Lynda Pomeroy
OCA Director of Membership, Advancement Foundation Administrator
On the heels of OCA’s annual celebration of our industry, the OCA Winter Conference, I am struck by the many victories and accomplishments highlighted. After Winter Conference, having heard the myriad accomplishments of the past year inspires me and leads me to eagerly anticipate what comes next for this industry that provides a livelihood for the many companies it is our honor to serve.
It was that same hope for and belief in the future that led to the establishment of the OCA Advancement Foundation, a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt entity, by the OCA Board of Directors on March 20, 2014. It was that same spirit that captured the attention of, then, OCA Board Executive Committee Member Parr Peterson, of the The Paul Peterson Company, and led him to champion the establishment of a strong endowment fund from which to launch the Advancement Foundation. Parr was so certain of the generosity of OCA member firms, that he and OCA President Chris Runyan took on an endowment campaign that, at the time, seemed lofty.
At OCA’s Winter Conference in 2018, OCA celebrated 100 years of service to the industry. At that same meeting, Parr Peterson and Chris Runyan, having received overwhelmingly generous support from many of OCA’s leading member firms, announced an endowment of $1.6 million had been secured; it merits noting this exceeded the campaign goal of $1.5 million.
Today, the OCA Advancement Foundation is overseen by a Board of Trustees, with Chair Parr Peterson and Trustees Jackie Alf (John R. Jurgensen Co.), Nick DiGeronimo (Independence Excavating Inc.), Mike Dinneen (Agg Rok Materials) and Jim Ruhlin Sr. (The Ruhlin Company). At the Advancement Foundation’s most recent trustee meeting, the total assets of the foundation were $1,968,734.87. Despite a period of unprecedented market volatility – and allowing for the many grants already awarded by the board – the endowment fund established in 2018 is secure, alive and growing, offering opportunities to enhance OCA’s workforce development and awareness programs.
Among the most visible new workforce awareness programs supported by the Advancement Foundation are those that fall under the umbrella of OCA’s Contractor/Classroom Collaboration. All are designed to engage traditional high school students and career technical students. All programs are crafted to create awareness of the rewarding opportunities available in our industry for students pursuing training through the trades, and for those students who are college bound. I have heard several educators who, having learned more about career opportunities in our industry, questioned if they might have changed career choices had they known then what they know now. Perhaps they were kidding? I am not entirely convinced.
Contractor/Classroom Collaboration programs are designed to meet students and educators where they are in their exploration of future career opportunities. Through Muddy Boots Awards, Student Service Projects and Educator Jobsite Tours, the OCA Advancement Foundation is fueling OCA’s ability to build relationships and raise awareness in schools throughout the state.
In the first quarter of 2023, supported with funding from the OCA Advancement Foundation, OCA will be in the field with a pilot program with COSI; COSI/OCA Connects, targeting students in the eighth grade. We will also be piloting a digital advertising program targeting jobseekers. And watch for the announcement of a new Legacy Scholarship Program; this program is intended to help members champion recent or soon-to-be high school graduates known to them through current work or through their employees – OCA’s version of a “friends and family” program.
The advent of the OCA Advancement Foundation has allowed for growth in OCA’s cornerstone statewide scholarship program, OCA’s Hall of Fame Scholarship Awards. The Advancement Foundation funds are empowering OCA to support more college upperclassmen than ever before. The last two years, OCA has seen increased numbers of applicants, some of whom have shared stories of serious financial need resulting from the pandemic. Because of the Advancement Foundation, we have been able to offer support.
Make no mistake: It is you, the OCA members, whose gifts have made it possible to expand our workforce awareness efforts by making the OCA Advancement Foundation a reality. OCA is grateful to all of you, and we are honored to implement and grow our workforce awareness and scholarship activities on your behalf. You planted the seeds. I look forward to watching them grow