A simple challenge can spark something great. More than ten years ago, Robert Matthews, Exelon Vice President and Chief of Staff, was charged with leading a workforce development effort for BGE. “We began by reaching out to local high school Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School (Mervo) and got the green light to take students on BGE field trips, connecting them with teachers and mentors,” Matthews says.
Transported on yellow school buses, construction students headed to BGE’s service center, engineering students met with BGE engineers, and automotive mechanics students went to fleet operations. The students would have lunch, learn, and glimpse possibilities they otherwise might not have seen. What would become a cornerstone of BGE’s Smart Energy Workforce Development Initiative started with these small steps. The effect on students in that first cohort was immediate, Matthews says, altering their perceptions not only of BGE but of themselves.
“The students knew BGE was a company their parents paid a bill to, who came to the neighborhood if the power went out,” Matthews remembers. “But what they didn’t know before being part of the program was that BGE was a company where they could work. That they could be part of BGE’s corporate community.”
President and CEO Calvin Butler, then President and CEO of BGE says, “At Exelon, we believe in the power of people – and in the power of impact. And this initiative, in particular, has had tremendous impact, planting the seeds for our successful enterprise-wide workforce development approach that has led to more than 2,000 people being hired either with us or with trusted partners. Our investment, our commitment, is building pathways into family-supporting careers for people in the communities we serve – and that’s something I’m proud of.”
With the pilot program at Mervo a success, other schools soon came on board, including Edmonson-Westside, Carver and Green Street Academy, to offer rigorous professional development, certification prep for the Construction and Skilled Trades exam (CAST), driver’s education, and hands-on learning alongside BGE field operations, extending what students experience in the classroom and teaching life-skills, from resume writing to investing in a 401(k).
The program has expanded impressively in size and scope. Now under the umbrella of the BGE High School Career Academy, it comprises 16 schools, with 12 participating in BGE’s High School Internship Program and the remainder served by BGE’s Youth Apprenticeship Program for students in relevant trades at Baltimore City’s CTE High Schools, Anne Arundel, Howard, and Harford County.
From pioneering pilot to powerhouse workforce pipeline: To date, 400 high school students have participated in this paid summer internship experience, with 50 transitioning into full-time roles within BGE.
Even more impressive than the growth of the program is the growth it encourages in students—the confidence and competence they gain through participation.
“The first time I participated in the program as a junior, I was a little timid and shy, but they told me to speak up a little louder,” says Kavon Lynch, a participant from Mervo.
“When I came back in 12th grade, I wanted to see everybody, talk to everybody. I felt like a new person because of the corporate culture BGE offers,” he says. Today, Kavon continues to be part of BGE’s corporate culture, as an Overhead Mechanic.
Kifa Ul-Eman began her BGE career journey as a participant in the Exelon STEM Academy, accessing networking and career preparation activities that would set the course for her future. “The most valuable aspect for me was the ability to exercise my curiosity and ask questions,” she says.
“Exploring the energy field and its possibilities alongside my peers allowed me to define my passion for mechanical engineering,” says Kifa. “The confidence I gained has allowed me to continue thriving at BGE as a Youth Apprentice and a 2025 Chris Crane Memorial Scholar.”
“The best facet of the high school program was being in a position where I could be exposed to the different types of career opportunities that BGE offers and get personal feedback from professionals throughout various work groups,” said Tyree Georgie, a participant in the very first cohort.
Tyree was able to continue with BGE as an intern in New Business Residential Design throughout his college career at Baltimore City Community College and Morgan State University. Upon graduation from Morgan State University, Tyree obtained a full-time position at BGE as a Designer I in New Business Residential and has been promoted to Designer II.
From a challenge, something great.
Kavon, Kifa, and Tyree are the reasons why BGE does the work it does in the community. For the young people who will follow in their footsteps, I say to them, ‘There’s a place for you here.’
This year, BGE celebrates its 209th year – the oldest gas utility in the country, and BGE is not just planning for the next decade. “We’re envisioning the next 25 to 50 years. Our unwavering commitment is to power opportunity and create a brighter, more equitable future for all,” says Olivier. “Programs like our High School Career Academy are more than workforce initiatives—they’re investments in the potential of our youth and the vitality of our communities. By nurturing a strong, diverse talent pipeline across central Maryland, we’re helping to shape a future where everyone can thrive.”
