and it’s exciting to see her start her career path before even beginning college. We need to come together — companies, unions, educators — to support the next generation. If we don’t do that, no one else will.”
Organized by Derek O’Connor, workforce development manager in the Office for Research and Innovation, the event serves as both a convening hub for New York’s energy innovators, and a real-time workforce readiness exercise.
For Stony Brook senior and mechanical engineering major Jaiden Francis, the event was a chance to network with potential employers in the renewable energy sector. “Talking to companies working in offshore wind and other clean energy fields has been really eye-opening,” Francis said. “It’s encouraging to see how strong the demand is for people in these industries and to meet individuals whose job is to connect you with opportunities. This is the first time I’ve seen an event so focused on helping people break into the field, even if it’s not directly through the company they’re speaking with.”
“Our students in Taste of the Trades get to showcase their newfound technical knowledge with potential employers, while sharpening their networking abilities,” said O’Connor. “Having a Summer Youth graduate not only return, but as an employee with a leader like Haugland proves that the program is working.”
Bellport High School rising senior Leena Elbaroudy, a Taste of the Trades participant, said the program expanded her understanding of engineering careers. “I didn’t really know what I was going into at first,” she said. “I learned about the electrical grid, battery storage, welding, CNC machining, and environmental impacts of green energy. It showed me the range of possibilities and confirmed that I want to study engineering.”
Elbaroudy said that meeting with offshore wind developers at the open house helped her see pathways toward her career goals. “They showed me the steps to get into environmental engineering and the colleges I could consider. Stony Brook is definitely at the top of my list because of the opportunities here.”
Representatives from participating companies and organizations highlighted the need for skilled workers across disciplines, from engineering and construction to environmental science and community engagement, and Kurtoglu emphasized the industry’s wide range of opportunities available to job seekers. “Everything is connected, from infrastructure to technology to STEM. Exposure to these fields early on helps people focus on what they want to do. My advice is, don’t be afraid to fail, be curious, and ask questions. Networking is everything.”
— Beth Squire