💡🛠️8th Annual PECO Infrastructure Academy

This September marked the 8th year that PECO held it's Infrastructure Academy. Taking place over two nights at the historic 23rd Street Armory, the event included a VIP Reception where city leaders, including Mayor Cherelle Parker, and community partners came together to champion workforce development and family sustaining infrastructure jobs.

The highlight of the event came when participants rolled up their sleeves to work along side experienced field mechanics. It was exciting to see many of our CAST, AMO, and Pre-apprenticeship graduates networking at the event and learning first-hand, how PECO’s Aerial, Gas, Underground, Energy Technician, and Transmission & Substations divisions work up close.

From funding training to leading job readiness programs, PECO is actively creating opportunities in neighborhoods hit hardest by underemployment. We are incredibly proud of our ongoing partnership with PECO, a collaboration that sparks career growth, empowers families, and fuels economic progress where it is needed most.

✨Ready to start your own energy career journey? The next CAST/AMO Test Prep class begins October 13, 2026. Let us know you are interested by filling out our CAST/AMO Interest Form. Filling out the form does not guarantee enrollment. A member of our Workforce Team will reach out to you about eligibility and next steps.

When Jose moved from the Dominican Republic to the U.S. in 2021, he had a lot going for him. Having already attained a bachelor’s in electrical engineering and a master’s in renewable energy, Jose had years of work experience behind him.

But like so many immigrants, Jose needed to overcome the language barrier before moving forward in his career. He signed up for classes at Beyond Literacy shortly after arriving in Philadelphia.

For the next two years, Jose was a fixture in his teacher Nicole’s classroom, always the first one to participate and eager to learn. "Nicole used to tell me, 'Jose, give the other students a chance to answer!'" he laughs..

During this time, Jose took jobs cleaning buildings, doing sanitation work, and delivering food. "DoorDash was difficult because you have to talk to the customers," Jose recalls. But he used every delivery, every stop at a gas station, and every interaction with the public as a classroom to practice his English. 

Jose’s teacher Nicole also helped him edit his 50 page resume down to a succinct two-pages.“That resume is exactly what moved me forward and helped me get a better job. That’s what made the absolute difference”, he says.

Jose reached a major career milestone in 2023 when he re-entered the electrical engineering industry. He initially joined FST Services as a Project Engineer before being promoted to Senior Project Engineer. Currently based in Texas, Jose serves as the Senior Project Manager and Commissioning Electrical Lead for Yates Construction, where his primary objective is to advance the development of energy-efficient data centers.

In July 2026, Jose officially became a U.S. citizen. Next year, his four children will join him in the United States. ”My long-term goal is to find a job that doesn’t require as much travel so I can help my children grow. Everything I do is because of them,” he says.” 

We are incredibly proud of Jose and all that he has accomplished in such a short time! 👏✨🎉

Beyond Literacy's mission is to expand opportunities and improve lives by unleashing the power of literacy through free, high-quality adult education and career readiness.