The Building BITE

Please tune in to this episode of The Building BITE Podcast, as we hear from industry experts about key topics to help you be successful. The Building BITE hosts Chris Epps, LEED AP and Mike Diercksen, CRIS, welcomes Jennifer Wilkerson, VP of Innovations and Advancements at the National Center for Construction Education and Research or NCCER. We begin the episode by discussing Jennifer’s professional career, where she started as an educator, and then transitioned to a family welding business with her husband. Eventually, Jennifer found an opportunity to combine her passion for education with the construction industry and joined NCCER where she has been able to help develop new training and education for the workforce of both today and tomorrow. Jennfier leaves our audience with three powerful takeaways with regards to the labor pipeline. 1. Shop Class is Not Dead But They Need Your Help: Look to reengage with your local high school and universities and their shop class program. There are still opportunities to connect with these programs and demonstrate a career path for those who are looking for an alternative to classroom higher education. 2. The Pendulum Has Swung Back Towards CTE: There has been a shift in our education system with a renewed focus on Career Tech Education. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by, as these programs are looking for valued partners to fulfill the needs of their students. 3. Carpe Diem: We can’t wait 5 more, 10 more years to address the workforce shortage. With college debt rising and society looking to reexamine potential career paths, the time has never been better to engage with your local programs. Schools, parents, and students alike are all looking for alternative solutions if college is not for them, and a career in construction could be the answer many of them are looking for. To learn more about how you can better prepare your firm for the opportunities ahead, listen to our full podcast episode with Jennifer on “Understanding and Maximizing the Construction labor Force Pipeline” Please like, share, and subscribe to this podcast!