Strengthening Career Pathways for Community College Students
Construction in the Bay Area is booming, which is presenting serious challenges for many companies that badly need workers for a variety of important and good-paying jobs that don’t necessarily involve swinging a hammer. The Bay Area Council through its Workforce of the Future program is focused on building stronger career pathways to fill these jobs by working to strengthen connections among community colleges and local employers from around the region. The Council recently partnered with member company Rosendin Electric on visits to Laney College in Oakland (Oct. 18) and San Jose City College (Oct. 24) to meet with students in the classroom and talk with them about opportunities in project management. The visit was one of an ongoing series of classroom visits the Council is organizing to highlight and promote careers in a variety of industries.
Rosendin Vice President of Operations Angela Hart and Director of Preconstruction Mike Holmes talked with the students about project management careers and the skills and training that are required, including keeping projects on track and on budget and supporting client relationships. While many of the students are pursuing electrical apprenticeships, the visit exposed them to another viable option for a career utilizing the learned skills provided by the classes. Hart also emphasized to students the importance of a strong work ethic in advancing their careers, and cited her own experience starting as a receptionist at Rosendin and working her way up to a position in which she now manages $450 million in revenue annually for the company. Students were impressed. San Jose City College student Adrienne Williams said it was “great to hear from a company that values growing and promoting their employees from within,” while student Jungwoon Park said the visit “gave me motivation moving forward.”
To engage in the Council’s Workforce of the Future initiative, please contact Senior Vice President Linda Bidrossian.
