ABC Chairman’s message: Event informs teens about careers in the trades - by Luiza Mills

Economic cycles come and go, but the long-term outlook is clear: we need to continue to expose and recruit more people into the trades.

The Gould Construction Institute hosted “Trade or Treat” on October 30^th at its new Billerica facility. The event was another creative opportunity to open minds via an open house that provided high school students with an opportunity to understand the career paths available in electrical, carpentry, HVAC and more – all while taking part in construction-oriented quizzes, demonstrations, raffles, and giveaways, and enjoying a bit of candy! Attendees got to meet instructors and trade professionals while touring the facility and discovering how a career in trades can be both rewarding and fun. 

Many of us, me included, can attest why it is so incredibly rewarding to be in the trades, but I would like to share with you a testimonial from Dianne McCarthy, a college and career counselor at Lowell High School, who wrote:

“I wanted to thank you again for allowing me to bring a bus load of students to GCI yesterday. I was so happy with how the time went, how supportive the instructors were, and how easily our students felt at home. It resonated with me so strongly that many of these students have never held a hammer or a wire cutter (never mind a Sawzall), tools that I now feel privileged to have in my own toolbox. 

“The students were all smiles and had such positive feedback on the bus home, expressing that they felt the event was such a success, they are eager to get going towards a career in construction, learned so much from such a short time, and hope we can continue bringing things like this to our students. The only negative feedback, which I’m sure won’t shock you, was that I didn’t give them enough time learning how to use the tools!

I can think of no better way to end Careers in Construction Month than by inspiring a bus load of students who are now are “eager to get going towards a career in construction.” Dianne’s kind note continues to highlight the importance of having our own hands-on facility to educate both students and adults about all the construction industry has to offer and the rewarding career paths available.

Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts exists to serve the needs of our members, and there are few things that better serve the needs of member companies than to help attract, educate and develop the qualified workforce and future industry leaders needed to meet the growing demand for construction services and to help continue building our world.

Luiza Mills is the chairman of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc.-Mass. Chapter and is a senior vice president at Interstate Electrical Services Corp., North Billerica, Mass.