Powering the Future: Local Graduates Take First Steps Toward Lineworker Careers
In South Florida, where resilience and progress go hand in hand, a powerful partnership between Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and United Way Miami is lighting the way for a new generation of essential workers. The two organizations recently marked a major milestone: the first graduating class of their pilot lineworker pre-apprenticeship program.
At first glance, it may seem like just another workforce training initiative. But for the 10 determined students who completed the six-month program, it’s much more than that—it’s a launching pad into lifelong careers in Florida’s growing energy industry. And for Miami-Dade County, it represents a strategic investment in building a stronger, more inclusive skilled workforce.
Born from United Way Miami’s UpSkill Miami initiative—a transformative workforce fund focused on economic mobility—the program was designed to close the gap between unfilled jobs and untapped talent in local communities. It offers more than just training; it offers opportunity, purpose, and a pathway to stability.
“Today is a reflection of what is possible when people are given the right tools, support, and opportunity,” says Symeria Hudson, president and CEO of United Way Miami. “We’re not just building careers—we’re building futures, families, and a more resilient Miami.”
Appropriately named Bright Path: Learners Today. Lineworkers Tomorrow, the program is led by expert instructors from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers SCU4. The curriculum blends classroom instruction, hands-on field experience, computer-based learning, and a two-week internship. Students develop technical skills in restoring overhead and underground power lines, operating heavy machinery safely, and navigating real-world electrical systems—critical expertise for future lineworkers.
FPL, one of the state’s leading energy providers, sees the program as an essential part of its mission to ensure reliable power while building stronger communities. “Lineworkers play a vital role in keeping the lights on and our communities moving forward,” says Ed De Varona, FPL’s vice president of power delivery. “We are proud of these graduates, and we know they have what it takes to meet the demands of this important profession.”
The graduates—Steven Salinas Santiago, Aidan Sealey, Lazaro Moya, Jonathan Lewis, Josue Perez Jr., Phillip Porter Dade, Alejandro Fernandez, Elijah Johnson, La’Monze Percentie, and Anthony Denis—now qualify to apply for lineworker roles with FPL across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
This isn’t just a win for the graduates. It’s a win for all of South Florida.
The energy industry, like many other trades, faces a growing need for skilled workers. Through programs like this, community partnerships are creating sustainable solutions—giving individuals a chance to succeed while building the critical infrastructure our region relies on.
As these graduates begin their professional journeys, they carry with them more than just a certificate—they carry the promise of a brighter, more empowered future for themselves and for the communities they’re proud to serve.
