Building Maine’s Next Generation of Lineworkers
For nearly three decades, On Target Utility Services has looked to Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) to help build its workforce. For Line Superintendent Kevin McKay, that partnership is more than a recruiting pipeline. It has shaped a career and a family legacy in Maine’s electric utility industry.
Kevin represents the third generation of his family to build a career in the electric utility industry. His father and grandfather both worked for Central Maine Power, and his connection to On Target goes back even further: his grandfather helped On Target’s founder get the company started.
Still, Kevin wanted to make his own way.
Kevin was encouraged to enroll in KVCC’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program by his father, who spent one day each year sharing industry expertise with students on topics such as field planning. The combination of hands-on training, strong career prospects, and an industry Kevin already knew well made the decision an easy one.
“You get out of it what you put into it,” Kevin said.
The program combines classroom instruction in subjects such as math and electrical theory with extensive field training. Students could learn about building and maintaining power lines in the classroom, then go outside and put those lessons into practice.
For Kevin, that hands-on experience was invaluable. The program also taught lessons that went beyond technical skills, including teamwork, accountability, responsibility and the importance of taking the time to do a job right.
On Target has been connected to KVCC’s lineworker program since the company’s early years, supporting the program with industry expertise, instructors, equipment and employment opportunities.
When Kevin was a student, On Target employees regularly visited his class to talk about the company, answer questions about the industry and prepare students for what they could expect on the job. His instructor also served as On Target’s safety director, giving students the opportunity to learn directly from someone actively working in the field.At the end of the program, On Target recruited its next employees.
Kevin eventually joined the company as a third-class lineworker and began working on transmission projects. From there, he progressed through On Target’s lineworker development program, becoming a first-class lineworker before moving into leadership. He later became a line supervisor and, about seven years ago, stepped into his current role as line superintendent.
Nearly 20 years after joining On Target, Kevin is now helping develop the workforce he was once part of.
On Target typically looks to hire about six graduates from each KVCC class. In fact, more than 80% of On Target's construction division workforce were graduates of the KVCC program. Kevin now works alongside and supervises employees who followed the same path he did.
That cycle is at the heart of what makes the relationship valuable to both organizations.
KVCC prepares students with the foundational knowledge and hands-on experience needed to enter a demanding profession. On Target brings industry expertise into the program and provides graduates with opportunities to turn that training into long-term careers.
The investment also helps strengthen the lineworker workforce in Maine. During Kevin’s career, he has watched On Target grow from about six bucket trucks to approximately 30, while bringing nearly all of its work back within the state. Kevin considers that growth a team accomplishment rather than an individual one.
It also reflects one of the things that has kept him at On Target for nearly two decades: a sense of community. He describes coworkers who spend long weeks working side by side and still choose to spend time together when the work is done.
For students considering following his path, Kevin’s advice is straightforward: “Do it. It’s a blast.” He also offers the perspective of someone who has spent nearly two decades learning the profession and leading others: Be aware of your surroundings. Work within your capabilities. And don't be afraid to ask for help.
For Kevin, the path from KVCC student to On Target superintendent has come full circle. Today, he is helping the next generation of lineworkers begin the same journey, continuing a partnership that has strengthened On Target, created careers, and supported Maine’s electric utility workforce for decades.
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