Pre-apprenticeship trainees connect with potential employers at HBA’s BuildRight Conference

BY: HBF STAFF

A loud buzz filled the ballroom at BuildRight, where a new generation of builders hoping to enter the field learned about jobs. Tiffany Jensen, who attended Oregon Tradeswomen’s PreApprenticeship program, is one of the graduates who attended. She explains “I’m still a little perplexed” so she came to the conference to learn more about jobs in the fields of home restoration and deconstruction.

A total of 17 graduates received a stipend to attend the day-long conference at the Kennedy School on April 19, the result of a grant from the Portland Clean Energy Fund. Longtime HBF partner Constructing Hope won a more than $7 million-dollar workforce grant aimed at training people living in communities most affected by climate change for sustainable industry jobs. Constructing Hope leads the collaboration with three other adult construction pre-apprenticeship programs; Oregon Tradeswomen, Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (P.O.I.C), and Portland Youth Builders. They undergo a two-day intensive about sustainable building during their training from Earth Advantage, then receive a certificate. HBA agreed to provide opportunities such as attending BuildRight as a way to connect these newly minted “green” builders with jobs in the field.

At BuildRight, Earth Advantage also provided two sessions just for the trainees to help them navigate the day, and to teach them how to network. Anna Hilbruner of Elise Energy Solutions tried to calm their nerves, “We hope it introduces you to different options - I know it is like drinking from a fire hose.” Tiffany and the other trainees were allowed to pick which of the seminars they attended. Jensen chose “Concrete the Sleeping

Giant” as one of them. Even if she knew nothing about the seminar topics, she tells us “It reminds me of the avenues and opportunities I’ve already had.”

The day was capped by a special networking session. The graduates had a few minutes to shake hands and chat with a variety of employers, who were recruited by Earth Advantage and HBA’s Building Science Consultant Carol Eisenlohr. The gathering was lively, and the trainees appeared to have no trouble talking with the employers. William Castrillion, of NW Energy Collaborative, gave all the trainees a pep talk. “It’s your attitude and aptitude. I told them - if you show up, and you are willing to learnthat is what I need the most!”

HBA member Patrick Huske of Ironwood Homes told us he enjoyed himself and took down a few names. “The key takeaway for me was the trainees had found a direction and were excited to continue their path of employment and learning in the building trades.” Trainees tell us the employers were great at giving suggestions about focusing their job search. Jensen tells us “It was less awkward than I thought it would be” and that it encouraged her to continue on her path.

HBA’s Eisenlohr says the energy in the room was contagious for everyone involved. “The diversity of the attendees at the BuildRight Conference is a big part of its success. It takes a village to build a home and the courage to keep forging ahead to adopt new technologies and building practices. When you bring builders, trades, innovators, designers and trainees together, great things happen.” This vital addition of trainees coming to BuildRight is just the beginning. There are three years remaining for the PCEF grant, and HBA and HBF are currently collaborating on additional opportunities to spark connections toward sustainable construction careers.