WORK NOW2: Refining Construction Talent for a Robust Workforce

Post date
September 20, 2019
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By Montrie Rucker Adams, APR

The Urban League of Greater Cleveland (ULGC) conference room was abuzz with chatter as supporters awaited the arrival of eleven men who completed the League’s WORK NOW2 program, in partnership with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) and the Construction Employers Association (CEA). 

The men — Mark Alexander, Daronn Baker, Donald Brutton, Richard Goodson, Omari Jackson, Ondre Johnson, Teon Johnson, Jermaine King, Antonio Lillard, Cordell Ofield and Aaron Whiteside — entered the program with varied professional backgrounds intent on learning the skills necessary for a successful career in construction. They recently celebrated their shared knowledge at the culmination of this year’s program, standing proudly before friends, family, instructors, staff, partners and sponsors. 
This was the sixth WORK NOW2 graduating class. Previous program graduates have become reliable workers with building and highway contractors like Northcoast Concrete, Panzica Construction, OCP Contractors, Donley’s, AKA Team, Precision Environmental, Trafftech, Great Lakes Construction, etc. Two from this recent class were offered opportunities in the NEORSD Good Neighbor Ambassador Program. 

Omari Jackson learned about the program from his father. “I was out of work. … I didn’t have anything to lose.” But Jackson, a former machine operator, discovered the program was more than he anticipated. “It turned out to be more than a job opportunity,” he said, “It has prepared me for a career and a way to provide for my family. It had me look at the bigger picture.…I can own my own business…not just work a job.” 

As program participants, Jackson and his classmates had opportunities to network with the business community, mostly in construction, and take advantage of the people “in the room.” He said the program broadened his perspective of different careers in the construction field and “brought out my passion for working with my hands.” Jackson is now pursuing an apprenticeship in carpentry.

The program’s success was enhanced by its partnership with the NEORSD. “We wanted to encourage the WORK NOW2 participants to consider careers in the underground construction area,” said Constance Haqq, NEORSD’s executive of administration and external affairs. “Our work is often unknown and unseen. Our participation gave the WORK NOW2 group an opportunity to have firsthand information about this important and viable career path. Secondly,” she continued, “we want to do our part to ensure a diverse workforce in the region. Working with the ULGC allowed us to assist in that goal.”

Teon Johnson, a May 2019 Ginn Academy graduate who participated in the ACE Mentor Construction Trade initiative (for Architecture, Construction, Engineering), said “This program was exactly what I was looking for. I decided I didn’t want to go to college, so I needed to think about a career. They put me in front of the people I needed to talk to. I learned soft skills, interviewing skills, how to sit still and the importance of making eye contact when you’re talking to someone.”

Johnson said the WORK NOW2 program was “a good experience.” He is confident that when it’s time for him to get a job, he can get it. “Anybody I know, I will tell them to do the program. You can’t beat it unless you have another plan. It’s a career, not a job,” he said. To be successful, Johnson said people must, “Take it serious and do what you have to do. You have to contact the employers. They won’t hand it [a job] to you. You have to contact them and make sure they know your name.”  

For Jermaine King who had an interest in plumbing and HVAC, the soft skills acquired are invaluable. He said the program prepared him to interview for job opportunities. “We discussed body language, communication, being at work on time, being attentive, trainable, coachable and drug free,” he said. King interviewed for NEORSD Good Neighbor Ambassador program. 

 “We will made an offer to two of the candidates,” said Jacqueline Muhammad, the NEORSD’s Manager of Government Affairs.  “While in the nine- to twelve-month program, they will learn or enhance landscaping skills and pile on additional soft skills training. We will also encourage and support them with full-time job opportunities within the District and if they leave the District,” Muhammad said. “Seventy-five percent of candidates end up with a full-time position with NEORSD or other employers.”
   
Opportunities are available. Tracey Phelps, NEORSD’s deputy director of operations and maintenance at its Southerly location, said, “There is a big need in our wastewater field. Many people don’t realize what’s available to them. The men were interested in what we do. They were very engaged, asked a lot of questions, were attentive and very respectful.” Phelps gave a plant tour and presentation that consisted of jobs available at the Southerly location. “I am impressed by this very good group of participants,” he said. 

Phelps was also impressed with the enthusiasm of Goren Dillard the Director, Adult Workforce Development Leader, who works with the program. “He made sure that they asked questions. He guided them, encouraged them to be involved. He repeated certain critical items…That was really good on his part,” Phelps said.

For Dillard, “What stands out is the effort, commitment and energy invested from employer partners to obtain a return. The job training program is designed to shape attitudes and expose candidates to work environments. Group presentations were conducted from experienced professionals. Presentations from skilled trade professionals and project managers were authentic and engaging. Trainees were able to learn from the work experiences of others while observing the project under construction.”

Dillard sees the win-win value of the program. Employer partners like the Ohio Department of Transportation, Whiting Turner, Northstar Contracting, HR Construction Services, Panzica and others provided the future pipeline of potential candidates exposure to soft skills and hard skills. Ultimately, participants demonstrated an attitude transformation towards work, as well as more insights about working in construction,” said Dillard. “Overall it was a unique collaborative effort for all involved to achieve professional development outreach goals and outcomes.”

Jackson found the resume writing, mock interviews and Dale Carnegie session impressive and useful. “They showed us how to update and put together our resumes. They helped us stand out among the many people who are going for the same position,” he said. “For example, using certain words on your resume and in mock interviews stand out more than others. Words like, reliable, accountable, adaptability…these are words that are important to the employer,” he said. “A lot of guys didn’t have that experience. It was good for us to practice and get out of our comfort zone. It was a good learning environment where people bounced ideas off one another and made suggestions and received constructive criticism…to build people up.”  

The NEORSD hopes to sponsor the WORK NOW2 program next year. “Our participation gave the WORK NOW2 group an opportunity to have firsthand information about this important and viable career path,” mentioned Haqq. “We want to do our part to ensure a diverse workforce in the region. Working with the ULGC allowed us to assist in that goal.”

The ceremony concluded with words from Glen Shumate, CEA’s Executive Vice President, who has led construction workforce initiatives for 10 years, including the Construction Management Academy Program and the ACE Mentor Program youth programs as well as various adult programming for adults seeking career opportunities in construction.
 “Programs like WORK NOW2 demonstrate our commitment to providing information and access for youth and adults to understand and gain opportunities in the construction industry. This is important for CEA, the community and the industry,” said Shumate, who was also involved in the creation of BuildOhio.org, an online construction workforce resource.

The WORK NOW2 program will be offered again next spring 2020. For more information on the program contact Goren Dillard at the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, 216-622-0999.