Project Porchlight Blog

In preparation for Project Porchlight New Jersey’s new campaign, staff from our offices in Caldwell and Trenton gathered on April 5 for a Staff Training Day at the Rutgers University Continuing Studies Conference Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Our team kicked off Phase III of Project Porchlight’s campaign to distribute energy-efficient compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs to residents across the state with an all-day event that was as informative as it was fun!

The Training Day brought together old and new faces for a Project Porchlight campaign refresher that focused on key team-building skills for success and an overview of procedures. The day provided an opportunity for our team to reunite and re-energize as we revisited the importance of interpersonal communication skills and the way that a simple smile or the inflection of your voice can impact your interactions with others inside and outside of the workplace.

Our sponsor guest speaker, Yennaira Ortiz, Program Manager for Community Partners Initiative/New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program (NJCEP), shared how our public outreach can incorporate key messages about NJCEP’s program offerings, including Residential Efficiency & Assistance, Renewable Energy, and Commercial & Industrial Clean Energy. Following her presentation, team members had an opportunity to role-play and familiarize themselves with exciting new materials for the event displays.

Breakout sessions for both field representatives and administrative staff tackled key strategies for success. Field representatives gathered for a “Ready, Set, Go” workshop, where they reviewed field procedures. The administrative staff attended “How to Manage Multiple Projects, Meet Deadlines & Achieve Objectives,” where they reviewed best practices for handling unexpected situations.

“It was a great day,” says Tom Violett, Regional Manager for Project Porchlight’s new Trenton office. “It was a great opportunity for all of the people involved with the campaign to meet each other and to understand our common purpose.”

That purpose, of course, is to distribute energy-efficient CFL bulbs to residents across the state and to educate folks about the energy efficiency programs that are available through NJCEP. Project Porchlight is an initiative of One Change, and the campaign is made possible thanks to funding by the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and NJCEP.

When it comes to protecting our environment, simple actions matter. Even something as simple as changing a light bulb is important. By distributing energy-efficient CFL bulbs to residents and educating them on the importance of conserving energy, Project Porchlight empowers people to believe that simple actions matter and to make smart choices that protect the environment.

“The field representatives really are committed to the idea of energy efficiency, and they have to be the kind of people that can ring doorbells every day and energize folks,” says Tom. “They have to be good at talking to people and really be up for it every single day. The feedback that I get from our field representatives is that this is something that’s easy for them to do because they believe in it.”

Our team enjoyed plenty of good times during Staff Training Day. The morning icebreaker involved animal impersonations, and for the afternoon’s Lego Building exercise, each team had to build the tallest structure…together! The team with the highest structure won a special prize. And maintaining the tradition set by earlier training sessions, we ended with a fantastic group photo.

Go Porchlight!!!