ITAC’s Workforce Pilot powers student pathways in energy engineering

Monday, February 2, 2026

Media Contact: Desa James | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-2669 | desa.james@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University’s Industrial Training & Assessment Center is doing more than cutting energy waste in buildings across the state; it’s helping build the next generation of Oklahoma’s energy engineers.  

Through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Commercial Building Efficiency Workforce Development Pilot Project, ITAC has created a clear, real-world pathway for students like Elyssa Kaniatobe and Esteban “Steven” Maxwell to move from Northern Oklahoma College into OSU’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and into hands-on roles in energy efficiency and sustainability.  

Kaniatobe, an architectural engineering major, and Maxwell, a chemical engineering major, began their studies in the fall of 2025. Both trace their interest in energy engineering back to their early experiences in ITAC’s workforce pilot while still students at NOC. 

From NOC labs to Oklahoma’s energy future  

For most engineering students, meaningful field experience comes late in college, often during their junior or senior year. For Kaniatobe and Maxwell, it started as freshmen.  

“As a freshman, I didn’t expect to be walking facilities and learning how HVAC, lighting, and building systems drive energy costs — but ITAC put me right into it,” Maxwell said. “The pilot made the transition from NOC to OSU feel like a true pipeline, and it helped me see how chemical engineering can support cleaner, more efficient communities.”  

As NOC students, they were introduced to ITAC’s workforce pilot and quickly found themselves working with real data, real buildings and real clients, instead of only seeing energy systems in textbooks or slides.  

Those early experiences helped both students see a future in energy engineering. The pilot program provided something uncommon at that stage of their education: the confidence that they could contribute meaningfully and the clarity that a technical degree could translate into a career serving Oklahoma communities. That clarity helped guide their decision to enroll at OSU CEAT with a clear interest in energy efficiency and sustainable design.  

“It is important for students to see that they can participate in research at all levels,” said Dr. Frankie Wood-Black, chair of NOC’s Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Process Technology Division. “This program allows for students to develop skills that they can use right away, as well as help them to transition into a research program at Oklahoma State.”   

A DOE-backed workforce pipeline  

Backed by $500,000 in DOE and cost-share funding, the Commercial Building Efficiency Workforce Development Pilot is intentionally designed as a pipeline, not a one-off project. The initiative connects NOC, CareerTech, regional partners, CEAT and OSU ITAC.  

“DOE launched the Commercial Building Pilot at 17 of the ITACs to enable students to work within the commercial building market, particularly those receiving technical training at community colleges or technical schools,” said John Smegal, DOE’s senior deployment manager for the national ITAC program.  

Each year, the pilot aims to:  

• Train 5–10 students in commercial building energy assessments.  
• Conduct around 10 assessments per year for facilities under 100,000 square feet.  
• Develop curricula and training materials that can be used across the region to grow the energy-efficiency workforce.   

Under ITAC’s model, students are not just observers. They participate in a structured training process that reflects OSU’s emphasis on quality and safety, including:  

• Safety and technical workshops.
• Distance-learning modules tailored to commercial buildings.
• On-site client assessments alongside ITAC staff and faculty.
• Reporting using ITAC’s standardized tools and templates.

By recruiting and mentoring a broad range of students, ITAC and its partners support their strategic plan and the region’s evolving workforce needs.  

Why this matters for Oklahoma  

Commercial buildings — from schools and churches to clinics and small businesses — represent a major opportunity for energy and cost savings. Yet many of these organizations lack in-house technical staff or the resources to pursue detailed energy assessments.  

ITAC’s pilot helps close that gap while simultaneously developing local talent.  

Each student cohort helps deliver:  

• Energy and cost savings for Oklahoma organizations.  
• Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through practical efficiency measures.  
• Productivity and comfort improvements for building users.  

At the same time, students like Kaniatobe and Maxwell see firsthand how their coursework in engineering, math and science connects to real-world challenges. They are not just learning about kilowatt-hours and BTUs — they are learning how their skills can strengthen communities.  

“Most students don’t get this kind of real-world exposure until late in their degree, but through the ITAC workforce pilot — working with community colleges and technical schools — students who might not otherwise have access to advanced opportunities can step into real facilities early, using real utility bills and real building systems to identify real energy savings,” said Dr. Hitesh Vora, ITAC director. “That early, hands-on experience builds confidence and practical skills that translate directly into Oklahoma’s energy-efficiency workforce. When students see the impact of their work, they don’t just learn engineering — they become part of Oklahoma’s energy solution.” 

A pathway, not a one-time experience  

The strength of the pilot lies in the sequence it creates:  

• Early, applied learning at NOC builds confidence, interest and fundamental skills in energy and building systems.  
• A smooth transition into OSU CEAT allows students to pursue architectural, chemical, mechanical or related engineering degrees with a strong energy focus.  
• Employment and engagement with ITAC through student worker roles, internships and project support gives them continuing, paid experience on real client assessments.  
• Graduates then make long-term contributions to Oklahoma’s energy-efficiency ecosystem as they move into roles in industry, utilities, consulting, public agencies and ongoing collaborations with ITAC and OSU.  

“The ITAC is a place I learned to explore and embrace change,” Kaniatobe said. “It allows me to understand the importance and value energy efficiency has on the world. My colleagues give me the support and help I need without hesitation and it’s something I look forward to when working with OSU ITAC.”  

For Kaniatobe and Maxwell, the DOE pilot is not just a program they participated in; it is the beginning of a career pathway that allows them to stay in Oklahoma, serve local communities and help shape a more efficient, affordable and sustainable energy future for the state.