By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart

For Abby Pratt, there is no greater profession in life than to be a lineworker. A recent graduate of the inaugural cohort of SUNY Broome’s Lineworker Training Program, Pratt’s enthusiasm for her future career is contagious. Still technically in her teens, Pratt proudly represents the next generation of this elite and highly-skilled workforce.

A native of Canadice, NY, Pratt spent her childhood tinkering alongside her dad in his automotive collision shop. Naturally drawn to technical, hands-on projects, Pratt supplemented her studies at Bloomfield High School with Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES’s automotive technology program.

When Pratt was a senior in high school, a friend who had recently started his career as a lineworker, stopped by to visit with his gear in tow. After breaking down the importance of each piece of climbing equipment, he encouraged her to try it on. Within minutes, Pratt was confidently scaling the trees in her backyard.

“The gear was not nearly as heavy as I thought it would be,” Pratt explained. “Halfway up the tree, I thought, ‘I can do this! This is what I’m meant to be.’” 

After graduating from Bloomfield High School, Pratt was hired by Tambe Electric as a contractor. She quickly realized that working in the telecommunication industry was not nearly as fulfilling as she had hoped. Armed with the drive to work in electrical distribution for a utility, Pratt began researching line schools to further her education. Just when it seemed like her only option would be to relocate to the South, a colleague of her mom’s forwarded a link advertising SUNY Broome’s newly established Lineworker Training Program. 

The Lineworker Training Program is the result of a collaborative partnership between the College, New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG), and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 10. Designed to support the growing workforce demand within the energy and utility sectors, the program admits 20 students per session to participate in three phases of training.

Pratt couldn’t contain her excitement surrounding the timing and close proximity of this new program. She begged her parents to join her at the required information session and soon they too were onboard with their daughter’s dream.

After mastering the mandatory physical assessment, Pratt was officially accepted into the program. She quickly packed a bag, found a roommate, and relocated to the Southern Tier for Phase 1, a six-week intensive at NYSEG’s training facility and pole yard. Pratt spent eight hours a day, Monday through Thursday, fully immersed in hands-on training focused on electrical line installation, general repair and maintenance, and, most importantly, workplace safety. The program’s schedule and rigor aren’t for the faint of heart, but instead of becoming overwhelmed, Pratt was fueled by the fast-paced energy of the active learning environment. 

Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers

Phase 2 of the program sent Pratt to NYSEG’s Hornell, NY division for a paid Summer internship. Immediately enveloped by the Hornell line crew, Pratt joined the team in the field, amassing critical skills and on-the-job experiences. 

“They brought me into the fold from the very start and were incredibly kind,” Pratt said. “I never once felt like I didn’t belong or that I was being a bother when I asked questions. My experiences with cable and telecommunications were not nearly as welcoming.”

Though she hated for her internship to end, she progressed to Phase 3, which brought her back to the training yard for continued classroom and field study. After four weeks, Pratt and 20 of her classmates successfully completed the program. 

Through a post-graduation job fair, Pratt was hired by a cable services company. Hungry for experience, she spent the next two months living on the road, working six-day shifts as a cable lineworker. While she was happy to be employed, her heart is, and always was, with the utility sector. So when NYSEG posted a six-month paid internship position, Pratt jumped at the chance to apply, much to the delight of her Hornell division mentors. 

“As soon as I accepted the internship position, my phone started to blow up with texts welcoming me back to NYSEG,” Pratt shared. “I admire these linemen so much; their support means the world to me.”

Pratt’s next step is to bank additional hours and hone her skills to be eligible to test into an apprenticeship position. 

“I won’t be able to relax until I am an apprentice,” Pratt said. “And even then, I’ll have so many new skills to develop and progressions to complete that I’ll always have something exciting to drive me.” 

For information on future cohorts of the SUNY Broome Lineworker Training Program visit the Lineworker Training Program website. This website details  information about the program’s admissions requirements and the structure of the training sessions.  Lineworker Training Program | Continuing Education

Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers

Tags: , ,