By Alex Paset
Jordan Wildman wanted more than a job – he wanted a career. Work that was fulfilling, with a paycheck that would provide financial security for him and his family. But he recognized that building new skills was the first step on that journey.
“I wanted a career that challenged me, allowed me to continue learning and gave me an opportunity to build a future I could truly be proud of,” said Wildman.
After moving to Chicago from California with his wife in 2025, Wildman found steady work as a cashier at a local casino. However, the position offered limited opportunities for professional growth and made it difficult to balance other interests and priorities.
While searching online for a woodworking class, Wildman clicked on an ABC Chicago video segment about Revolution Workshop, which provides job training and placement in the construction sector, targeting people from traditionally underserved communities.
Wildman discovered that the workshop partnered with ComEd, as well as educators and employers, to create Power Up Academy, a 14-week training program that prepares jobseekers for entry-level positions such as design technicians, engineering technicians, project coordinators and permit analysts.
“The more I learned about Revolution Workshop and the Power Up Academy, the more I realized it could provide the opportunity I had been looking for,” he said. “So I took a chance and applied.”
Jordan Wildman receives his graduation plaque
Power Up graduates can also earn college credits that may be applied toward an associate degree in design engineering and construction management at City Colleges of Chicago.
Over the course of the program, Wildman and his classmates developed technical skills in project management, AutoCAD and utility operations. They also learned how to solve problems, work collaboratively and support one another through the inevitable challenges that come with blazing a new career path.
Less than four months after taking that chance, Wildman stood alongside 13 classmates at September’s Power Up Academy graduation ceremony, which recognized their hard work throughout the program and the commitment they made to creating new opportunities for themselves and their families.
“As I look around this room, I don’t just see graduates,” said Melissa Washington, senior vice president of Government, Regulatory and External Affairs at ComEd. “I see people who made a decision to take a chance on themselves.”
Through that decision and the training that followed, Wildman and his classmates became equipped to tackle opportunities in an energy industry that is changing quickly. Electric vehicles, renewable energy, data centers and emerging technologies are creating new demands on the power grid and increasing the need for skilled workers who can shape its future.
“The industry needs talented, motivated people who are ready to learn, adapt and help shape what comes next,” said Mark Baranek, Senior Vice President of Technical Services at ComEd.
At the end of the program, each participant prepared a capstone presentation showcasing the skills and knowledge they developed throughout their training. Employers were invited to attend and hear directly from the graduates.
Power Up Academy has already helped many graduates turn their new skills into career opportunities. More than 80% of graduates are currently working, including at ComEd or with another sponsoring employer company. Some have already received promotions.
This track record impressed the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals, which named Power Up Academy its 2026 Workforce Program of the Year.
For Wildman, a seemingly ordinary search for a woodworking class ultimately opened the door to an entirely new career path.
“Fourteen weeks later, I can confidently say that decision changed my life.”
To learn more about ComEd’s workforce development programs or to enroll, go to ComEd.com/workforce.
