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Student Successes Bolster Growth of Training Programs
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Gathered at the opening of ProjectTrade at the Pinellas County Jail in Florida are, from the left, Manny Wolfe, director of Project Success at the jail; Bill Paul, HBI vice chairman and owner of Phoenix Construction; Sheriff Jim Coats and Police Captain Alexis Davis. |
As more students successfully complete the Home Builders Institute’s (HBI) various training programs, learn news skills and join the home building industry’s labor force, their success is also contributing to the success and expansion of HBI’s training programs.
HBI, the workforce development arm of NAHB, oversees such training programs as Project CRAFT/Nashville, one of 10 programs funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Reintegration of Youth Offenders as an Accountability Based Transition to Employment Model, and Project TRADE (Training, Restitution, Apprenticeship Development Employment), a program designed to train and place adult ex-offenders.
Success at Project CRAFT/Nashville
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Antwon Scott gives Ernestine James, his HBI Project CRAFT/Nashville program manager, a tour of Affinity Stone where he has earned accolades for his work, additional responsibilities and a hefty raise from his employer. |
Antwon Scott, a graduate of Project CRAFT/Nashville, succeeded through commitment and perseverance. Though he began the program in May 2005, he had to leave one month before graduating for financial reasons.
He eventually returned to the program, however, out of a desire to learn his trade and build a career in the construction industry.
After successfully completing his remaining requirements, Scott was hired by Affinity Stone of Nashville, Tenn., earning $11 an hour as an installer. His employer took notice of his work ethic, attitude and skills and gave him additional responsibilities and a hefty pay raise.
Today, nearly 25% of Scott’s work is outside of Tennessee and, at times, he supervises as many as three workers.
“When I hired Antwon, he assured me that I would not be disappointed and he was absolutely right,” said Steve Cress, owner of Affinity Stone. “He is a hard worker, always on time and well liked by the entire staff. I hope we can hire more HBI students like him.”
HBI’s Workforce Training and Employment (WTE) department trains hundreds of students like Scott each year. WTE currently operates 12 training programs in Florida, Colorado, South Carolina, Louisiana and Tennessee.
Newest ProjectTRADE Trains Female Offenders
HBI newest ProjectTRADE program trains female offenders at the Pinellas County Jail in St. Petersburg, Fla. and is the first such program for female offenders. Sixteen students are enrolled.
The program began Nov. 9, and when students complete the 12 to 16 weeks of training required, they will earn HBI’s industry-sponsored Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) certificate.
“Project TRADE has been a great program for both its students and our industry,” said Bill Paul, HBI vice chairman as well as president of Phoenix Construction and Development in Tampa, Fla. “We need to have programs like this one to reach people who can potentially increase the ranks of the home building trades. Plus, it really does change lives.”
For more information on WTE programs, e-mail Dennis Torbett at HBI, or call him at 800-795-7955x 8908.
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