CONSTRUCTION FUTURE, LLC
RIVERVIEW, FLORIDA

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We are owners, contractors and craftspeople who want to advance a socially responsible, sustainable and value added construction industry. , we value social responsibility and sustainability as strategically important for our projects, for our image in our communities and for the long term success and return on investment of our businesses. , we value the competitive advantage and business growth we can gain by supporting a constantly improving and sustainable workforce as a foundation for delivering superior value and quality to our clients. , we value developing our skills and a long term career path that is rewarding and satisfying and with which we can be productive and respected as members of one of our nation's most vital industries. , as he kicked off an event at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston designed to give contractors more information about the kind of help available to them to invest in and retain their workforce. The group this year is launching what they’re calling “The Craft Training Endorsement Program.” It’s a “rigorous standard” providing recognition to “world-class commercial construction firms that have documented and implemented training programs that demonstrate corporate leadership commitment to the development of craft workers, implement craft training programs for all craft workers, and establish a more sustainable workforce through craft training connected to career paths.” As Gremillion has said many times, it is not uncommon for the leadership of a construction firm to have safety training in place – which of course a good thing – but, to have no idea where to begin when it comes to craft training. At companies where craft training has been implemented, it’s been transformative. , told the crowd his company is building a craft training program from the bottom up. “If you have a guy come in and he’s pushing a broom for you, he doesn’t want to be pushing that broom for the next 5 years,” he said. “I need to service my clients and be the best at what I’m doing and I need to be the best at what I’m doing for my employees.” said they have about 625 employees, half of which are craft workers. “Our mission is to deliver to our owners the best construction possible,” Mogab said. Pointing out that all the companies in the room and across the marketplace are competing for many of the same people, Mogab said “We want those people to look at our company and say ‘hey it’s safe, I’m going to get a fair wage, and I’m going to have a career path where I can move up.’” Children should aspire to work in the skilled trades like construction, Roberts said. “It’s something that’s been lost in our industry,” he said. “Their future is to work for a company that will treat them like true employees and they’ll be retained,” Roberts said. Because they make up such a high percentage of the workforce now, Roberts said it’s imperative for employers to work harder to attract millennials into these careers. “Any organization that applies …wants to know that there is a standard,” said Phillips. She said company leaders thought it was important to also perform their own internal assessment of their craft training programs. “We’re also going to say ‘hey what is it that we want out of our program?” , which is a program that works with high school kids to get them interested in Architecture, Construction Sciences, and Engineering; bringing them up through college; and then helping them find work in the industry afterwards.  Mentors who work in these fields volunteer their time to mentor the students throughout the program year, which usually runs from October through April.  During this time, groups of students and mentors work on a proposal for a real-world project such as a school.  “It’s a great hands-on, out-of-the-classroom experience where they get to meet other students, other mentors, and people in the industry outside of just the class.  I am very proud to be able to do this – this is my second year running it.  Angela Cotie started the program six years ago, and she’s been the driving force all the way.  It has come a long way, and we are very happy with where it is.” “So, we teach them how to do it, but then we also make them a little uncomfortable.  We put the tools in their hands, and we do it all with people watching them, mentoring them, and helping them so they are comfortable with it.  It is really neat to see the kids that started with a bunch of wood and scrap material, and now it is benches which they are able to use for lunch.  From the beginning of the day to the end of the day, there is a lot of growth and a lot of big smiles from the kids, which is really neat for us.” Charlene Anthony, Senior Director of Construction Futures, Education Meetings, and Events at AGC Houston also took some time to speak with me.  She told me that the ACE Mentor Program Houston was established in 2008, which happened to be the year that Hurricane Ike devastated much of the area.  Because of Ike, that first year was a part-time, abbreviated session for the Houston ACE affiliate.  Even now that ACE Mentor Program Houston is well established, AGC Houston remains involved and supportive of the program, because the ACE endeavor to bring more people back into the construction industry aligns with AGC’s mission.  AGC helps raise money for ACE Mentor Houston through the annual