Project Overview
SkillFusion is redefining the landscape of the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Operations and Maintenance (O&M) market with its groundbreaking software platform. By harmonizing the realms of skill and opportunity, SkillFusion is at the forefront of enhancing EVSE uptime by aligning skilled professionals with the critical tasks essential for advancing the electric vehicle infrastructure.
At the heart of SkillFusion’s innovative approach is its commitment to the professional electrical industry, particularly through its proprietary MicroTraX platform designed to prepare and enhance the skills of professionals to meet the industry’s stringent credentials. This platform ensures the certification of workers and fosters the largest network of professionals dedicated to the electrification sector.
SkillFusion’s platform is crucial in an era where electric vehicle (EV) market growth necessitates reliable charging infrastructure. The company’s unique methodology prepares, certifies, and places top-tier talent where it’s most needed, reducing charger downtime and bolstering charger reliability — an essential factor given the federal mandate for 97% equipment uptime.
“We’re not just addressing the present needs; we’re anticipating the future demands of the EVSE industry,” says SkillFusion Founder and Principal. “Our mission is to empower the workforce today for a more electrified tomorrow.”
The Problem
During initial conversations with Otter PR, our team identified a capacity to help SkillFusion highlight the shortage of personnel shortages in the EVSE industry to help grow their service and platform. SkillFusion also noted that they were seeking early registrations for its industry-first EVSE Diagnostic Technician (EDT) certification program.
Aimed at a diverse range of skilled laborers, SkillFusion’s EDT program is set to equip participants with the niche expertise required to succeed in a burgeoning EV market, ensuring they are at the vanguard of this transformative sector.
The Strategy
Because SkillFusion was such a new company — having only been founded in 2023 — we knew that they needed to generate immediate and expansive brand exposure to specifically highlight how they planned to help improve the EV industry. A key component of this was utilizing the company’s training platform that develops certified electrician and non-electrician workers for EVSE O&M service providers, which we exemplified through an initial press release in October of 2023.This helped us explain how SkillFusion’s development of a talent pipeline aligns with the EV industry’s overarching mission to minimize charging infrastructure downtime and increase the reliability of the charging network, including maintenance and uptime.
Following this press release, our team began crafting a media strategy for SkillFusion targeting top-tier industry publications, including Design and Build UK, Global Trade Magazine, EE Power, EC&M, and Electrical Contractor Magazine. We also reached out to our network of journalists and reporters through mainstream media outlets with additional press releases explaining SkillFusion’s innovative solutions and contributions to the EVSE market, with an emphasis on their impact regarding sustainability and job creation that can match the exponential growth of the EV charging market.
Along with this approach, our team worked in parallel to leverage SkillFusion’s team of experts — including Rue Phillips (Co-founder & President), Elaina Farnsworth (Co-founder & CEO), and Dave Packard (Chief Strategy Officer) — positioning them as thought leaders in the EVSE space. This strategy involved contributing to bylined articles, participating in industry panels, and speaking on the “Action and Ambition,” “Market Scale,” and “American Trends” podcasts resulting in widespread coverage from outlets such as Law360, Inc., TechTimes, and USA Today.
Business Impact (results)
Since partnering with Otter PR, SkillFusion’s EDT program has gained further credibility in the EVSE industry through formal recognition from the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP). This has led to a significant influx of signups for the company’s EDT program and further interest from leading industry publications to have its team contribute their expertise and insight through additional bylined articles, speaking engagements, and guest interviews.
In early 2024, the company was awarded a $1.5 million grant for its Joint Office of Energy and Transportation “Ride and Drive Electric” project in partnership with the EVITP. This grant will allow the EVITP-SkillFusion partnership to “develop a new Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Service Provider pre-apprenticeship program designed to address EVSE maintenance issues that will complement existing EVITP training.”
Along with increased media coverage and EDT program signups, obtaining this grant highlights a significant goal achieved as a result of SkillFusion’s comprehensive media campaign with Otter PR. The grant, earmarked for expanding their EVSE diagnostic and maintenance solutions, is attributable to the enhanced visibility and credibility established through our PR efforts.
Tags: sustainability, technology, thought leadership
