As OCA continues to build awareness about careers in the heavy/highway construction industry, sharing information with students, educators and parents has been the focus of 2022-23’s outreach efforts.
To support these efforts, OCA has several initiatives that fall under the umbrella of Contractor Classroom Collaboration. The goal of the initiatives, which are supported through OCA’s Advancement Foundation, are to connect members directly with schools.
The core of these initiatives includes three areas of focus:
The Muddy Boot Award: This is presented to 25-30 building tradesfocused students throughout the state. Consisting of a $200 Red Wing gift certificate, presented to high school juniors and seniors pursuing construction-related careers, this award enables the students to purchase safety boots to work in the field. Students are nominated by their instructors and typically receive the honor at the Rich DiGeronimo Constructor For A Day programs held around the state.
Student Service Project Donation: This $2,000 classroom donation is awarded to high school building trades-focused classrooms. This donation is used to go towards the completion of service projects that incorporate materials used in our industry. The projects are completed by the students and four awards were distributed in 2022. Examples of projects include refurbishing a town’s historical rest stop, building out a classroom lab and construction of a walking path.
Educator Jobsite Visits: This is a half day program that allows educators and industry to exchange information about how to best provide information to students and strengthen the relationship with area schools. OCA staff also share information about the industry’s workforce needs and the association’s outreach programs. A project tour is hosted by an OCA contractor and participants are introduced to various construction field and management personnel with a discussion about career pathways.
In addition to these programs, OCA has built strong connections with the industry’s trade apprenticeship programs and helped connect them to area schools. Examples of this include partnering to host skilled union trade fairs for high school students and presenting to various education groups. The education groups included traditional career center teachers, counselors, administrators and others involved in directly influencing students’ career paths.
“This year, we have been able to introduce several current trades apprentices to educators at various events and conferences, so they can present their career path directly with the audience,” said OCA Director of Chapter Development Melanie Kitchen. “Our apprentices have made a positive difference in how educators perceive and relate to the industry, as they can see exactly how their current students can benefit from an industry career when they meet young people starting their construction careers.”
OCA’s Rich DiGeronimo Constructor For A Day programs continue to be a strong way to engage our next generation of workforce for both the trades and college degree-focused positions, such as construction management and civil engineering. In 2022, six local chapters held eight Constructor For A Day programs. The events, held in the spring and fall, reached students attending 17 high schools and colleges across the state.
Thank You to Our Members
OCA thanks the member companies that participated in our 2022 Workforce
Awareness activities:
- A.P. O’Horo Co.
- Advanced Drainage Systems Inc.
- Barbicas Construction Co.
- Beaver Excavating Co.
- Complete General Construction Co.
- E.J. USA Inc.
- Ebony Construction Co. Inc.
- The Great Lakes Construction Co.
- Hanson Aggregates Midwest Inc.
- George J. Igel & Co. Inc.
- Independence Excavating Inc.
- Karvo Companies Inc.
- Key Cable & Supply
- Kokosing Construction Co. Inc.
- Miller Pipeline
- Pipelines Inc.
- Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers/Iron Planet
- The Ruhlin Co.
- Shelly & Sands Inc.
- The Shelly Co.
- Shook Construction Co.
- Southeastern Equipment Co. Inc.
- Specialized Construction Inc.
- Trucco Construction Co.
- J.D. Williamson Construction Co. Inc.