[PODCAST] ‘I Built This’ Program Puts Tools That Launch Careers in Students’ Hands

ConstructReach founder Paul Robinson designed a program to combat construction’s image as ‘an industry that workers fail into’ and solve workforce shortages by building industry diversity.

February 28, 2020

Listen to this Digging Deeper podcast as ConstructReach founder Paul Robinson discusses the "I Built This" program designed to combat construction’s image as "an industry that workers fail into" and solve workforce shortages by building industry diversity.

ConstructReach Founder and CEO Paul Robinson helped Target develop a unique program called “I Built This” to help the brand reach people in the communities where stores are being built or remodeled. The program brings high-school-aged kids onto the construction sites for a couple of days, introduces them to all of the trades at work on the project, and puts tools in their hands.

Profiles of the students and their work are posted in the new stores to engage and inspire customers.

Paul describes how this program is working to build the diversity necessary to solve the construction workforce shortage, and offers advice on how contractors can tap this vast talent pool. Listen to the full podcast to hear about ConstructReach and how it not only benefits youth but construction contractors as well.

White Cap has also acquired Crimson Steel Supply, LLC (Crimson Steel), a distributor and fabricator of engineered steel rebar and structural steel products serving non-residential and infrastructure end markets.

White Cap Expands Reach in Oklahoma, Oregon

White Cap has acquired Bend Construction - a supplier of struts, fasteners, anchors, and concrete accessories and products - and Crimson Steel - a distributor and fabricator of engineered steel rebar and structural steel products.

The Port of Baltimore is used by many of the largest construction machinery manufacturers.

Construction Supply Chain and the Baltimore Bridge Collapse

How much will construction and other supply chains be impacted by the collapse of the Baltimore Bridge and the suspension of traffic through the Port of Baltimore? End users may temporarily face delays and increases.

Emerging technologies and advancements including visual intelligence, sensors, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, robotics, immersive collaboration and 3D printing are surging in popularity among contractors and construction professionals.

Construction Trends for 2024

While the industry will continue to go through transformation like many others, those willing to marry the fundamentals of the craft with new technology and sustainable building methods can continue to experience great success in 2024 and beyond.

In the past five years, ConstructReach has partnered with over 100 industry and education partners to host “I built this!”, introducing more than 2,000 high school students to career pathways.

ConstructReach Hosts "I built this!" Construction Learning Event

Students will be able to participate in work-based learning through a variety of activities led by general contractors and construction professionals.

Continuing education is a crucial aspect of maintaining a license, and after the initial course, learners are required to complete 16 hours annually.

Bullseye and Interplay Partner to Provide Professional Inspector Training

Learners progress at their own pace, with the program typically taking about four months to complete.

Principio Asphalt's new asphalt plant, 400-tph Double Barrel drum mixer plant from Astec, York Belvedere Sand & Gravel in North East, MD.

How Principio Asphalt Grew During Historic Labor Shortage

Despite a once in a century global pandemic, national shutdowns, material and labor shortages, Principio Asphalt managed to expand it's operations over the last few years, and there's no sign of stopping.

Azaria Biven of Indiana, Kait Burds of Iowa and Kenzi Tackett of Ohio received awards at the first Caterpillar Women in Construction Celebration, which included operator skills competitions.

Caterpillar Hosts Women in Construction Celebration

Women heavy-equipment operators competed in construction worksite challenges at Caterpillar's first Women in Construction Celebration from March 13-14 in North Carolina.

The construction industry already is adopting AI to fundamentally change and speed up the building process.

AI in Construction: What to Expect

Instead of wading through construction documents to determine appliance packages or contract obligations, workers can type the question into their cell phone and Chat GPT will provide the answer.

Each episode will feature the journey of women in STEM, construction, and skilled trade careers with the goal of inspiring the next generation while fostering an inclusive environment where women are celebrated for their contributions every day.

John Deere Sponsors Women in Construction Docuseries

By showcasing the day-to-day lives, challenges, and accomplishments of women in these industries, John Deere and A Greener Tomorrow hope to raise awareness about the valuable contributions they make to the industry and beyond.

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Your Balance Sheet: A Critical Financial Tool

The balance sheet is one of the most underutilized financial tools in business, and it shouldn’t be. It can provide valuable information about the health of your business, and also help you ensure the accuracy of your financial statements.

Only 10% of women comprise the construction workforce, with 4% working onsite.

Women in Construction Data Report Released

Women in construction are breaking down stereotypes and some are even rising through the ranks, but there is still a long way to go before women can be equally as safe and comfortable on the job site as their male counterparts.

(Left) Austin Watts, owner Sealtite Asphalt, (Right) Jim Dochterman, founder.

How Sealtite Asphalt Increased the Value of Their Business

There are lots of ways the make your business valuation grow over time. Austin Watt of Sealtite Asphalt Maintenance saw the incredible potential in the industry, and decided to go all-in.

For more than 25 years, Women in Construction Week has celebrated and promoted the role of women in the construction industry.

Women in Construction Week: The Women Behind the First Real-Life LEGO Building

About 10 percent of construction jobs are held by women. For more than 25 years, Women in Construction Week has celebrated and promoted the role of women in the construction industry.

Taken during Day 1 of the educational sessions at PAVE/X 2024.

Ignorance on the Jobsite Costs More Than Education

When our industry is already fighting for respect from school educators, who seem to continue to push students into the college direction, we need to take some extra steps to win over a whole new generation of workers.

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Developing Better Jobsite Safety Strategies

Take this as your sign. Safety planning for your jobsite can no longer be an afterthought.

As Billd scales its operations and extends its reach, the company is determined to curate a powerhouse team that will actively ensure that subcontractors have the financial tools they need to succeed.

Billd Adds to Leadership Team

These appointments highlight Billd’s commitment to serving commercial subcontractors at scale, by building a high-performing leadership team to set and execute against ambitious growth goals.

Dynamic insights, gained using predictive models powered by AI, can help employees to make data-informed decisions which typically lead to enhanced project outcomes.

Construction AI Strengths & Weaknesses

The construction industry stands at the precipice of a transformative era fueled by artificial intelligence and ever-increasing pressure to build utilities, transport, energy, and housing to meet the needs of a growing population.

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Risk Management: Safety First

The legality and science of risk management is quite well known among most contractors and is growing in need to be embraced, understood, and practiced by all specialty contractors.

Craft students and apprentices travel from across the country to demonstrate their superior skills, education, and safe work practices and compete for top honors.

National Construction Trade Championships Return for 35th Annual Competition

ABC’s all-of-the-above approach to workforce development has produced a network of affiliates across the country that offer more than 800 apprenticeship, craft, safety, and management education programs to build the people who build America.

Advice in Hiring Skilled Labor Construction Workers in 2024

Advice in Hiring Skilled Labor Workers in 2024

Q&A with Ellis Mass, chief marketing officer at Labor Finders International Inc.

The report provides five specific strategies for how businesses can adapt to these new construction labor dynamics.

Construction Labor Report Discusses Constricted Labor Pool

This report analyzes how the labor force has shifted since the pandemic and provides practical strategies for how organizations can adapt.

Train The Trainer Training For Concrete and Masonry Contractors

How To: Skilled Labor Training

The OPCMIA provides concrete contractors, plasters, and cement masons a path on training and apprenticeship programs throughout the country - directly addressing the challenge of finding skilled labor.

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More Power Sweeping Specific Online Classes Launched

These operator training programs create a great baseline of training for improved professionalism in your drivers.

Industry job openings decreased by 21,000 last month and are down by 39,000 from the same time last year.

ABC Reveals Construction Job and Labor Data Shows Consistent Worker Shortage

Industry job openings decreased by 21,000 last month and are down by 39,000 from the same time last year.

Schools that are given usage rights to Powerproject are primarily making it available to students within their engineering and/or construction management departments to better understand the use of technology in construction, particularly in the area of scheduling.

Elecosoft’s Asta University Introduces Powerproject

Through Asta University, Elecosoft provides colleges and universities with access to Powerproject for free, giving students firsthand experience with a construction scheduling and management package.

Straton joined AEM at the end of January as the Public Relations Manager.

AEM Welcomes New Public Relations Manager

AEM has welcomed a new PR manager to the team.

To help construction employers retain and recruit new talent, technology can play a critical role by offering safer working conditions.

Forward Bound: Reflecting on 2023's Construction Trends, Envisioning 2024

Technology can help provide you with the project reporting requirement to document progress on key performance metrics such as completion rates.