Build Your Career is pleased to announce our BYC Ambassador of the Quarter for Q3, 2019.  A hearty congratulations goes out to Goosie Kennedy of D.R. Reynolds Company, Inc.!  Goosie not only serves as a very active Build Your Career Ambassador, but he also volunteers with numerous community-based organizations.  He is the driving force behind leading BYC Contractors in the Classroom presentations and outreach efforts throughout schools in the Asheboro and Trinity, North Carolina areas on behalf of D.R. Reynolds, and he also facilitates his company's internship program in an effort to attract students into our industry.

Goosie Kennedy began his career with D.R. Reynolds in 2008 as an intern and after graduating from Appalachian State university in 2009, worked his way up the firm’s career ladder over the last eleven years to eventually become a Project Manager for the company.  As the lead point person assigned to manage the D.R. Reynolds intern program, he was also instrumental in offering his mentorship to numerous other company interns over the past five years—assisting his employer with keeping their talent pipeline fluid.

During his tenure at D.R. Reynolds, Goosie has frequently worked as one of the Project Managers overseeing the construction of 23 North Carolina fire stations on behalf of the general contracting firm.  While working closely with local firefighters as he assisted with these building projects, Goosie acquired enough knowledge and insider info to volunteer to sit on the Editorial Board of the Carolina Fire Journal.  He currently serves as a contributing editor for the Journal and has written over a dozen construction-related articles published in the magazine.

Since joining the Build Your Career team of volunteer Ambassadors, Goosie has been extremely active in leading construction career awareness efforts in several North Carolina classrooms.  During his very first school visit he was so successful in promoting construction as a career choice that two students wound up submitting applications and interviewing for entry-level jobs at D.R. Reynolds!  When asked about the value he saw in participating as a BYC Ambassador to lead the Contractors in the Classroom program at local schools, Goosie Kennedy said, “Working with the BYC Initiative through CAGC is a great opportunity for a deep and direct partnership for D. R. Reynolds Company and our local high schools.  I look forward to continuing the relationship in the upcoming semesters as we grow our industry with construction leaders for the future.”

BYC Director, Tammy Ford, commented on Kennedy’s valuable contributions to the Build Your Career program that led to him being named the Ambassador of the Quarter for Q3 of 2019:  “Goosie has been a tremendous asset to the BYC program as he continues to schedule ongoing classroom visits to share his construction industry knowledge with future generations of workers.  He is so passionate about educating young students on the benefits of pursuing careers in construction and I admire that so much.  Everyone at Carolinas AGC is very proud of him and he is extremely deserving of this award!”

Goosie also hopes to motivate and inspire other CAGC members to get involved with BYC and volunteer as Ambassadors.  He commented on the importance of more construction firms prioritizing efforts to engage with students and actively promoting construction careers by stating, “We must all do our part in spreading the word about the opportunities in the construction field.  I look forward to continuing the outreach I can do and providing insight and vision to the eyes of the younger ones behind me.  With the combined efforts of CAGC and Build Your Career, contractors like D. R. Reynolds Company, and other BYC Ambassadors across the state, we can and WILL make a difference and we will turn the industry woes of lack of personnel into an industry flooded with quality talent, eager to build America!”

Goosie is quite a busy fellow, because aside from working full-time for D.R. Reynolds Company, sitting on the Editorial Board and serving as a contributing author for the Carolinas Fire Journal, as well as volunteering as a BYC Ambassador, he is also the proud father of five children—four girls and one boy, ranging in ages from one year to nine years.  He accomplishes all this and still manages to find time to sit on the Building Committee for two churches in his area, coaches his children’s respective sports teams and also is an active volunteer for the Southwest Randolph High School Booster Club!

On behalf of Carolinas AGC and its Foundation, Build Your Career is proud to name Goosie Kennedy of D.R. Reynolds Company, Inc. as our Q3 2019 “BYC Ambassador of the Quarter.”  The CAGC Foundation sincerely appreciates Goosie’s contributions to its Build Your Career Program and honors his accomplishments and efforts in promoting construction careers and workforce development on behalf of the construction industry.

For more information on the CAGC Foundation’s Build Your Career workforce development initiative, our Contractors in the Classroom program or to volunteer to become a BYC Ambassador, please visit our website or contact Program Director, Tammy Ford, via email at tford@carolinasagc.org or by phone at (704) 995-3901. To learn more about D.R. Reynolds Company, Inc., employment opportunities at D.R. Reynolds or to speak with Goosie Kennedy, please visit their company website. To make a charitable contribution to BYC, please visit our secure online donation portal.