I recently wrote about a Workforce Development Graduation honoring 21 Helpers, 19 Mechanics, and 9 Foremen who had recently completed those in-house training programs at Marek. The keynote speaker for the evening was Peter Beard, Senior Vice President for Regional Workforce Development at the Greater Houston Partnership. Mike Holland, Chief Operating Officer at Marek, presented Beard with a certificate of appreciation for his work in the Houston community. It stated:“The young men and women we are recognizing tonight will relate to their coaches, peers, supervisors, and workforce development staff as advocates for their future. Behind the scenes, other advocates are working tirelessly to create a better path forward for all craft professionals.
A few weeks ago Marek held their 2015-2016 Workforce Development Graduation to recognize the accomplishments of those who had recently completed their in-house Helper, Mechanic, or Foreman training programs. The evening included a catered dinner for the graduates, their families, and their coaches; a keynote speaker; and a detailed introduction of each graduate highlighting what they learned and which of their coaches were the most influential to them in their training.
August 05, 2016
A construction foreman working at a jobsite next to a children’s hospital created an 8-foot “Waldo” and placed it at various locations on the site for the amusement of the patients.
July 27, 2016
Read the second in a series of posts about what McPherson observed during the 2016 ABC NCC, an intensive competition between more than 200 craft profession trainees and students.
July 08, 2016
Educators, industry representatives, family, and friends of the CMEF class of 2016 gathered last Thursday evening to celebrate the achievements of this graduating class of construction craft professionals. The Construction and Maintenance Education Foundation (CMEF) hosted the event for those of us who braved the local thunderstorms at a unique event hall nestled between branches of the Buffalo Bayou on the southeast side of Houston called Brady’s Landing.After a brief introduction by Mike Holland, CMEF Board of Directors Chair and Marek Houston Division President, the evening began with a stirring presentation of the United States Colors by the Deer Park High School JROTC (Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps). Following the United States Pledge of Allegiance, the room bowed their heads during an invocation delivered by Rick Rankin, an industry representative from Jacobs.We were then invited to fill our dinner plates at the ample buffet, allowing the CMEF graduates and the National Craft Championship competitors in attendance to precede us.Russell Hamley, ABC/CMEF President, then recognized the sponsors of the evening’s festivities, including the host sponsor CMEF, the training affiliate of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Greater Houston.
June 02, 2016
In a previous post, I wrote about my interviews with four students who will soon graduate from Dickinson High School (DHS). We talked about their experiences in the Manufacturing (Welding) program there, part of the school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. After speaking with the students, I then talked with two of their welding instructors, Mike Perry and Ricky Cox.Mike Perry has been teaching in the welding program at DHS for six years. Prior to teaching, Perry had worked as a welder for 20 years for a “Mom and Pop” shop, working indoors and “doing a lot of TIG welding – doing a little bit of stick and MIG and just whatever projects come up.”I asked him what he thinks the welding program at DHS gives to the students. Perry answered:“It gives them a lot of real world application. Everything that they do in here, they are going to do out there. They get to put their hands on everything that they are going to use in the industry before they get out there. I think that is really good for them.”
May 26, 2016
Watch video interviews of Dickinson (Texas) High School students who have completed courses in welding and are preparing to graduate and pursue careers in the construction industry.
May 12, 2016
Read the first in a series of posts about what McPherson observed during the 2016 ABC NCC, an intensive competition between more than 200 craft profession trainees and students.
May 03, 2016
The gold and silver medalists in Structural Welding spoke with Construction Citizen authors Elizabeth McPherson and Jasmine Swoope about their experiences in the competition.
April 14, 2016
A week before travelling to Florida to compete in the ABC 2016 National Craft Championships (NCC), five Houston-area welders spoke with me about how they became interested in welding, their career aspirations, and what they love about their craft. Some of their sponsors and instructors were also on hand to comment as they met at the Construction and Maintenance Education Foundation (CMEF) Performance Verification Center for a final briefing before the competition.Jose Morua, father of three, works full time for Jacobs in addition to taking classes in the welding program at Lee College. He decided to study welding after a friend encouraged him to go to school to better himself.
March 30, 2016
