C a r e e r D ay
BETTER BUILT
Fred Bueler helps construct buildings from the ground up. one of the leaders of our student engagement program. An important aspect on every project we do with schools across Arizona is making sure we involve the students, staff, and community. We do this through handson learning, getting the students involved in the construction process, giving firsthand experience on the construction of their new school, and even teaching kids and teens about the different career paths the construction industry offers. What type of training do you need to do your job? For my specific career, a bachelor’s Fred Bueler is the project degree in construction management director for or engineering is preferred. However, a general there are a variety of ways to enter contractor. a career in the construction industry including trade schools and other bachelor degrees in college. Fred Bueler What’s your favorite part of your Profession: Building and job? Construction Working with the project teams, collaborating as a team and watching Age: 39 amazing things get built. At the end What do you do for a living? of the project, everyone gets to be I am a project director for a company proud of what the team was able to called CHASSE Building Team. We are accomplish and build together. a local general contractor, which is What did you want to be when you more or less the team that coordinates were growing up? and supervises every aspect of a I grew up playing on a ping pong table building or remodeling project. If you that was almost completely covered in have ever been to Town & Country Legos. My dad owned a construction Shopping Center in Phoenix or visited company in my home state of Missouri, Scottsdale’s Cheyenne Traditional so I got to see a lot of the moving School, Phoenix’s Madison Meadows pieces and jobs involved in building Middle School, or Tempe's Wood and throughout most of growing up. I knew Frank Elementary Schools––then you I wanted to do something in the field have been to something I've helped most of my life. I moved to Arizona to build. When we work with schools to attend Arizona State University, where I studied civil engineering with on building or remodeling, I am also 6 | NOVEMBER 2021 | EPIC KIDS
a concentration in construction. This allowed me to learn several disciplines within the world of building and construction and really hone in on what I liked best. I also got the chance to do five different internships with five different companies, which really helped me narrow my focus and get experience. What advice would you give to a kid who wants to have a similar career? Enjoy your Legos! Also, start working in groups from a young age––be it a science club, glee club, or in sports. Working in construction is all about teamwork and communication. For those in high school, definitely take advantage of opportunities to shadow people in all levels of construction and building to see what "a normal day" looks like for people working in the jobs that intrigue you most. One fun fact NOT about your job? I volunteer with this group called the Scottsdale Charros. Our mission is to serve as Scottsdale’s Goodwill Ambassadors while raising funds via spring training and other outlets so we can make annual grants and donations to organizations in need with a clear focus on education.
Creighton school, a building Fred helped construct.
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