Look for opportunities with an existing nonprofit, join a club, or start your own! Clean up beaches, plant trees, recycle...do something for your community that benefits the planet!

Advice

Do some environmental volunteering.

Renewable energy has become a buzzword recently. From wind, water, and even bacteria, people are experimenting with different ways that energy can be produced. Watch these TED Talks to learn more!

Career

Learn about renewable and alternative sources of energy. 

Wind energy is one of the fastest growing renewable energy sectors. Find out how the power of wind is harnessed and transformed into a source of energy used by millions. 

Find out how wind energy works.

Wind Energy Operations Managers

Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Second Interest High-Point

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

First Interest High-Point

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Miscellaneous Managers

Managers, All Other

Management Occupations

Other Management Occupations

Train or coordinate the training of employees in operations, safety, environmental issues, or technical issues.

Track and maintain records for wind operations, such as site performance, downtime events, parts usage, or substation events.

Provide technical support to wind field customers, employees, or subcontractors.

Manage warranty repair or replacement services.

Order parts, tools, or equipment needed to maintain, restore, or improve wind field operations.

Maintain operations records, such as work orders, site inspection forms, or other documentation.

Review, negotiate, or approve wind farm contracts.

Recruit or select wind operations employees, contractors, or subcontractors.

Monitor and maintain records of daily facility operations.

Estimate costs associated with operations, including repairs or preventive maintenance.

Establish goals, objectives, or priorities for wind field operations.

Develop relationships and communicate with customers, site managers, developers, land owners, authorities, utility representatives, or residents.

Develop processes or procedures for wind operations, including transitioning from construction to commercial operations.

Supervise employees or subcontractors to ensure quality of work or adherence to safety regulations or policies.

Oversee the maintenance of wind field equipment or structures, such as towers, transformers, electrical collector systems, roadways, or other site assets.

Adjustable widemouth pliers

Adjustable wrenches

Amp clamp meters

Desktop computers

Digital calipers

Digital micrometers

Digital oscilloscopes

Fall arrest systems

Field forklifts

Hard hats

Hydraulic torque machines

Infrared thermography cameras

Laptop computers

Laser facsimile machines

Lubricant oil sampling kits

Manual torque wrenches

Megohmmeters

Mobile radios

Multi-line telephone systems

Personal computers

Phillips head screwdrivers

Photocopying equipment

Programmable logic controllers PLC

Protective ear muffs

Recording anemometers

Rigging equipment

Safety glasses

Safety line evacuation kits

Straight screwdrivers

Tower cranes

Vibration analyis equipment

Voltage testers

Autodesk AutoCAD

Computerized diagnostic software

Computerized maintenance management system CMMS

Employee scheduling software

Gensuite

IBM Lotus Notes

Inventory control software

Local area network LAN software

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Word

Oracle Enterprise Asset Management eAM

Programmable logic controller PLC software

Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software

Time and payroll management software

Web browser software

WebEx WebOffice

Wide area network WAN software

entrepreneur
Died in a plane crash April 2018.

Study hard and do well in your classes. Be prepared for obstacles, but keep your mind open to different paths. Then, focus on one and go for it!

I do a little bit of everything. On the law side, now I have the luxury of only taking cases that interest me and sometimes I even take them pro bono. This involves researching the case, collecting and presenting evidence, going to court, doing a lot of paperwork, etc. On the wind side, I get to go out into the field and work with landowners to build wind turbines on their property.

Founder

If you want to be a pilot, then forget law school, you need to go get flight hours.

When I went to the Naval Academy, I wanted to go fly jets. And it was during Vietnam and my draft number was number 86, so I was going one way or another. So either as an enlisted guy or an officer, so I thought, I'll go in as an officer. And then, my eyes went bad, and so I wasn't gonna be able to fly jets, or fly anything really. And then the Vietnam War ended, got out, went out to UT Undergrad, UT Law School. Then worked for a big law firm in Houston for four years, Vinson &amp; Elkins, did maritime law since I had gone to the Naval Academy. And I had a lot of career changes cuz I was at three different big law firms and then I went to a small firm. And til I was 35 at least I was, what do I wanna do when I grow up? And I figured, I'm not really a big firm guy. So in 2001 I started my own firm and I grew that to about 25, 30 lawyers. And in 2002 I had got some good lock on some fairly high profile cases here in Dallas. And so the Dallas Morning News let me write an editorial on reducing our dependence on foreign oil. And so my father-in-law is a farmer, and he gets Progressive Farmer. And it had this article about wind mills in Minnesota, the farmers were using them and it really was a good thing. Then I thought about it and I went to my wife and said, honey, can I use $25,000 of the company money or family money and I want to learn the wind business? And she said, sure, and so I went up to West Texas A&amp;M and there's a guy named Vaughan Nelson who was the head guy in wind that that time. And I paid him to teach me the wind business, and so that's kinda how it started. And one project led to another, another, so I've done nine wind farms. And what I do is I'm a developer, and so I find the land, lease the land, when studies get the environmental studies, get the transmission studies. And it's kind of one door led to another and that door opens. Well, there's something over there, that might be kinda cool, you're young, don't be afraid to take some risks. I used to have a saying, as long as I had x amount of money at that time, I had $50,000 and a ticket to Rio. I'd go be a bartender, do something, that's the worst thing that happened in life, I'd be okay. So now's a good time to take some risk. &gt;&gt; So earlier you mentioned that you've had a lot of career changes, and I can see that, you've done a lot of different things. How did you know that this what you wanted to do for the rest of your career? Being in the wind business, how did you know that that's- &gt;&gt; Well, and I still practice law, I think to me as early as you can recognize your personality and your personality can evolve over time. But, it took me a bout 12 to 15 years to figure out I'm not really a big firm guy. I'm not a guy that does well in big organizations, I don't have the political skills, and there gonna be twists and turns. So find something that you truly love, because I know a lot of lawyers that make money but hate their jobs. And if money's important to you, understand that that's part of the concept. If helping people is something, if creating something's really important, then you need to do that. &gt;&gt; What's the most fun part of your job? &gt;&gt; That's- &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; Yeah, I'm very, very lucky, I wake up every day and think, man, I get to do this stuff? &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; So on the loss side, now, I really only take cases I like to take, and a lot of times I'll take pro bono cases. So I helped a friend of mine's cousin and had a young child that got run over, he's gonna be fine. But to be able to get them a bunch of money they wouldn't have gotten otherwise, that felt great. On the win side, putting together a project and dealing with all these landowners and going out to West Texas and visiting with them. And just ordinary people, and you can change their lives. These folks do pasture land and cattle, and life's pretty tough. And then if they get five or six turbines on their land for 40 years, it makes a world a difference, that's $10,000 a year a turbine, that's a great deal. Giving makes me feel better than getting. Not that I mind getting, but when you're able to do something for somebody and you see that look in their eyes it's great. &gt;&gt; I felt like throughout most of my like teenage years I've just kinda falling into different parts of my life. So I was gonna ask how do you kinda deal with that, when you feel like everything's, you're just kinda going with it? &gt;&gt; Well, I think two things on that. One is, you can't be distracted because there's that whole world out there. And, I want to do this, I want to do that, and then you're never really good at one thing. I think you need to be open to stuff but always kinda be thinking about the future. And there are gonna be a lot of paths to the top of the mountain. So I think, one, don't get too distracted, and two, kind of focus on the future, kind of get a goal, kind of an idea. The goal can change, but kinda keep pushing toward that goal. The other thing is, you're gonna have set backs, you have to never quit. When you're hit hard you gotta keep going. When you do get disappointed, put in perspective, my dad told me when I was going to Europe. One time he said, if the train is late or you you have to sleep over night at some place, just think, if that's the worst thing that ever happens to me, it's okay. As I get older that really resonates with me cuz I go over the baler to go work out. And I'm not like her, and then I would look at these poor folks that are in a wheelchair or something like that, my life's pretty good. 

Interview

I went up to West Texas A&amp;M, and there was a guy named Vaughan Nelson who was the head guy in wind at that time, and I paid him to teach me the wind business. And so that's kinda how it started. And so I've done nine wind farms. And what I do is, I'm a developer, and so I find the land, lease the land, get the wind studies, get the environmental studies. Putting together a project and dealing with all these land owners, and going out to West Texas and visiting with them, and just ordinary people, and you can change their lives. These folks do pasture land and cattle, and life's pretty tough. And then if they get five or six turbines on their land for 40 years, it makes a world of difference. That's $10,000 a year a turbine, that's a great, great deal. Giving makes me feel better than getting, not that I mind getting. &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; But when you're able to do something for somebody and you see that look in their eyes, it's great. 

Steven DeWolf Highlight

I felt like throughout most of my teenage years I've just kind of fallen into different parts of my life. So I was gonna ask, how do you kinda deal with that, when you feel like everything, you're just kinda going with it? &gt;&gt; Well, I think two things on that. One is you can't be distracted, because there's that whole world out there, and I wanna do this, I wanna do that, and then you're never really good at one thing. I think you need to be open to stuff, but always kind of be thinking about the future. And there are gonna be lots of paths to the top of the mountain, so I think one, don't get too distracted and two, kind of focus on the future, kind of get a goal, kind of an idea. The goal can change, but kind of keep pushing toward that goal. The other thing is you're gonna have setbacks. You have to never quit. When you're hit hard you gotta keep going. When you do get disappointed, put it in perspective. My dad told me, when I was going to Europe one time, he said, if the train's late or you have to sleep overnight someplace, just think, if that's the worst thing that ever happens to me, it's okay. As I get older that really resonates with me because I go over to Baylor to go work out and my leg hurts, or duh, duh, duh, duh, duh. And then I look at these poor folks that are in a wheel chair, something like that, my life's pretty good. 

Goals

Perseverance

Be Open To Things, But Think About The Future

What's the most fun part of your job? &gt;&gt; That's- &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; Yeah, I'm very, very lucky. I wake up every day and think, man, I get to do this stuff? &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; So, on the law side, now I really only take cases I like to take, and then a lot of times I'll take pro bono cases. So I helped a friend of mine's cousin and they had a young child that got run over, he's gonna be fine. But to be able to get them a bunch of money that they wouldn't have gotten otherwise, that felt great. On the win side, putting together a project and dealing with all these landowners, and going out to west Texas and visiting with them. And just ordinary people and you can change their lives. &gt;&gt; Mm. &gt;&gt; These folks do pasture land and cattle and life's pretty tough. And then if they get five or six turbines on their land for 40 years, it makes a world of difference. That's $10,000 a year a turbine, that's a great deal. Giving makes me feel better than getting, not that I mind getting, but when you're able to do something for somebody and you see that look in their eyes, it's great. 

Fulfillment

The Best Part About The Job

So earlier you mentioned that you've had a lot of career changes, and I can see that. You've done a lot of different things. How did you know that this is what you wanted to do for the rest of your career, being in the wind business? How did you know that that's really what you wanted? &gt;&gt; Well, I still practice law. I think, to me, as early as you can recognize your personality, and your personality's gonna evolve over time. But it took me about 12 to 15 years to figure out I'm not really a big firm guy. I'm not a guy that does well in big organizations. I don't have the political skills. And there are gonna be twists and turns, so find something that you truly love. Because I know a lot of lawyers that make money but hate their jobs. And if money is important to you, understand that that's part of the concept. If helping people is something, if creating something is really important, then you need to do that. 

Individualism

Self-Reflection

Recognize Your Personality

When I went to the Naval Academy, I wanted to go fly jets. And it was during Vietnam and my draft number was number 86. So I was going one way or another, so either as enlisted guy or as an officer. So I thought I'll go in as an officer. And then my eyes went bad and so I wasn't gonna be able to fly jets or fly anything really. And then the Vietnam War ended, got out, went to UT undergrad, UT Law School. Then worked for a big law firm in Houston for four years, Vinson &amp; Elkins. Did maritime law, since I'd gone to the Naval Academy. And I had a lot of career changing because I was at three different big law firms. And then I went to a small firm, and until I was 35 at least, I was, what do I wanna do when I grow up? And I figured I'm not really a big firm guy. So in 2001, I started my own firm, and I grew that to about 25, 30 lawyers. And in 2002, I got some good luck on some fairly high-profile cases here in Dallas. And so the Dallas Morning News let me write an editorial on reducing our dependence on foreign oil. And so my father-in-law is a farmer and he gets Progressive Farmer and it had this article about windmills. In Minnesota, the farmers were using them, and it really was a good thing. Then I thought about it, and I went to my wife and said, honey can I use $25,000 of the company money or family money? And I wanna learn the wind business, and she said sure, and so I went up to West Texas A&amp;M. And there's a guy named Vaughan Nelson, who's the head guy in wind at that time. And I paid him to teach me the wind business, and so that's kind of how it started. Then one project led to another and another, so I've done nine wind farms. And what I do is I'm a developer. And so what I do is I find the land, lease the land, get the wind studies, get the environmental studies, get the transmission studies. And it's kind of one door led to another. And that door opens, well, there's something over there, that might be kinda cool. You're young, don't be afraid to take some risks. I used to have a saying, if I was I had x amount of money, I had $50,000 and a ticket to Rio, I'd go be a bartender, do something. If that's the worst thing that happened, in life I'd be okay. So now's a good time to take some risks. 

My Career Path

I had a lot of career changes because I was at three different big law firms and then I went to a small firm. And in 2001, I started my own firm and I grew that to about 25, 30 lawyers. And in 2002, I went up to West Texas A&amp;M and there's a guy named Vaughan Nelson who is the head guy in wind at that time, and I paid him to teach me the wind business, and so that's kinda how it started. Then I'd written a book, Thriller, that I got lucky and got published and so hopefully this stuff will slow down in January and I'll get to write another one, so it's kind of one door led to another. I'd thought about law school, then I kinda went to law school, and then who would have guessed the wind thing? I mean, that was kinda crazy. &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; So I could not have, and writing a book, I mean, it's just been very lucky. I mean, that door opens, well, there's something over there, that might be kinda cool. You're young, don't be afraid to take some risks. 

Risk

Transitions

One Door Opens To Another

What do you feel is the most important thing you get from traveling? &gt;&gt; Appreciating that this is not the center of the world. And truly, there are so many different lives. Think about right now, there's somebody in Australia, India, Europe, Burma, there's some refugees recently. Some Muslim refugees that, their life is completely different than ours, and to appreciate the differences, learn from the differences. And also, don't' be arrogant and think that we are the coolest thing since sliced bread, because we're really not. But at the same time, appreciate how lucky we are to be Americans. 

Experience

Exploration

The Best Things Gained From Traveling

So at 17, what is one piece of advice that you wish you would have known at our age? &gt;&gt; Boy, that's a tough one. I guess the most important thing is your reputation really is important. And you have to be your own person. Don't be a follower. Somebody may say, well, let's go drink or let's go do this or that, and you have to think about that reputation a little bit. That doesn't mean you have to be a stick in the mud, but just think about it. There are a lot of distractions in college. All of a sudden, I don't have to go to class right now. Nobody's telling me I have to go to class. There's, wow, there's all these cool things to do. And so trying to keep focused, and keep your eye on the prize, if you will. I think those are things that are gonna be important. My dad gave me advice about, you wanna be a janitor, fine, but you be the best janitor and build a good reputation. I say I'm gonna be here at 7:00, I'm here at 7:00. I get the stuff to you, I don't overcharge it, your word's your bond. That type of stuff. I mean, your name then builds in the industry. 

Talent

Values

Building Your Reputation

I'm trying to figure out if I wanna go to college, if I do what I wanna do, if I wanna go to a four year, if I wanna go to design school. There's a lot of different options now, with college getting more and more expensive every year. That's a nother consideration is, do I really need to go to college and spend all of that money and to see if it's going to help me or not. &gt;&gt; Yeah, I do think that going to college, it's just something on your resume that everybody looks at. My advice to you would be go to the best college you can and just mark that off. I don't know whether anybody really cares whether it's SCAD or whether it's the University of Michigan or wherever. My son is going to Oklahoma State and I just happen to have Mom and Dad's rules of the road for college. &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; And so every week, I send him a postcard so he has something in the mail, and then I send him words for the week. And those will be, I'm trying to motivate you've got to work hard, enjoy life, whatever it is, I try to find quotes some place. So you're gonna get some twist and turns and they're gonna be ups and downs. &gt;&gt; Okay so just being open to new things coming your way? &gt;&gt; Right, right but also understanding that you're gonna get hit a couple times underneath the water, below the water line and things are gonna be, crap this is bad, and you just gotta stay the course. 

inflection-point: high-school, college
profanity: crap

Education

Go To The Best College That You Can

Room to Grow

Texas Roadtrip

INSIGHTS FROM THE FILM

Follow along with four groups of high school students as they explore their local regions of Texas, talking to college students and professionals alike as they seek inspiration for their next steps. They sit down with people in varied education and career paths, from a fashion student to an Air Force pilot to a lawyer-turned-wind energy pioneer, and more. Throughout the journey, the roadtrippers realize that focusing their career aspirations doesn’t have to limit their options for the future; choosing a path can open up their worlds in ways they had never imagined.

Texas is creating a future wide open with possibility, and students there are ready to step into its potential.

But high schoolers are also expected to make crazy-big choices about their futures—especially in Texas, where students are expected to choose a specialized area of study...essentially taking the first step towards choosing a career!
That’s why this fall, we’re sending four teams of high school students from Texas on a series of road trip adventures through their local region of the state. Exploring everywhere from El Paso to the Gulf Coast—and everything in between—each team will do a deep dive into the educational and occupational opportunities arising on their very own stomping grounds. Follow along with these four teams as they let go of the familiar, and uncover the kind of adventures only Texas can provide.


High school is a time to explore, create, take chances, and make mistakes. 


Texas OnCourse

FUELED BY:

For students and job-seekers across Texas to take steps towards career readiness, they need to see all of the amazing pathways available in their home state. That’s why Texas OnCourse teamed up with Roadtrip Nation to create a community where professionals across the state can share their stories and advice for Texas’ next generation of talent. Share your career journey, and equip fellow Texans with the tools they need to find careers they’ll love.

Rosa Cruz

Ortega Cartwright

Dawn Mann

High school is a time to explore—so students in Texas hit the road to see what comes next.

Room to Grow Trailer

El Paso to Abilene: the roadtrippers talk career callings with a pilot and a pediatrician.

Episode 1: Make Your Own Path

Stories from a nonprofit director, a teacher, and a startup CEO in Austin.

Episode 2: Allow Yourself Time

The Dallas roadtrippers speak with a wind energy pioneer and a photographer.

Episode 3: Keep Your Mind Open

The roadtrippers get motivated after visits to the FBI, a courthouse, and an art museum.

Steven DeWolf

Founder

Videos

Steven DeWolf

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Entrepreneurship

Law

Learning / Being Challenged

Day to Day

Skills & Qualities Beyond School

Advice for Getting Started

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Parents:

Interviewed By

Room to Grow

Steven DeWolf

Founder

Videos

Steven DeWolf

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Entrepreneurship

Law

Learning / Being Challenged

Day to Day

Skills & Qualities Beyond School

Advice for Getting Started

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Parents:

Interviewed By

Room to Grow

Related Leaders

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Kyle Maynard

Syrena Johnson

Doug Baum

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Jennifer Burns