PUBLISHER
PUBLISHER’S PAGE
by David Corson
Rockin’ the trades into the new year
N
ow that the New Year is a month old and you have cleared out your emails from the holidays, sent your thank you cards, re-charged your batteries and are hopefully optimistic for 2022.
Many of you have made your New Year’s resolutions across many fronts, whether it is spending more time with your family, working out in the gym, reading a book you always wanted to finish, and the list goes on. If you made these resolutions, make sure you finish what you start. Just like finishing a construction project with that feeling of euphoria of a job well done, the same will be true for your New Year’s resolutions. One of my resolutions is becoming a “Rock the Trades” Ambassador, visiting local schools to get young people to think about trade school and working with their hands instead of going to college. Our keynote address during our January 2022 Virtual Summit was by “Rock The Trades.” The presentation honed in on how they started and what their mission is to help the labor shortage. They have an ambassador program and rockers who are living examples of people who took the trade route and are kicking tail on what they learned. Actions always speak louder than words.
140
COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 1, 2022
I have already put my plan into action. We have a full-page ad on Rock the Trades in this issue, and I am adding my Rock the Trades Ambassadorship on my LinkedIn and our other social media platforms. I have reached out to a few of my previous lacrosse/hockey players I coached over the years who have become welders and HVAC techs to confirm if they would join me to tell their stories. They were honored I reached out, as I used to bark at them plenty as their lacrosse and hockey coach. They have finally realized everything has a purpose to prepare them for the real world. They understand that you need thick skin. Working is just like playing a sport. You must be on time and give it your all. You will not win all the time, which means you must learn from your mistakes. It is about proper nutrition, staying positive, playing to the final horn and, win or lose, shake hands as a professional. My next task will be to get shop classes added back in our local schools, which means going to school board meetings and getting them to consider my proposals. It is an uphill battle for sure, but I am prepared for what lies ahead. I will not take no for an answer. As an athlete who still plays Old Man Lax, failure is not an option. My son has graduated so I have no skin in the game, but I know that today’s youth will be running the country one day, and I want to be sure they have the right state of mind in making the right decisions on their career path. There is nothing better than being a plumber, electrician, welder, HVAC tech, mechanic, construction laborer, facility maintenance professional, etc. Sure, it will take a little time out of my busy schedule, but it will be well worth it. There is a labor shortage in this country, and if we don’t do something about it, the future could be very bumpy for us all in the commercial construction and renovation sector. We are all in this together. Sure, it would be great to see some of you out there doing the same, especially when you cannot find sub-contractors for your projects. Remember this column: It’s never too late to get in the game. Every bit helps, so I hope you will join the “Rock the Trades” movement or any other networks out there to help the labor shortage. So, from all of us at CCR, have a terrific start to 2022. Safe travels. Good health. And have fun while you work. Cross that finish line with a smile on your face with your New Year’s resolutions in tow. As always, keep the faith.
