We focus on the continuous development of our greatest assets – our employees – to build a sustainable leadership pipeline. CenterPoint Energy’s Learning and Organizational Development department helps employees learn new skills, develop their capabilities and identify their untapped potential. We strive to create a culture for growth by leveraging technology, being data driven and aligning with our businesses on relevant learning solutions.
In 2023, all full- and part-time employees received annual training on CenterPoint Energy’s Ethics and Compliance Code of Conduct, which covers fair treatment, equal opportunity and workplace respect, among other topics.
2023 CNP University Training
CNP University, our online corporate university, is made up of six colleges that represent formal learning and training operations designed to meet employees’ needs.
- Total online courses completed: 255,141
- Total hours of online courses completed: 127,571*
- Average hours of training per year per employee via CNP University (excludes in-person field safety and technical training): 14.5
*Each course averages 30 minutes or 0.5 hours
CNP University offers a variety of content and resources, including online courses, audio summaries and podcasts that focus on inclusive leadership, that are available to all employees.
College of Professional Development – Instructor/Virtual Instructor-led Training
- Total participants: 4,304
- Total hours completed: 16,586
- Average hours of instructor/virtual instructor-led training per year per employee: 3.9
Data excludes in-person field safety and technical training.
Leadership Development
Our leadership development programs aim to provide a set of solutions and programs that develop leaders’ capabilities at all levels to support business growth and maintain a high-performing workplace. We promote leadership, mentorship and support to develop and motivate leaders.
- Leadership Academy – Targeted to current, high-potential leaders who are nominated and selected to be part of this one-year program to broaden their networks and advance their business acumen.
- Learning to Lead – Targeted to current high-potential individual contributors who are nominated and selected to be part of this six-month program to help them grow professionally and gain leadership skills.
- Leadership Essentials – Automatic enrollment program designed to assist new leaders in their transition into leadership and set them up for success during their first year of leading others.
- Leading Leaders – Automatic enrollment program designed to assist first-time leaders of other leaders with their transition as they take on increased leadership responsibility.
Workforce Development
CenterPoint Energy believes it is essential to build a highly trained operations workforce that can support our customers and communities, while nurturing and developing talent. From Helper to Journeyman Lineman, our crews train in a safe and controlled environment, gain hands-on field experience and continuously hone their skills.
In 2023, CenterPoint Energy opened the industry-leading Hiram O. Clarke Training Center in Houston with over 25 expert instructors who are leading about 400 electric apprentices and 320 natural gas new hires through our cutting-edge, comprehensive training programs. The 150,000-square-foot center hosts tenured employees for continuing education and supports our engagements with Career and Technical Education school programs. This facility is just one of our training centers, which are located across our service territory.
- We collaborate with Ivy Tech Community College to offer the Achieve Your Degree program to line workers and gas apprentices in Indiana. The program makes an interdisciplinary and technical certificate or an Energy Technology Associate of Applied Science degree available by completing coursework and on-the-job training while using the company’s tuition reimbursement plan.
- CenterPoint Energy is a member of the Center for Energy Workforce Development, a consortium of energy utility companies, associations, unions, educators and business partners working together to position the energy industry to recruit and retain a skilled workforce.
- CenterPoint Energy’s 2023 internship program provided real-world experience, training and mentoring to 97 interns.
“By providing our employees with the latest safety and technical training incorporating best practices, we will continue to strive to provide the safe, reliable electricity and natural gas for our customers and the communities we have the privilege to serve.”
– Al Payton, Vice President of Safety and Technical Training
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