Since it was founded in late 2019, Jefferson Park-based ChargerHelp! had two distinct parts to its business. The first operation, run by co-founder Kameale Terry, obtained contracts to maintain electric vehicle charging stations – hence the name. The second entity, overseen by the other co-founder Evette Ellis, was to train technicians on how to maintain the software that runs the charging stations.

Now, that split focus has been formalized. On Aug. 1, the training division of ChargerHelp was spun off into a separate company, called SmarterHelp, and broadened its mission to train workers for a wide array of clean energy jobs.

At the helm of this new independent company is Kianna Scott, who had been senior vice president of learning and development at ChargerHelp.

“This has been a natural evolution,” said Terry, who is also chief executive of ChargerHelp.

“As ChargerHelp continues to focus on EV charging reliability through software and technology, it’s clear that the learning and development team had a larger mission to fulfill. SmarterHelp allows them to grow independently, and we couldn’t be more excited to see where they go next,” she said.

Inaugural training offerings

SmarterHelp’s inaugural offering, the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Reliability Technician Training program, is already in use by school systems, workforce boards and training providers.

In the months and years ahead, the company intends to expand its training programs to include workers to operate smart-grid systems, micro-mobility networks and sustainable infrastructure maintenance. It plans training programs for youth and continuing education students, offering hands-on, accessible education towards careers that don’t require a four-year degree.

To achieve its mission, SmarterHelp will seek outside financing to scale up its programs.