Goodwill of Orange County Opens EVSE Technician Training Facility and Celebrates First Graduating Cohort

On September 12, 2026, Goodwill of Orange County, in partnership with BodeEV, celebrated the official opening of its new Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Technician Training facility in Santa Ana, California, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 31, 2026. The event also marked the graduation of the program’s first cohort of 10 trained EVSE technicians, highlighting the growing collaboration between workforce development and California’s clean energy industry.

The EVSE Technician Training Program is a four-week, paid training initiative designed to prepare participants for careers in California’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle infrastructure sector. Participants received hands-on instruction from SmarterHelp, a green-skilled workplace development and training company, covering EV charging technology, electrical fundamentals, workplace safety, customer service and job readiness. Participants also received access to career preparation resources and continued support following graduation.

The program operates under the Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator™ (GCTA), a national workforce development initiative launched by Goodwill Industries International in partnership with Accenture and General Motors. Santa Ana is recognized as one of GCTA’s official EVSE Technician training locations.

BodeEV established a formal recruitment and workforce development partnership with Goodwill OC, using the EVSE Technician Training Program as a talent pipeline to support its operations throughout Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area.

As part of the partnership, graduates who express interest in employment with BodeEV are eligible for an additional two-day specialized training module delivered by BodeEV’s technical team. The training focuses on the company’s internal systems and operational processes.

The partnership also directly informs how BodeEV approaches outreach in underserved and income-qualified communities, aligning with the company’s values and mission of Frictionless Charging for All.

“Our partnership with Goodwill of Orange County has been one of the most rewarding parts of BodeEV’s work in this community. Being able to support the EVSE Technician Training Program from the ground up, and now see our first cohort graduate, is exactly the kind of impact we set out to make,” said Brendan O’Donnell, President & CEO, BodeEV. “For us, this isn’t just about training, it’s about giving these graduates a real opportunity to bring their new skills into the BodeEV ecosystem, working on chargers under management and adding value to the industry as it grows.”

With the launch of the new EVSE program and Santa Ana training facility, Goodwill OC has created a new career pathway in Orange County at a time when demand for EV infrastructure and skilled technicians is increasing.

As California continues investing in EV charging infrastructure, graduates of the program are positioned to pursue opportunities in a field expected to maintain demand for qualified technicians.

“This program represents more than technical training,” said Sari Finge, Goodwill of Orange County’s EVSE Training Program Manager. “It is about creating access to family-sustaining careers in an industry of the future. We are connecting individuals to meaningful work in the clean energy economy while helping employers build the workforce they need to meet growing demand. That is a win for our graduates, for local businesses, and for Orange County as a whole.”

For more than 100 years, Goodwill OC has helped people gain the skills, support and confidence needed to achieve economic mobility. Today, that mission continues through programs that open access to innovative industries that may not have been accessible to many individuals in the past.

About Goodwill of Orange County

Goodwill of Orange County is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a caring and connected community where everyone has access to meaningful career opportunities. Through workforce development programs, disability services, veteran services and technical training initiatives such as the EVSE Technician Training Program, Goodwill OC helps individuals build skills and connect to lasting employment.

About BodeEV

BodeEV Install & Service Inc. is an EV charger installation, operations and maintenance provider. The company operates through a nationwide network of expert partners and focuses on rapid response times and technology partnerships to address EV charger reliability.

BodeEV provides installation, operations and maintenance services for EV charging infrastructure. The company offers a Service Level Agreement (SLA) designed to keep EV chargers operational and efficient.