As South Florida’s construction business rebounds after years on its knees, Delray Beach-based Meisner Electric is looking to beef up its workforce. Currently it employs 200 electricians — average age is 40 — and with new projects on the horizon, more will be needed..
That’s easier said than done, according to Doug Hutchison, the company’s chief financial officer. Many young people don’t want to be electricians, carpenters, concrete finishers or heavy equipment operators, he said. “Young people would rather run a mouse than a backhoe,” Hutchison said. “Construction is dirty, demanding and dangerous. They’re going to sweat and it’s demanding because we work on deadlines and schedules.” A growing shortage of construction workers is occurring as new projects gain steam. Many construction workers left South Florida because work dwindled during the recession and housing crisis. Some took jobs in the oil industry while others drifted into other fields altogether. To ensure they’ll have the manpower, contractors and trade associations are creating new training and apprenticeship programs and expanding existing ones. Read more :: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/careers/fl-construction-training-20141113-11-story.html By ANNIE MARTIN
[email protected] DELAND Like any good foreman, Greg Gebben expects his crew to do the job right. That means his workers must measure wood beams within a quarter-inch of the desired length. And like any good teacher, Gebben expects students to correct sloppy work. That means his DeLand High School students run to the hardware store if they cut a board too short. "Builders are not going to bring truckloads of wood for you to make mistakes on," Gebben told a roomful of students. "It comes out of your paycheck." Gebben designs his in-class projects to be as close to real life as possible because he wants students to be able to step onto job sites after they graduate with little additional training. Soon students in Volusia County's construction academies will have access to real job sites through a new internship program that comes at a time when local builders say the lack of available skilled workers is limiting the growth of their business and driving up construction prices. The school district is linking up with the Volusia Building Industry Association and a nonprofit organization that will help connect students with paid internships in areas like carpentry, electrical, masonry. Read more:: http://daytonanewsjournal.fl.newsmemory.com/publink.php?shareid=014c35e12 On Thursday October 23, 2014 the Masonry Association of Florida sponsored a luncheon for the Builders Association of North Florida. Approximately 200 people were in attendance from the Gainesville Florida area. Argos Employee – Dewayne Stidham enjoyed working the information table as well as handing out technical and picture brochures that highlight construction with masonry. Masonry contractors worked along with suppliers to get the word out about the advantages of building with block. All involved agreed this was a highly successful event. On Thursday, October 30, 2014, the Masonry Education Foundation's Julio Vazquez (Apprentice Coordinator) and Deb Bartolucci (Marketing & Education) attended the 100 Black Men of South Florida's 4th Annual Career Fair & College Expo at the Miami Dade Fairgrounds. The event was well attended with over 4000 area high school students bused in from around the county. The students had been prepped by the 100 Black Men of South Florida organization as part of their mentoring program, and brought their resumes, SAT scores and a professional attitude in hopes to impress the colleges, trade schools and area employers in attendance. The MEF interviewed several current NCCER pre-apprentice candidates and consequently has a new list of potential masonry apprentices for the Miami program that is held at William H. Turner Technical Arts High School. For more information, please contact Julio Vazquez [email protected] or Deb Bartolucci [email protected]
On Friday Night October 10, 2014, at Veterans Field in Saint Augustine, the Menendez High School Football team defeated Nease 36 to 23, to win the Masonry Industry Veterans Trophy (A Golden Trowel).
Menendez came back from a 23 to 0 deficit in the half to winning the game 36 to 23. Menendez and Nease are crosstown Rivals they have been playing for the Masonry Industry Veterans Trophy six years with Nease taking home the golden trowel from 2009 -2013. Menendez has won the trophy in 2013 and now in 2014. This game is dedicated to the North Florida Veterans past and present and to the First Responders in North Florida. This year’s game was dedicated to Katie Jones, a member of the Sparkler Cheerleader Squad who passed away before school started this year. Katie attended both Nease and Menendez and was on both Cheerleading Squads. The Masonry Industry Veterans Trophy was presented to the Captains of Menendez football team on the fifty yard line at the end of the game by Lt. Colonel Mike Beville Retired. Colonel Beville has presented the trophy all six years. ( Mike is a retired masonry instructor and helps the masonry industry with education of young masons) The game was well attended and everyone stayed for the presentation of the Golden Trowel Trophy. Congratulations to both teams, and good job to Menendez on their victory. For more information:: Al Herndon [email protected] 904-838-6531 Contractors are having difficulty finding craft workers such as carpenters and electricians, now that the industry is recovering from the downturn, the Associated General Contractors of America said Wednesday in a new report.
Only 11 contractors in Florida were represented in AGC's survey of about 1,000 contractors nationwide, but the problem is not a new one. The contractors association identified a growing shortage in 2013. FULL STORY > The Concrete Coalition, including MAF, FC&PA and FICAP proudly supports Rick Scott for governor. Let's Keep Florida Working!
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