Melanie Schultz
National Offshore Wind Research & Development Consortium
Altamont, NY USA
"Good things come to those who wait."
Career Roadmap
Melanie's work combines: Business, Science, and Accomplishing Goals
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Stay engaged in science and math. Those are the courses that will really set you up well if you're looking forward to a career in renewable energy. If your school doesn't already work with a wind energy program, ask your science teacher to reach out to organizations that can help start that at your school. Look for colleges that offer sustainability and renewable energy programs.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Business Management/Finance
SUNY Empire State College
Certification
Fundamentals of Offshore Wind
Stony Brook University School of Professional Development
Certification
Offshore Wind
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
We had a residential wind turbine at our house growing up, so I was introduced to wind energy early on.
2.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in business management and finance from SUNY Empire State University.
3.
I built a 20-year career in electrical distribution, part of which was focused in supply chain management working with wind tower manufacturers.
4.
I gained my passion for wind energy while managing that wind program.
5.
When COVID-19 hit, I lost my job and took six months off trying to figure out what I wanted next out of my career.
6.
I decided to take a graduate course at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in offshore wind professional development.
7.
After the program, I was able to get a supply chain job with one of my former wind customers.
8.
I spent a year with the company before moving on to my current role now as a program manager for the National Offshore Wind Research & Development Consortium.
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I built a 20-year career and then lost my job due to COVID-19. I took the opportunity to really think about what I wanted next in my career. It resulted in me taking a graduate course and landing my dream job in wind energy research and development.