Orlando Roofing Apprenticeship Graduates Lisa Pate, FRSA Executive Director
In January 2019, I wrote a Florida Roofing article announcing the start of the first Orlando Roofing Apprenticeship Program that was launched at FRSA in partnership with Associated Builders and Contractors Institute (ABC). Roofing is not a trade that normally draws high school students into the fold – the work is hard, temperatures are hot and roofing is not seen as a viable or attractive career choice. Students aren’t informed of a career path in the industry by guidance counselors but, instead, steered toward a college education or a career in another trade. Let’s face it, roofing isn’t for sissies. It’s hard work, requires extensive knowledge of the Florida Building Codes and a two-day state license exam for those who choose to own a roofing company. Unfortunately, with the exception of a few large companies, employee training and education has not been a priority over the years. For the average roofing company, it’s been feast or famine, where contractors were too busy to lose an employee or two for a few weeks of training or too slow to keep employees on the payroll while providing additional education. Workforce shortage is an industry-wide issue and it will take effort and substantial resources to rebound and create career paths that lead to successfullytrained workers and future industry leaders. The first Orlando Roofing Apprenticeship Program required a three-year commitment and consisted of 432 classroom hours of training divided into six semesters and 6,000 on the job training hours over that period. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive a State Certified Roofing Technician Certification approved by the Florida Department of Education, Department of Labor and the Department of Veteran Affairs, Benefits Division and 27 college credits, should they choose to enroll in a Florida-based college. In addition to the certification and college credit hours, students have a personal sense of 16
FLORIDA ROOFING | November 2021
accomplishment, a strong roofing education and the knowledge that their employer values the potential that they see in them. This is a positive step forward in developing an educated industry workforce and retaining existing workers. With training, employees have the opportunity to receive higher pay and move up within the company. It’s also a win for the employers who will see increased productivity and profitability, improved safety awareness and consistency of installation. Industry training has never been more important. The cover photo on this issue is from Graduation Day 2021, where ten of the original class of students graduated (two were unavailable for the photo). The graduation took place at FRSA, followed by a commemoration dinner. Students, their families and their employers came together with the course instructors – Clay Thomas, Glenn Watson and Mike Silvers to celebrate their success. Each company representative present offered words of encouragement and praise to the graduates. In addition, Ruth Tirado and Angela Hernandez from ABC Institute attended to present certificates and pronounce them graduates.
Jasen Barton RMS Orlando Inc.
Lonnie Hunter Tecta America