I have been passionate about construction since I was a young boy. After completing high school, I was fortunate to be part of a training facility that gave me the foundation and basic skills to pursue a successful career in construction. After moving to Vermont and becoming embedded in the local construction landscape, I longed for a similar facility that would provide career paths and training to build Vermont’s next generation of trades men and women.
Monday that dream came true with the opening of the Vermont Construction Academy.
Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of working alongside so many incredible people, all who came together with a common vision. Now, as we begin enrollment for VCA’s Carpentry Boot Camp and Commercial Carpentry Apprenticeship, I am so excited to see those efforts come to fruition. Finally, we have a resource to provide post-high school hands-on training and certification to those interested in the trades. At the same time, this effort will help combat one of the biggest issues in this industry – the skilled labor shortage.
To my partners in crime, Ryan Ahern at ReArch Construction and Matt Musgrave at ABC NH/VT, thank you for bringing your insight and enthusiasm to this project every day. While the foundational work is now complete, I am proud to continue to lend my expertise on the VCA Board.
To all the young people out there who haven’t considered construction or don’t know how to get started, VCA might be the right fit for you! I am so excited to see what the future holds.
Photos: Top – Ryan Ahern and Martin Pigeon speak at the opening of the Vermont Construction Academy; Bottom – Governor Phil Scott addresses the crowd.