A group of 18 Tennessee construction related industry associations and state agencies sponsored the first annual Tennessee Construction Career Days to introduce high school students to career opportunities in construction.
As more skilled workers retire, the need for qualified construction workers grows. Yet, the number of workers entering the field is dwindling. Youth are vital to the construction industry. Today's high school students represent the pool of workers from which the construction industry will recruit its future workforce.
The event was expected to draw 1700 students and counselors from high schools and vocational schools throughout Tennessee, including several of RGI's adopted schools. Dozens of homebuilders, landscapers, equipment companies, road builders, and other construction and subcontractor companies hosted booths and shared information about their businesses at the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon on April 16-18.
The three-day event introduced high school students to the wide range of employment opportunities available to them in construction in a hands-on environment. Students operated heavy equipment, watched paving demonstrations, listened to guest speakers, and participated in a variety of contests and activities. Rogers Group's booth was hosted by a variety of employees from throughout Tennessee representing diverse careers in aggregates and road construction: estimating, quality control, sales, supervision, administration, and production.
Special thanks to booth workers and committee members: Judy Bowling, Teresa Walker, Tony Stringer, Cecil Cook, Betsy Harrington, Deb McCarver, Deborah Crowder, Granville Grant, Jerry Teeler, John Jeske, Steven Jackson, Kathy Smith, Terry Coggins, Larry Hooper, Josh Lyons, Richard Jones, Carter Sain, Toby Ellis, Tim Gorman, Anthony Humes, Donna Carini, Mark Heatherly, Renae Caldwell, Dale Cathey, Todd Nash, Mike Dodson, Stephen Mossner, and Rod Gamble.
The sponsoring organizations plan for the Career Days to be an annual event.
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Mark Heatherly, Madison Construction and Brett McDaniels, Cookeville High School
Brett is the nephew of Russ Matthews, Superintendent Cross Plains Quarry
Richard Jones, Mid-Central Site Grading Manager, Terry Coggins, Mid-Central Estimating Manager, talk with Dennis, a Centennial High School student, and Bedford Jones, Pre-Engineering Instructor
Larry Hooper operates equipment with students
Dale Cathey, Judy Bowling, Richard Jones, Deborah Crowder, Donna Carini, Kathy Smith, Terry Coggins, Mark Heatherly, and Josh Lyons volunteer at Rogers booth.
Tony Stringer
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