Anthony Crosson grew up in Southern California, mostly in the El Cajon and Long Beach areas. When he graduated high school in 2014, he spent a lot of time in retail and other jobs he would describe as boring.
“I’m a hard working person,” Anthony says confidently, “and I felt like I was wasting my time.”
His father recommended Job Corps which immediately seemed like a good a fit for Anthony. He started off on track for a certification in plastering. With a strong work ethic, he was able to complete half of his courses in just 2 months. Deep down, he really wanted to go into the electrical track, but there was a waiting list. When a spot opened up he immediately reached out to the program managers and inquired about participating in the electrical certification.
Anthony’s tenacity payed off, he was quickly put in the electrical program where he says he’s having lots of fun. “I like making things work,” he reflects. “Putting things together, then turning them on knowing it’ll stay there for years to come. It feels good to know I did that.”
When his instructor told him about training at GRID Alternatives, he was initially apprehensive; but knowing he would learn about solar installation from scratch excited Anthony. And he is so happy he’s had the experience. “The vibe was awesome! Everyone was so positive and hardworking.” Anthony brought his impressive skill set and proved to be a valuable asset to GRID. In just 10 short weeks he was able to complete his Installation Basic Training and tasks such as electrical safety, blueprint reading, and panel installation. He received accolades from his supervisors as being one of the few to complete everything over the course of the program.
And Anthony’s future is bright! He’s hoping to take his knowledge and work ethic to New York for a 4-month training as an Overhead Lineman. There, he’ll learn how to put up power poles for electrical systems, install cable networks, set up powerhouses and many other promising skills. He’s so glad he’s conquered his fear of heights by scaling 2-story houses to install solar for GRID.