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PSEG HONORED AS BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR

Company Recognized for Service to Career and Technical Education Students

The New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools (NJCCVTS) today named PSEG as its 2009 Business Partner of the Year, recognizing the company's commitment to career and technical education and its role in preparing the state's emerging "green" workforce.

PSEG was unanimously voted the first-ever New Jersey Business Partner of the Year by the members of NJCCVTS, and local business partners were selected by county vocational school districts throughout the state. (See list below.)

The local recipients named by each of the county vocational-technical schools represent small and large companies who assist school districts by serving on advisory committees, mentoring students, lecturing in classrooms and donating services and equipment.

NJCCVTS President Mike Maddaluna said the state's 21 county vocational-technical schools would not be able to graduate exemplary students without the support and assistance of its many business partners. PSEG, he said, is one of hundreds of examples of partnerships that exist statewide.

"PSEG is an exemplary partner- a business that assists our schools and students with both words and deeds," Maddaluna said. "Our programs are stronger, our students are better prepared and our facilities are greener because of PSEG."

PSEG recently spearheaded an effort to create the New Jersey Energy Workforce Consortium (NJEWC), which joins leaders from the state's education community with government, labor and industry representatives for a collaborative effort designed to prepare workers for opportunities in the energy industry.

The Green Energy Academy at Bloomfield Tech High School is an example of the sort of innovative programs that can come from partnerships like NJEWC. This year-old program is getting high school students excited about opportunities for green jobs. PSEG was instrumental in developing the curriculum -- providing technical expertise, classroom speakers and opportunities for students to visit its facilities, as well money for learning aides.

A longtime partner of several county vocational schools, PSEG has had a long association with Salem County Vocational Technical School, including support for the Academy for Energy Applications that opened in 2007.

In 2009, NJCCVTS launched its own statewide green initiative, the Green Collar Careers Advisory Committee. Rosa Schmidt, Workforce Planning & Outreach Manager at PSEG, is an active founding member.

Ms. Schmidt is also serving on an elite team of education officials to develop a Green Program of Study to be implemented statewide at county vocational-technical schools.

"Rosa has worked closely with our schools to generate a renewed interest in technical trade careers and create a pipeline of students who are well-prepared to launch a career ladder in the energy industry," Maddaluna said in presenting her with the award at a meeting of county vocational-technical school superintendents today.

NJCCVTS is the statewide association of county vocational-technical schools in all 21 counties. Our market-driven schools of choice serve about 84,000 secondary and adult students in a wide range of career programs. County vocational-technical schools are a county-wide shared service funded by Boards of Chosen Freeholders and state and federal aid.

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For more information about the Business Partners throughout the state, click on the links below.

Atlantic County Vocational Technical School District - Atlantic City Hotel Lodging Association

Bergen County Technical School District - BMW of North America, LLC

Burlington County Institute of Technology - Radwell International, Inc.

Camden County Technical Schools - Rio Supply

Cumberland County Technical Education Center - Cumberland County WIB

Cape May County Technical School District - Gentilini Ford & Chevrolet

Essex County Vocational Schools - PSE&G

Gloucester County Institute of Technology - Ritz Theatre Company

Hudson County Schools of Technology - Cosi Restaurant

Hunterdon County Polytech - Rotary Club of Flemington