Detroit's Walker-Miller Trains 90% Into Clean Energy Jobs

Getting a good-paying job in clean energy just got easier in Detroit, where one program is proving that removing barriers works.

Walker-Miller Energy Services, one of the largest minority-owned energy efficiency companies in America, has spent four years training Detroiters for careers most people don't even know exist. The six-week program transforms recent graduates, formerly incarcerated individuals, and career changers into certified weatherization technicians.

"This is an industry that a lot of people don't know about, that a lot of Black people don't know about, that they can do not only in their community but also across the state of Michigan and across the United States," said Derrick Meeking, the company's director of market development initiatives.

The program removes every excuse not to participate. Trainees earn $16 per hour while learning, receive gas cards or bus passes, and get mental health and financial coaching. They leave with multiple industry certifications, including OSHA 10, Michigan Lead Abatement Worker licenses, and Building Performance Institute credentials that cost up to $3,500 if purchased independently.

Robert Glimpse joined the program earlier this year while working as an electrical apprentice. Now he's an energy auditor at Air Doctors, applying his new knowledge both on the job and at home.

"All this time, I may have been thinking this is just chipped paint, but it's actually lead which is very dangerous," Glimpse said. "Even how to protect our homes in winter. It was a lot of helpful information that I took home and literally affected how I handle my house."

The final two weeks place participants directly with employers for hands-on training. By graduation, roughly 90% have secured jobs paying between $18 and $25 per hour.

The Ripple Effect

Walker-Miller's impact extends beyond individual trainees. Marcus Smith, owner of Diversified Professional Services Group, completed the company's upskilled program in October 2024, gaining certifications that qualified his business for new contract opportunities. The program also partners with Detroit Public Schools, training high school seniors at the Randolph Career and Technical Center.

"We really pride ourselves on not just helping people get jobs, but also being resource navigators," Meeking said. The company supports participants through every step, from test preparation to job placement, ensuring they show up on time and succeed long term.

For Meeking, the mission is personal. As a minority woman-owned company in a white male-dominated space, Walker-Miller intentionally creates pathways for Black and brown workers to enter an industry with growing demand and solid wages.

The clean energy transition is creating careers that will last for decades, and Detroit is making sure everyone gets a fair shot.