News

October 14, 2020

Construction Students Learn, Gain Hands-on Experience from Business Partners

Approximately 270 area high school students are currently learning in programs designed to supply skilled workers for the construction industry. This field remains in need of skilled workers despite the COVID-19 pandemic and related shutdown.

“Getting younger people involved in the trades is critical to the future of the construction industry,” said Eastern Contractors Association President and CEO Todd G. Helfrich. “The programs offered by Capital Region BOCES provide practical hands-on training for students, which help prepare them to enter the industry for the start of what we hope are long-term careers.”

Area students are studying hands-on for Building Trades, Carpentry Services, Commercial Construction/Heavy Equipment; Electrical Trades; Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC/R); Network Cabling Technician/Smart Home Technology; Residential Construction/Heavy Equipment and Welding and Metal Fabrication. Adults also have access to several options to lay the foundation for a solid career.

Building a network of business partners

Nearly 90 area businesses and institutions regularly collaborate with Capital Region BOCES with Callanan Industries Inc., Haun Welding Supply, Greno Industries and Robert H. Finke and Sons Inc. among some of the partners. Complete list of construction business partners available below.

“These partnerships are critical because they allow us to stay on top of what is going on in the industry,” said Capital Region BOCES Senior Executive Officer Joseph P. Dragone, Ph.D. “They also help to place students in good jobs that help grow the regional economy and overcome national unemployment trends.”

Students gain real-life experience and knowledge in classrooms and out in the field, so they are well-prepared to enter college, trade school or the workforce.

“We hire a number of BOCES graduates and have more here for internships and work-based learning,” said Robert H. Finke and Sons Inc. Parts Manager Bob Rowe. “What they have in common is a better grasp of the basics, the building blocks of what it takes to succeed.”

Business partners do everything from provide work-based learning opportunities to students and advise faculty and staff on the latest industry trends.

“Working directly with the instructors allows us to let them know what is changing in technology, allowing the school to be on the forefront of education,” said Haun Welding Supply Branch Manager Danielle Parrotte.

Such partnerships are the backbone of a Career and Technical Education and offer students ‘real world’ experiences.

“We continue to be impressed with how BOCES really listens to the needs of the industry and sees the ‘bigger picture’ concepts relative to the construction industry,” said Eastern Contractors Association President and CEO Todd G. Helfrich. “That vision and ability to adapt and design classroom experiences to meet our needs is impressive.”

Callanan Industries Human Resources Executive April Clas concurs.

“BOCES is a terrific partner for Callanan. Their curriculum is aligned with the skill set that Callanan is looking for. I enjoy meeting with the students and sharing all the possible career and internship opportunities that are available to them,” said Clas.

In return, BOCES has become a valuable conduit of workers, training the next generation of contractors, builders, electricians and more.

“By partnering with BOCES, we now feel like we have access to a growing pipeline of young people who can be potential employees,” said Greno Industries Human Resources Manager Patrisia Sheremeta.

In addition to careers in the construction sector, area students have access to dozens of other programs designed to put them on a path to some of today’s most profitable and in-demand careers. View the full list of course offerings.

Business Partners
Below is a list of business, industry, government, higher education and association partners that collaborate with Capital Region BOCES to prepare the next generation of workers in the construction sector.

  • 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard
  • ABC Refrigeration & HVAC, Inc.
  • Adams Heating & Cooling Co. Inc.
  • Adirondack Cabling and Security
  • Airgas
  • Albany County
  • Albany Truck Sales
  • American Welding Society
  • Anderson Equipment Company
  • Appolo Heating
  • ASKUS Consulting Services LLC
  • Bellamy and Sons Construction Co, Inc.
  • Better Neighborhoods
  • Boilermakers Local Union No. 5
  • Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local Union No. 2
  • Bryant & Stratton College
  • Bryland Homes, Inc.
  • C. Springer Welding Works
  • C-Tech Associates Inc.
  • Callanan Industries Inc.
  • Capital Region Chamber
  • Carver Companies
  • Center for Economic Growth
  • Colonie Mechanical Contractors, Inc
  • County Waste
  • Curtis Lumber
  • Eastern Contractors Association
  • Electricians Tri-City JATC
  • General Building Contractors of New York State, Inc.
  • GLOBALFOUNDRIES
  • Gray Electric
  • Greno Industries
  • Harold R. Clune, Inc.
  • Haun Welding Supply
  • HL Gage Sales Inc.
  • Hudson Valley Community College
  • International Union of Operating Engineers Local 158
  • Iron Horse Welding
  • Justin Electrical, Inc.
  • Knolls Atomic Power Lab (KAPL)
  • Laborers Local Union 157
  • Lancaster Development/Tri City Highway Products
  • Lapan Precision
  • Local 12 Ironworkers
  • Long Energy
  • Main Care Energy
  • MIDTEL
  • Milton CAT
  • Mohawk Heating Co. Inc.
  • National Grid
  • New England Regional Council of Carpenters Northwest
  • New York State Building and Construction Trades Council
  • New York State Department of Labor
  • New York State Department of Soil Conservation
  • Northeast Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Co., Inc
  • Nortrax
  • Owens Corning
  • Pair Gain Communications, Inc.
  • Plumbers and Steamfitters Local Union No. 7
  • Precision Glass & Aluminum
  • Randall Implements Company, Inc.
  • Renaissance Corporation
  • ResidenSafe Inspection Services LLC
  • RJ Murray Co. Inc.
  • Schenectady County
  • Schoharie County
  • Schoharie County Chamber
  • Schrader & Company
  • Schultz Construction
  • Shaul Roofing
  • SPEC Consulting, LLC
  • S & S Electric
  • Sunset Welders, Inc.
  • SUNY Alfred
  • SUNY Canton
  • SUNY Cobleskill
  • SUNY Delhi
  • SUNY Morrisville
  • SUNY Schenectady County Community College
  • TCI of NY, LLC
  • Teamsters Local Union No. 29
  • Thermal Environment Sales
  • Ungerman Electric
  • University of Northwestern Ohio
  • Walters Co. Air Conditioning
  • Werner Brothers Electric, Inc.
  • Wolberg Electrical Supply
  • Workforce Development Career One Stop
  • Workforce Development Institute

For more information on how to become a business partner, go to https://www.capitalregionboces.org/career-technical-education/business-partners/