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Building California's future

Learn more about the people and purpose behind Build California

BUILD CALIFORNIA IS A CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY REBRANDING AND RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN

Who We Are

Build California is a program of the AGC Construction Education Foundation (CEF), a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation that is dedicated to inspiring, developing, and equipping California’s current and future construction workforce.

 

Today 70% of college students graduate with student loans, averaging about $37,000 and dismal job prospects in their desired field. Despite increased media attention about on-going labor shortages and other workforce development efforts, young people simply aren’t considering (let alone pursuing) careers in the trades. According to AGC of America, 80% of contractors “report difficulty finding qualified craft workers to hire as [the] association calls for measures to rebuild workforce.”

 

So where’s the disconnect? The problem lies in people’s perception of the industry. We have to change hearts and minds – we have to redefine our industry; we have to re-educate Californians, and we have to invest in our own legacy so that future generations aspire to be tradespeople. Build California’s pioneering approach utilizes a mix of marketing, advertising, public relations, and grassroots outreach tactics in order to actively engage with Californians of all ages about the lucrative, long-term, and immediate benefits of careers in the state’s construction industry.

Our Mission: Build California is a comprehensive workforce development program created to inspire, engage and activate the next generation of California’s construction workforce. We do this by shaping positive perceptions of the construction industry, informing young people and their influencers about the real career opportunities in construction, connecting them to local training programs and employers.

 

Our Vision: Build California’s vision is to create a steady, motivated and skilled workforce pipeline for California’s construction industry. Our unique approach is defined by an ability to:
• Authentically showcase the diverse career and training pathways the modern industry has to offer.
• Effectively reach and inform audiences on multiple platforms with targeted messaging.
• Present a perspective on the industry that is actually “cool” to both young people & other target audiences.

Board of Directors

  • Sarah Carr

    Vice President, McCarthy Building Companies

    Chair

  • Daniel R. Dumke

    Senior Director, Shawmut Design & Construction

    Vice Chair

  • Peter Tateishi

    Chief Executive Officer, AGC of California

    President

  • Juliana Almanza

    Chief of Staff, AGC of California

    Treasurer

  • Darla Macomber

    Chief Operating Officer, AGC of California

    Secretary

  • Lisa Ballantyne

    Senior Vice President, Turner Construction Company

    Director

  • Lisa Becerra

    Chief of Staff, The Laborers Training School & Apprenticeship Program

    Director

  • Jim Blois

    President, Blois Construction

    Director

  • Dr. Giovanna Brasfield

    CEO, Brasfield & Associates

    Director

  • Bill Boyd

    President, Sully-Miller Contracting

    Director

  • Patty Dutra Bruce

    VP, Human Resources, Dutra Group

    Director

  • Raewyn Lelo-Butcher

    Executive Vice President, Ghirardelli Associates

    Director

  • Leonard Gonzales

    Executive Director, Laborers Training & Retraining Trust Fund NorCal

    Director

  • Kevin Halfhill

    Senior Estimator, Otto Construction

    Director

  • Perry Hawkins

    Financial Secretary, Operating Engineers Local Union 12

    Director

  • Dr. Irish Horsey

    Director of Industry Advancement, Procore Technologies

    Director

  • Steve Ingersoll

    President, Operating Engineers Local 3

    Director

  • Julie Irvin

    Chief Financial Officer, A-C Electric Company

    Director

  • Nataline Lomedico

    Chief Executive Officer/President, Giroux Glass

    Director

  • Steve Long

    Director of Innovation and Learning, Dome Construction

    Director

  • Chris Pedroza

    Executive Director, Carpenters 46 NorCal Counties Conference Board

    Director

  • Alena Quintero

    Director of Business Development, DPR Construction

    Director

  • Josh Raper

    Regional Manager, Western States Regional Council of Carpenters

    Director

  • Peter Razavi

    Enterprise Sales Leader, Autodesk

    Director

  • Monty Richmond

    Director of Human Resources, Underground Construction Co., Inc.

    Director

  • Justin Ross

    Senior National Account Manager - General Contracting, Milwaukee Tool

    Director

  • Leslie Schlaegel

    VP of Talent Development, Royal Electric Co.

    Director

  • Ben Walnum

    Project Manager, Griffith Company

    Director

  • John Dunn

    Regional Director of Apprenticeship, Bay Area Community College Consortium

    Emeritus

  • Cathy Skeen

    Senior Vice President, NFP

    Emeritus

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