Jon P. Dooley-Weiland

As a child, I always saw myself becoming a first responder one day. Law enforcement, fire department, maybe emergency medical services … I’ve always loved helping people, and a career in one of those fields just seemed to be where my path was heading.

Then, during my senior year of high school, I began exploring opportunities for tech ed programs at nearby schools. I had also developed a love for working with my hands, and the attractive pay scales for jobs in those industries were also a big factor. 

I had heard about the opportunities at Midwest Energy Inc. (MWE) from a friend employed there. The company offered an on-the-job apprenticeship program, which would allow me to begin earning right off the bat. The apprenticeship consisted of 6,000 hours of training, including classroom instruction and specialty job-related training.

I’m now a natural gas service technician. My day-to-day duties vary greatly: I perform leak surveying, troubleshoot gas meter and gas regulator issues, and assist the gas construction crew with new connects and maintenance projects. Nearly all of my training was provided by MWE, but my position also requires me to stay up to date on my operator qualification and compliance training.

It’s a great career! The variety in my duties breaks up the monotony, and I enjoy interacting with customers and showing them the ways we provide a reliable and safe source of energy to their home. Looking to the future, I’d like to continue to learn more about the industry and what other technical positions have to offer. My end goal would be to take an operations management role.

Would I recommend an apprenticeship to young Kansans who are interested in a career in energy? Absolutely. Learning on the job while being paid is the ultimate position to be in. There are a few things you can do to prepare even before you begin. Practice working with your hands — I grew up in construction and had always been a hands-on learner. You’ll also want to take advantage of any and all tech ed classes in high school to learn the fundamentals. And finally, start learning more about the industry. Contact employers about job shadowing or reach out to professionals to learn more about how they ended up where they are today. You’ll be more than ready to get started!