Nearly two dozen businesses, unions and governmental agencies took part in a Careers in Construction Month celebration on Oct. 25 at the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center – Albany Campus, recruiting the next generation of skilled workers.
Students met potential employers, took part in demonstrations and learned about the various careers that exist in the construction industry.
“I really like that we get out here and meet new people. I didn’t even know most of these businesses existed,” said Gianna Schillinger, a Welding and Metal Fabrication senior from North Colonie Central School District.
The BOCES partners said the skilled-worker shortage makes it critical for them to work with students to expand the pipeline of skilled workers into the regional, state and national workforce.
“It’s important to build relationships with students so that when they enter the
workforce, they will remember us,” said Julia Gadwah, a human resources recruitment and retention specialist with Curtis Lumber.
Thomas McKiernen of the Carpenters Local No. 291 agreed.
“The construction industry is getting older, and we need to find replacements for the retirees. It’s good to get young people interested so that they can learn the industry the right way, from the ground up,” he said.
Students said they appreciated the effort by BOCES and its partners. 
“Events like this are great. It gives us an opportunity to meet people in the industry and get our name out there,” said Nicholas Sparzo, an Electrical Trades senior from Cohoes.
Schillinger agreed.
“It’s all about getting out here, shaking hands and meeting people so that I have a better opportunity to get a job when I get out of school,” she said.
Capital Region BOCES Managing Program
Coordinator-Business & Community
Partnerships Nancy Liddle said the event served its purpose of
“inspiring students to think about all the possibilities that exist for their future.”
Also, during the event, Assemblymember Chris Tague presented Capital Region BOCES with a proclamation declaring October Careers in Construction Month in New York state.
“When I was 16, I didn’t really have a school mindset, and then a guidance counselor told me I should try BOCES. It was the best thing for me. I wouldn’t be where I am today, a New York state assemblyman, had it not been for BOCES,” said Tague.
The assembly member represents the 102nd Assembly District and graduated from the Capital Region BOCES Schoharie Campus in 1987. 
“BOCES taught me responsibility, how to work with my hands and operate equipment, and it kept me in school,” Tague added.
Business, education and labor partners participating in the event included , Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local No. 2 New York/Vermont; Callanan Industries; Carpenters Local No. 291; Crisafulli Brothers Home Services; Curtis Lumber; Robert H. Finke & Sons Inc.; IUOE 158; Kenworth Northeast; The Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 190; Local 7 Plumbers & Steamfitters; Milton CAT; National Grid, and the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters. Also taking part were the New York state Departments of Transportation; STS Steel Inc.; T&J Companies; TCI of NY Inc., and Tri-City JATC.
Capital Region BOCES provides students with pathways to great careers in the construction industry through seven programs-Electrical Trades; Heavy Equipment Operation, Maintenance & Repair; Building Trades; Network Technology; Carpentry Services; Welding and Metal Fabrication, and Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC/R).
Enrollment in the seven construction-related programs on the high-school level continues to rise with more than 400 high school students from more than 24 area school districts in attendance. This underscores a greater trend of students and their families realizing the value of skilled trades.