The first Massachusetts Green Career Conference was held on October 2, 2009 at the Marlborough Holiday Inn. The conference, sponsored by Green Workforce Training and Associates, offered green career guidance and resources to a sold-out audience of approximately 250 people transitioning into green careers, workforce training and education professionals, and business and government representatives.

The keynote speaker was Kevin Doyle, president of Green Economy and co-chair of the workforce development group at the New England Clean Energy Council. Kevin stressed that green jobs are not just in the area of renewable energy. For example, green jobs can be in green construction, which requires “green-up training” for LEED certification. Kevin noted that Massachusetts is investing $4M in green jobs, through the Green Jobs Act, the Green Communities Act and the Global Warming Solutions Act.

Exhibiting companies – all of whom are hiring – included A123 Systems, Bandgap Engineering, Brookfield Power, Cadmus Group, ICF International, Next Step Living, NStar, Wood Pellets, Qteros and Rise Engineering. Representatives from these companies participated in a workshop where they outlined the details of the jobs for which they are hiring.

Here are some of the resources cited during the conference:

• Green Careers Guide
• Green Energy Career Guide
• Sustainable Business, Green Dream Jobs
• Envionmental Careers
• Green companies (produce green products or provide a green service)
• Green Building Resource Center