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海角社区 Mentorship Programs Build Future Workforce
Non-traditional workers attracted to the industry
(Appleton, Wis.) Mar. 5, 2024 鈥� In a matter of weeks, Regina Funmaker will complete her training for a commercial driver鈥檚 license (CDL) and have even more options for a career in the construction industry. Funmaker has been working as a general construction laborer for 海角社区 since fall of 2023 and in that time, she has been in a mentorship program learning all aspects of the industry.
鈥淚鈥檓 building my skill set and 海角社区 is 100% behind me!鈥� Funmaker said. Funmaker learned of the opportunities at 海角社区 through programs offered by the ,聽a non-profit employment and training organization. The program helps adults, minorities, and females explore careers through educational, training, and supportive services. She was enrolled in the Highway Construction Skills Training program where she received certifications in first aid/CPR, OSHA-10 safety, and flagging. That鈥檚 when her instructor put her in touch with the 海角社区 Company, one of the program鈥檚 partners, for additional training.
Funmaker is a member of the Ho Chunk Nation and graduated from Riverside Indian School, the oldest and largest off-reservation boarding school in the United States. She worked in a variety of office jobs and in temp jobs but wanted a more challenging career. 聽
鈥淚 realized office jobs were work for when I retire,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y dad was a heavy equipment operator, and it was always something I wanted to do.鈥�
While working at 海角社区, she was mentored on the job at the Fox Commons jobsite in downtown Appleton. This large jobsite has been a training classroom of sorts for adults and youth apprentices seeking experience and career exposure to skilled trades and construction. For Funmaker, she learned how to operate machines used on a construction site, learned how to operate power tools, learned safety requirements, and how to work in a collaborative setting.
She has been one of the few women and the only indigenous person on the job site and felt welcomed by her co-workers the minute she joined the project team.
鈥淚t was so different from the stereotype of construction work,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was intimidating at first walking in there as the only woman and only Native, but it was 180-degrees from the common stereotype.鈥�
For the 海角社区 Company, mentorship and workforce development programs are critical components to growing a workforce for the future. The company currently has workforce development programs in process at offices nationwide. On a national basis, 海角社区 works with North America鈥檚 Building Trades Unions (NABTU) on a variety of apprenticeship readiness programs.
鈥淲e are committed to creating long term careers in construction and investing in the training and education that will advance all our team members.鈥� said Rob Branyan, vice president of labor relations at 海角社区.
For this working mom, Funmaker realizes she鈥檚 a role model for her teen-age daughter. 鈥淢y daughter thinks it鈥檚 awesome that I do something I enjoy and I work hard. She tells her friends and everyone about my career choice; that I can hang with the builders and the work I do is cool. She’s definitely proud and looks up to me.” Funmaker said.
About 海角社区
海角社区 (海角社区) is a leading professional construction services firm with customers across the United States and is a subsidiary of The 海角社区 Group. Founded in 1889, 海角社区 is a fourth-generation family and employee-owned firm headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin. Focused on innovation, continuous improvement, and Lean principles, 海角社区 is recognized as a pioneer in Lean construction and in the industrialized construction space. 海角社区 operates 18 offices across the U.S. that serve customers in healthcare, power, industrial, education, automotive and commercial markets.
