Construction Ready

THURSDAY THRIVERS: Meet Jorge Moya, an East Hall High School student with a growing affinity for HVAC work. “I feel like HVAC is my thing,” Jorge says. “That’s what I’m mostly focused on right now.”

Now a junior, Jorge got off to a rocky start as a freshman when he enrolled at Hall County’s Lanier College & Career Academy. He explains the challenge he faced in instructor Horace Kilgore’s class:

“At first, I struggled with the computer technology. Mr. Kilgore talked to me and said the first year is going to be computer work, but the second year it’s going to be more hands-on. I like hands-on work, so I told myself I had to at least try to pass the class while we’re doing the computer work.”

Kilgore says Jorge almost failed that first semester. Then, however, they “came up with a strict improvement plan to keep him in the class, and he was very diligent in catching up. His second year with me, he finished third in the SkillsUSA Georgia competition in HVAC. He is very proud of what he has accomplished.”

Indeed, Jorge enthusiastically recalls the prep work he put in to compete at that high level. “I went to the [regional] competition and got second place,” he says. “When I found out I was in the state competition, almost every time I would get to class, I would go to the shop and practice. I told myself, I have to make a name somewhere, you know?”

Jorge (pictured with Kilgore in second photo) is grateful for Kilgore’s belief in him, and he’s still learning under the instructor’s watchful eye – Kilgore joined the faculty at East Hall for the 2024-25 schoolyear. “He told me, ‘I know you’re smart, so don’t let yourself think that you can’t do it,’” Jorge remembers.

Please join us in wishing Jorge continued success as he hones his HVAC skills and begins to explore career options!

Georgia Department of Education The Home Depot Foundation

Are you ready for some kickball??? Construction companies are invited to compete in Battle of the Builders – the industry’s best networking and teambuilding event! – featuring a kickball tournament and other games on Friday, October 11 at Al Bishop Softball Complex in Marietta. Learn more and register at http://tinyurl.com/kickball24.

Interested in a construction career? Companies are hiring and we can get you trained, credentialed and ready to work in a hurry! Our fully funded programs combine classroom and hands-on instruction, and at the end of the 20-day curriculum, we’ll put you face to face with employers. Learn more at www.constructionready.org and click the Get Trained button to begin the registration process.

THURSDAY THRIVERS: Meet Cannon Hill, a 2024 graduate of Tift County High School-Tifton, GA who learned a wide range of hands-on skills through the school’s Construction Pathway and has put those skills to use at a summer construction job for three years running.

“Taking the classes in high school was really what helped me find that I had a talent and a passion to be in construction,” says Cannon, who enrolled in the TCHS construction program as a freshman in 2020 and began work with Tifton’s Jones Construction Company after his sophomore year.

“We’re building a brand new building, and every day, all the terminology, all the safety, all the rules really come into play in front of my eyes,” Cannon explains. “It’s really helped me a lot. It’s put me ahead of the game.”

Cannon gained additional hands-on experience by competing in SkillsUSA contests. He qualified for the SkillsUSA Georgia State Championships twice – in woodworking as a sophomore and in carpentry as a senior.

Now he’s enrolled in the Regents’ Engineering Pathway (REP) program at Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College (ABAC).

“Cannon is a very smart, outgoing young man with a bright future ahead of him,” says Tift County High teacher Mickey Bentley. “He’s been getting hands-on, real-world experiences with Jones Construction, which serve him well as he pursues an engineering degree.”

“I definitely want a construction-based career,” Cannon says. “I was able to work alongside a few of the engineers on the job this summer, and they were able to give me some pointers on things – how everything can look good on paper, but when you actually go out there and try to put it together, it doesn’t always work out that way. That was very beneficial for me.”

Please join us in wishing Cannon the best as he continues his education and works toward a rewarding career in the skilled trades!

ATTENTION, CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES! You are invited to compete in Battle of the Builders – the industry’s best networking and teambuilding event! – on Friday, October 11 at Al Bishop Softball Complex in Marietta. See the flyer below for more details on our annual Kickball Tournament and Field Day, and to register, go to http://tinyurl.com/kickball24 or scan the QR code in the second image.

As a proud partner of Westside Works Atl, a neighborhood-based workforce collaborative, we are committed to transforming the Westside community and Greater Metro Atlanta. By increasing access to job training, educational services, and quality employment opportunities, Westside Works has made a remarkable difference in our community.

Over the past decade, we’ve witnessed firsthand the profound impact of their initiatives. We are thrilled to support their upcoming “Rising Together: Celebrating a Decade of Westside Works” fundraiser on September 19 (5:30-9:30 p.m. at The Foundry at Puritan Mill). This special event will not only celebrate ten years of success, but also honor the dedication and achievements of those who have contributed to this incredible journey!

Join us as we come together to mark this milestone and support the continued growth and success of Westside Works. Become a sponsor and get your tickets today at https://careerriseatlanta.org/events/rising-together-celebrating-a-decade-of-westside-works/

Our Pre-Apprenticeship graduations are always emotional events, and the most recent one – Aerotropolis Group 7 – was no exception. After four weeks of intense training, the ceremonies often reveal stories of struggle and triumph. One Aerotropolis graduate who eagerly shared his journey was Raynard LaNiel, Jr. (first photo), who thanked Construction Ready staff members for helping him believe in himself.

“After the intake orientation, I had a Zoom interview with Miss Lorraine [Davis], Miss Veda [White] and Miss Cortland [Good], and they were very, very encouraging,” Raynard told the audience. “They said they saw me being a rock star in the class. It had been a while since I received any kind of vote of confidence like that.

“After that, I had some trying moments in my personal life,” he continued. “But that beacon of hope I [held] onto was Construction Ready and the opportunity to attain a year’s worth of industry credentials in 20 days, and all I had to do was keep my word to myself and those three ladies that I was going to put my all into this program and be a rock star. From July 8 to this very day [August 2], I had one mission: to show up and show out every day.”

We salute Raynard and the rest of the 18 graduates from his class, and we wish them the best as they move forward. We’ll leave the final word on that to Raynard as well:

“To see all of us proud graduates is the greatest reward,” he told his East Point classmates. “We all dedicated ourselves, invested in ourselves, and we have come through refined, with a greater sense of direction and self-awareness. I want us all to not lose this confidence, this knowledge of our own self worth and values, as we venture out into the workforce and begin or continue on in our careers.”

City of East Point Government

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🏗️ Ready to build a better future? Join our Construction Ready program at Westside Works! With a 96% graduation rate and 94% of our students matched with jobs that offer real advancement opportunities, there's no better place to start your career in construction. Take the first step towards a brighter tomorrow and apply today! 🌟

As the new schoolyear begins and students and teachers return to classrooms around Georgia and Florida, we take this moment to say: You got this! Best wishes to you all, and we look forward to hearing the success stories that will come out of these classrooms and labs!

Georgia Department of Education Georgia CTAE The Home Depot Foundation

DID YOU KNOW? Our friends at Westside Works Atl offer training in healthcare, technology, and culinary arts, in addition to the 20-day construction skills program we’ve provided for the past 10 years? It’s all part of Westside Works’ “One Stop” initiative, and residents of the Westside’s English Avenue and Vine City communities are encouraged to enroll in any of the programs detailed in the flier here.

Our Pre-Apprenticeship Team wrapped up a class last Friday with 100% placement of 20 new workers into the construction industry, and our K12 Team completed our fourth “Train the Trainer” camp. It’s been a busy summer. Now we’re using our Annual Planning Summit to look back at the past year, evaluate what went well and what needs to improve, and explore ways we can continue to increase efficiency and effectiveness in guiding our “heroes” towards their own success stories. We’re on Day 2 now, where we’re examining a theme of Teamwork, Accountability and Planning.

More Construction Ready graduates are now in the workforce!

Thank you Sperry & Associates, Inc and Goodwill Industries - Big Bend, Inc.!

“Fifteen students made history last week as the inaugural graduating class in Tallahassee of Construction Ready's First Construction Industry Pre-Apprenticeship program.”.... And we are SO EXCITED to announce that 2 of them just became members of the Sperry Construction family!!

We want to give a huge shoutout to Goodwill Industries - Big Bend, Inc. for their involvement in this amazing program. Thanks to them, there is a bright future for the construction industry and those who aim to be a part of it in the future.

Congratulations to each and every student who participated in the program, especially those who will be joining the Sperry team. We can’t wait for what’s to come - stay tuned to learn more!

Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4d0yGuY

Our Construction Ready Planning Summit is underway. We’re pausing from our regular work for the next three days so our team can be together to encourage and support one another while making plans for the next year.

Day 2 of our South Florida teacher training session brought more lessons from Construction Ready’s Dean Cutler and Clint Pruitt. This dynamic duo delivered some great projects that teachers for Broward County Public Schools and Miami-Dade County Public Schools can push into their classrooms in the upcoming schoolyear!

The South Florida AGC Duffey Southeast Inc.

Here are a few scenes from our first-ever South Florida mini-Camp T&I “Train the Trainer” event for teachers in South Florida’s Broward County Public Schools and Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The event is being led by Construction Ready’s Dean Cutler (Director of Program Support – South), Clint Pruitt (Director of Program Development), and Ash Mangham (Director of Program Support – North).

A special thanks to Miami Dade College - North Campus for hosting, to The South Florida AGC for its support, and to the Marcus Foundation for inspiration and funding as we expand our work into South Florida!

Danny Espino

We’re excited to expand our work of helping introduce the next generation to the skilled trades into South Florida. Yesterday we enjoyed engaging with industry partners over lunch, sponsored by The South Florida AGC (led by Executive Director Carlos Carrillo, pictured at far left) and Duffey Southeast Inc. (President Brian Woessner, seated in gray jacket), among others. Coming soon, watch for photo highlights from our inaugural South Florida mini-Camp T&I “train the trainer” event for teachers in the Broward and Miami-Dade school districts.

Thank you CW Matthews Contracting Co., Inc. for everything you do to invest in the skilled trades men and women of tomorrow!

In case you missed it: Our Thursday Thrivers spotlight last week went to DeMarc Jackson, a 2023 graduate of Jonesboro High School and a laborer with Holder Construction. When DeMarc enrolled in Construction Ready Pre-Apprenticeship training at Perry Career Academy after finishing high school, he suspected a skilled trades career might be just what he was looking for. “I was always interested in doing things with my hands, so I signed up for it,” recalls DeMarc, who learned about Construction Ready from his guidance counselor at JHS.

Today, with a year of experience under his belt, DeMarc has no doubt he’s on the right career path. He’s so certain, in fact, that he’s enrolled at Chattahoochee Technical College, where he’ll soon begin classes in Construction Management.

He’ll do so while continuing his work for Holder, with whom he’s been helping build the expansive Trilith Live project in Fayette County. Watching the seven-acre entertainment complex take shape, he says, “really helps me out a lot – sticking with one job and seeing the process of how everything is built from start to finish.”

Not long after joining the company, DeMarc shared his goals with his superintendent, Scott Cantrell, saying, “This is something I want to do, and I don’t see it as a job, I see it as a career." Recognizing DeMarc’s potential, Cantrell has taken on a mentor role for the young man. DeMarc explains: “Ever since we had that talk, any tough job that he had, he would give it to me, and if I didn’t know something, he would help me out. He always keeps me on the right path.”

Cantrell, in turn, says DeMarc has been “a huge asset to us out here in the field. He keeps driving and improving every day.”

Invest Clayton Clayton County Public Schools

Thanks for 11Alive for helping to raise awareness about the importance of skilled workers to maintain our nation's electrical system! It's hot enough out there. Got to keep the AC working!

https://www.11alive.com/video/news/local/georgia-tech-summer-camp-explores-electrical-systems/85-dac06f31-13e8-4744-aff7-b3a264a98b33

Construction Ready Liza Lucas 11Alive MetroPower Georgia Tech Scott Shelar Leff & Associates

Georgia Tech summer camp explores electrical systems Students are learning about electrical theory, generation, distribution and installation.

THURSDAY THRIVERS: Meet DeMarc Jackson, a 2023 graduate of Jonesboro High School and a laborer with Holder Construction. When DeMarc enrolled in Construction Ready Pre-Apprenticeship training at Perry Career Academy after finishing high school, he suspected a skilled trades career might be just what he was looking for. “I was always interested in doing things with my hands, so I signed up for it,” recalls DeMarc, who learned about Construction Ready from his guidance counselor at JHS.

Today, with a year of experience under his belt, DeMarc has no doubt he’s on the right career path. He’s so certain, in fact, that he’s enrolled at Chattahoochee Technical College, where he’ll begin classes in Construction Management next month.

He’ll do so while continuing his work for Holder, with whom he’s been helping build the expansive Trilith Live project in Fayette County. Watching the seven-acre entertainment complex take shape, he says, “really helps me out a lot – sticking with one job and seeing the process of how everything is built from start to finish.”

When he arrived on the job site, DeMarc remembers “just trying to survive at first. Being new to construction, you don’t know what’s coming or what to do. But everybody here has got your back. If you do something wrong, they tell you how to do it correctly. They’re all so helpful.”

Not long after joining the company, DeMarc shared his goals with his superintendent, Scott Cantrell, saying, “This is something I want to do, and I don’t see it as a job, I see it as a career." Recognizing DeMarc’s potential, Cantrell has taken on a mentor role for the young man. DeMarc explains: “Ever since we had that talk, any tough job that he had, he would give it to me, and if I didn’t know something, he would help me out. He always keeps me on the right path.”

Cantrell, in turn, says DeMarc has been “a huge asset to us out here in the field. He keeps driving and improving every day.”

Having secured a stable and rewarding job at age 19, DeMarc recently purchased a car for himself, and he enjoys being able to buy birthday and anniversary gifts for his parents. “It just feels nice to give back to my mom and dad,” he says. “They’re very proud of me that I have a job and am doing what I like to do on a day-to-day basis.”

Invest Clayton Clayton County Public Schools

With our first Camp T&I North in the books, here are more highlights from this “train the trainer” program that we delivered in partnership with the Georgia Department of Education. Scenes here include the DOE’s Roger Ivey addressing the group, a metal framing workshop led by Edwin Parra of McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., heavy equipment demonstrations, classroom and hands-on sessions in electrical wiring, a site layout project, and after-hours community time. Thanks to Donny Holmes and GNTC for hosting the event!

Yesterday we honored four instructors with monetary rewards from our Impact Awards program, which measures workforce impact created by K12 teachers. Congratulations to Eric Rigney of Calhoun High School, Jerome Black (Cass High School), Randin Burley (Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy) and Dennis Wilson (Pickens High School - Jasper, Georgia) for their commitment to developing and preparing students for careers in the skilled trades! Pictured from left: Construction Ready’s Zach Fields; Tim Vinson of the Georgia Department of Education; Rigney, Black, Burley and Wilson; Construction Ready’s Ash Mangham and Dean Cutler; and Tim Hobbs of the Associated General Contractors of Georgia.

Program introduces female high schoolers to construction careers College of Environment and Design partnered to conduct hands-on camp.

We kicked off our first annual Camp T&I North yesterday in Calhoun, where a max-capacity group of teachers have convened to learn new concepts, hear from contractors about best practices, and share ideas with one other. Construction teachers can often feel like they are on an island at their respective schools, so these gatherings provide a helpful opportunity to build community and support. Thanks to all of our supporters and partners in this event, including Strack, Inc.!

Georgia Department of Education Georgia CTAE

Interested in a construction career? Demand for labor in the skilled trades is HOT, and we can help you get connected! Visit www.constructionready.org to learn more.