Build Your Career recently had the opportunity to participate in a Contractors in the Classroom presentation, partnering with CAGC member and active BYC Ambassadors, Trident Construction, to lead a construction career awareness workshop for a dozen students at Fort Dorchester High School in North Charleston, SC.  Topics discussed included general industry information, earning potential, what subjects to study in school that are most beneficial to pursuing careers in our industry and construction career pathways specific to Trident Construction.  Students were shown videos of a drone conducting urban mapping, BIM technology and a time-lapsed Trident building project from start to finish.

Contractors in the Classroom is a program designed to place our BYC Ambassadors directly in schools throughout the Carolinas region. The goal of this program is to educate students, their parents and teachers on the many amazing benefits of pursuing a career in the construction and craft trade industry. Through ongoing outreach programs developed for our North and South Carolina schools, our Ambassadors are able to promote construction careers to future generations of workers and educate them on why it is such a rewarding and viable career choice.

During this recent BYC Contractors in the Classroom presentation, our BYC Program Director worked in tandem with Elizabeth Reed, Marketing Coordinator for Trident Construction, to share general information about the construction industry with the students.  Students learned the differences between the role of General Contractors and Sub/Specialty Contractors and were also shown samples of various types of construction projects to teach them the differences between vertical and horizontal building projects.

Other topics discussed included industry salary ranges and earning potential, advancement opportunities within the industry and profiling various trades.  The Fort Dorchester students also had the opportunity to discover what subjects to study in school that are most beneficial to pursuing careers in our industry while learning about career pathways specific to Trident Construction from Ms. Reed.  Lastly, the attending students were shown videos of a drone conducting urban mapping, BIM technology and a time-lapsed Trident building project from start to finish.

Mary-Beth Gonzales, Career Development Coordinator for Fort Dorchester High School, commented on the importance of promoting construction and skilled trade opportunities to students by stating: “Our educators understand that not every student is on a post-graduation college trajectory path and it is vital that our school partners with more organizations like Carolinas AGC and its Build Your Career Program because they have the ability to connect us with local industry employers like Trident Construction.  We are extremely thankful for the opportunities these connections provide our school and our student population and we look forward to facilitating the expansion of these partnerships.  Fort Dorchester is excited to provide our students with the knowledge and career pathway information that can hopefully lead them into meaningful professions in the construction industry.”

Trident’s Elizabeth Reed remarked about her experience leading a Contractors in the Classroom presentation on behalf of Trident Construction by saying, “I have always had a passion for helping others.  With the opportunities that Trident Construction and Build Your Career have given me, I am also able to share my passion for the construction industry and the work we perform at Trident with high school students in the classroom.  It’s awesome to see the students’ enthusiasm for construction and the opportunities this industry offers them.  Trident Construction always wants to make an impact on our community and help students reach their goals.  We look forward to more opportunities with BYC.”

Build Your Career is very grateful to Fort Dorchester High School for allowing us to visit their school and share with their students information about all the wonderful career opportunities awaiting them in the construction industry.  A special thanks goes out to Trident Construction for tag-teaming with BYC during this fun and educational day at Fort Dorchester High School!

For more information on the CAGC Foundation’s Build Your Career workforce development initiative, our Contractors in the Classroom program, to volunteer to become a BYC Ambassador or to request your own onsite customized Ambassador training session, please visit our website or contact Betsy Bailey, via email at BBailey@CarolinasAGC.org or by phone at (704) 372-1450.To make a charitable contribution to BYC, please visit our secure online donation portal.