Trade & Craft
As global energy demand surges, the power sector faces a critical challenge: a widening skills gap. Nearly half of the current workforce is expected to retire within the next decade, while renewable energy projects require more labor-intensive operations than fossil fuels.
At the same time, aging infrastructure and grid modernization efforts demand highly trained professionals who can install, maintain and upgrade complex systems safely and efficiently.
Wood plays a vital role in developing and retaining skilled trade and craft personnel - ensuring operational continuity, safety and resilience across the power sector.
A career sparked by curiosity: Meet Robert Seltzer
Robert Seltzer began his career in 1974 as a Professional Engineer at Foster Wheeler – merged with AMEC in 2014 and acquired by Wood in 2017 - entering the power sector during a time of rapid growth in electricity demand.
Driven by industrial expansion and increasing residential consumption in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, this surge created a strong need for engineers to support energy infrastructure and reliability.
Inspired by his father, who was also an engineer, Robert pursued the field through his strengths in math and physics. Unlike many of his peers, he didn’t grow up fixing cars or building machines - he found his place in engineering through analytical thinking and a desire to solve real-world problems.
Over the decades, Robert has witnessed the industry transform - from faxes and paper manuals to collaborative software and AI. After a long career, he retired from full-time work in 2018. But despite the technological evolution, one principle has remained constant in his view: communication.
“Most failures aren’t due to bad engineering,” he said. “They’re due to poor communication.” Throughout his career, Robert made it a priority to document processes and leave behind detailed manuals - ensuring others could build on his work and understand not just the “how,” but the “why.”
Robert’s story reflects Wood’s approach to bridge the skills gap - by ensuring knowledge is transferred and retained across generations, especially the power sector where experience and communication are key to safe, efficient operations.
Solving complex problems with code: Meet Andrew Seltzer
Seven years after his older brother Robert began his engineering career, Andy Seltzer joined Foster Wheeler in 1981. While Robert was known for his focus on communication and mentorship, Andy carved out his own path - starting with hands-on experience in mechanical design and gradually expanding into electrical and instrumentation disciplines.
Andy’s early years were shaped by practical, project-based learning. He credits his development to the mentorship of a supervisor who was also a professor at Stevens Institute of Technology. “He explained things in a thorough and simple way I could understand,” Andy recalled. “That made all the difference.”
Over time, Andy became known for tackling complex engineering challenges - especially those that couldn’t be solved with off-the-shelf tools. His multi-disciplinary foundation enabled him to write custom software for power plant simulations, solar boiler systems and startup calculations. These programs became part of his legacy, helping teams across Wood simplify and execute critical tasks.
Andy’s journey reflects Wood’s commitment to multi-skilling - developing professionals who can flex across mechanical, electrical and instrumentation disciplines through a mix of on the job training and structured programs. It also highlights the value of mentorship and departmental culture, which Andy believes were more influential than formal training.
Today, Andrew works as a Senior Consultant at Wood, supporting utilities, independent power producers and chemical companies with boiler advice and technical support.
Designing the beating heart of power plants: Meet Jennifer Seltzer
Jennifer Seltzer, daughter of Andrew and niece of Robert, joined Wood full-time two and a half years ago after first interning in 2014. Growing up surrounded by stories of her father’s and uncle’s careers in engineering, she was naturally drawn to the field.
“Mostly just listening to my dad’s work and being interested in that,” she said, reflecting on what inspired her to pursue a career in the power sector.
Her role as a Boiler Design Engineer places her at the core of power generation - designing the systems that serve as the beating heart of every plant. Boilers are essential to converting energy into steam, driving turbines and producing electricity.
Jennifer’s work continues a legacy of excellence in this field, building on Foster Wheeler’s market-leading boiler technology, which Wood absorbed through acquisition and continues to evolve.
Jennifer’s experience demonstrates Wood’s ongoing support for early career development. Since joining full-time from a college internship, she’s benefited from strong mentorship - particularly from her supervisor, who she says is “very knowledgeable” and always willing to walk through drawings and explain concepts in detail.
“Everyone’s open to questions,” she said. “That’s what makes Wood different. You’re never left to figure things out alone.”
Her experience also highlights Wood’s approach to knowledge transfer - partnering with colleges and fostering mentorship to ensure that expertise from seasoned professionals is passed on to the next generation. Even while working remotely, Jennifer has felt supported and empowered to grow her skills, especially in boiler design - where precision and collaboration are critical.
A family tradition of power and purpose
The Seltzers’ connection to the power sector spans decades - from Robert’s early days in engineering to Andrew’s software innovations and Jennifer’s emerging career in boiler design. Their mother also worked at Foster Wheeler, and their father-in-law spent 40 years in the company’s accounting department.
“It’s about continuity,” Robert said. “The friendships, the support—that’s what makes a workplace great.”
Andrew added, “It’s meaningful to see Jennifer continue the tradition. We’ve had good experiences here and that’s why we recommended it.”
Supporting the power sector with skilled, flexible talent
Wood’s approach to workforce development ensures that clients in the power sector have access to the people they need to keep operations running - today and tomorrow. The Seltzer family’s story illustrates how this investment in people plays out across generations.
- A multi-skilled workforce capable of flexing across disciplines to enhance efficiency and resilience.
- Upskilling programs that bridge gaps in electrical, mechanical and instrumentation expertise.
- Mentorship and early career support that transfers knowledge and builds long-term capability.
By investing in people - across generations, disciplines and career stages - Wood is helping the power sector stay resilient, skilled and ready for the future.
