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CPU Summer Program Connects Local Students with Utility Industry Careers

Hands-on experience highlights skills behind essential community services

Clarksdale Public Utilities is investing in the community’s future workforce by giving young people hands-on experience in the utility industry.

Three local students worked with CPU this summer, gaining firsthand experience with electric distribution, water, operations and sewer utilities, as well as administration and customer service. Along the way, they learned about the many roles and people that keep essential community services flowing.

For Mack Williams, CPU’s summer employment program provided a look at an industry he may not otherwise have considered. A graduate of Clarksdale High School, Williams is now attending Coahoma Community College, where he plays baseball and is studying exercise science.

“I got to learn about a lot of different areas that I did not know much about before,” Williams said. “It gave me a better understanding of what it takes to keep everything running and how many different jobs there are in a utility.”

CPU Human Resources Manager Katorra Hawkins developed the summer program as part of a broader effort to connect young people with career opportunities in the community. Hawkins regularly participates in local high school job fairs, where she sees firsthand the importance of introducing students to career paths and employers before they enter the workforce.

“The goal is to give students an opportunity to work, learn and see what is possible,” Hawkins said. “There are so many different careers within a utility, and students may not realize that until they have an opportunity to see the work up close. We want to help them make those connections early so they can begin thinking about careers they may never have considered and understand the options that exist right here in their own community.”

From entry-level to advanced positions, CPU provides opportunities for career growth and professional development. CPU’s team includes engineers, line workers, maintenance technicians, water and wastewater operators, IT specialists, safety experts, accounting and finance professionals and customer service representatives.

Early career exposure is particularly important as CPU, like utilities across the country, works to develop and maintain a skilled workforce for the future.

“CPU is part of this community, and our mission goes beyond providing reliable electric, water and sewer services,” said CPU General Manager Curtis D. Boschert. “We also want to help prepare the next generation for the workforce, and we believe that investment benefits everyone. When we give young people a chance to learn, work and explore a career, we are investing in their future and in Clarksdale’s future.”

The program also enables students to see the connection between the classroom and the workplace while developing professional skills such as teamwork, communication, responsibility and problem solving.

For Williams, the summer job experience offered something equally valuable: a chance to see a different side of his hometown and the people who keep it working.

“I enjoyed working with CPU employees and learning the different skills involved in maintaining Clarksdale’s utility systems,” he said. “It was a good experience.”

CPU plans to continue developing the summer employment program as part of its ongoing commitment to workforce development and creating career opportunities for Clarksdale’s future utility professionals.

Clarksdale Public Utilities is a municipally owned utility serving approximately 6,800 homes and businesses in Clarksdale. Its mission is to safely provide sustainable electric, water and wastewater services in a reliable and courteous manner by well-trained team members, committed to top quality operations, competitive rates and the vitality of the community.