The CONSTRUCTION CAREER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
(CCDI) brings diversity to the Design and Construction industry by mentoring and exposing minority/underrepresented and under employed men and women to career development in construction.
OUR STORY
The Construction Career Development Initiative (CCDI) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization founded by Clayco in 2015 in response to the aftermath of the August, 2014 Ferguson uprising. CCDI was created to support young adults in the North County area of St. Louis by helping them overcome barriers to success through mentorship, financial assistance, and job placement opportunities in the construction industry. Clayco’s vision for CCDI is to promote workforce diversity, bridge the gap in workforce development, and create scholarship opportunities. CCDI has expanded Beyond The Walls of Clayco to include partnering with school districts, workforce development programs, general contractors and subcontractors throughout the St. Louis community. Our goal is to connect the vast ecosystem of industry and educational resources and to collaborate in #BuildingTheFoundationForChange by empowering the next generation of leaders in the construction industry.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE #1
Real World Experience
We go beyond the classroom. We get jobseekers into real-world work environments for the most valuable career training.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE #2
Building Awareness
Jobs in construction span a diverse range of disciplines and applications. We work to raise awareness of the various trade apprentice programs.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE #3
Job Placement
With CCDI, training and mentorship are just the beginning. We provide the support and directino jobseekers need to successfully find work.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE #4
Academic Scholarship
Our mentorship emphasizes academic goals. We encourage jobseekers to pursue two- or four-year degrees, focusing on tuition assistance.
OUR IMPACT
One of CCDI’s key goals it to reignite interest in career technical education (CTE) and trade apprenticeship programs. The construction industry is thriving nationwide, but as Baby Boomers retire, the gap in qualified and diverse skilled workers continues to widen. Now more than ever, it’s crucial for the construction industry to prioritize diversity and inclusion. When people from different backgrounds come together, they bring unique experiences that drive innovation and creativity. CCDI is addressing this need by building a pipeline that educates and exposes youth to careers in construction while breaking down barriers to create a more diverse, robust and sustainable skilled workforce. Through a strong network of partnerships with multiple school districts and workforce development programs, CCDI enhances students’ classroom experiences by facilitating field trips, coordinating job shadowing and internships, attending career fairs, arranging guest speakers, and hosting annual hiring fairs for program graduates.
175 EMPLOYMENT
Assisted people with full-time employment
2023 - 2024 PROGRAM METRICS
74
SCHOLARSHIPS
Awarded scholarships totaling over $650,000
• Annually introduces roughly 1,000 high school students to careers in construction.
• 90 students from 15 area high schools enrolled for the 20232024 school year.
• Average of 30 students attended 8 monthly Saturday Academy sessions
• Helped 22 students with vehicle assistance scholarships.
• Placed 73 students into paid summer & college internships.
CCDI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Brian Williams, Executive Director
Tom Sieckhaus
Patrick Hanneken
Sandra Marks
Scott Rahn
Dan Lester
Rachel Boemer, Program Director
Debbie Thomas
Larry Zelenovich
Sean Kenny
Branyea Jones
Lawrence Gilmore
73 INTERNSHIPS
College or summer internship placements
7 CAREERS
College graduates with full-time career placement
• Awarded 74 Build Our Future college scholarships totaling over $650,000 to students pursing secondary or technical education.
• Assisted 175 people with full-time employment in addition to awarding $25,000 in tool assistance scholarships.
• 40 active graduates participate in our Alumni Network to improve industry retention and mentor high school students in the program pipeline.
BUILD OUR FUTURE SCHOLARSHIPS
CCDI hosted our annual Build Our Future Scholarship awards ceremony at Clayco, commemorating the remarkable achievements of the Class of 2024! These scholarships represent more than just financial support; they symbolize our unwavering commitment to fostering diversity and opportunity within the construction industry.
We proudly awarded $150,000 in scholarships to 10 exceptional high school seniors who have shown outstanding promise and dedication to pursuing degrees in construction-related fields. But these scholarships are just the beginning of their journey. Each recipient will receive personalized support from CCDI leadership, including academic guidance, internships, mentoring, and career placement assistance—every resource necessary to empower them on their path to success.
We also celebrated the achievements of two recent graduates from Ranken Technical College’s Plumbing Technology program, who were awarded the Richard Boyd Jr. Memorial Trades Scholarship last year. Their journey from students to skilled professionals exemplifies the transformative power of education and mentorship.
Our ceremony brought together a diverse group, including high school educators and administrators, college professors, industry professionals, business owners, parents, and program supporters. Our initiative thrives through these collective partnerships, and none of this would be possible without the support of our incredible sponsors and partners. Together, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of countless students and shaping the future of the construction industry.
OUR 2024 SCHOLARS
ELIJAH THOMAS MICDS Architectural Engineering
AIDYN MARTY Timberland Civil Engineering
LEDALE HAMILTON Hazelwood West Architectural Engineering
AVA HARPER Hazelwood West & North Tech Construction Management
ALIA BRITT Grand Center Arts Academy Construction Management
DAVID CREIGHTON Hazelwood East & North Tech MSD ERTC Program
KENNEDY JONES STEAM Academy Environmental Engineering
YIHAN NIU Francis Howell North Construction Management
ERIC VAZQUEZ Ritenour Civil Engineering
JAMAAL MUHAMMED Saint Louis University High Construction Management
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT INTERNSHIPS
We are thrilled to highlight our “Build Our Future” college scholars who are diligently pursuing degrees in constructionrelated fields. This summer, several of our students secured highly competitive internships with top companies in the St. Louis area. As part of CCDI, we support our scholarship recipients throughout their college journey, offering guidance and helping them secure meaningful internships. Each week during the summer, we feature these outstanding students on our social media pages. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn to stay updated on their accomplishments. We are excited for many of them to graduate this year and embark on their careers in the industry!
DE’AJA JACKSON CLAYCO | ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
CATALINA MUNDIN
CLAYCO | DESIGN & ENGINEERING
DINWIDDIE MITEK
MALIK SEDIQZAD CLAYCO | DATA ANALYTICS
INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHTS
Meet Malik Sediqzad, 2020 Build Our Future Scholar and proud graduate of Jennings High School! Now a rising senior at Harvard University studying Computer Science, Malik’s journey has been nothing short of impressive. He began his career path with a summer internship working as an architect for Lamar Johnson Collaborative during his freshman year. In 2023, after a change in his studies, Malik was selected for an internship with Clayco’s IT department, which led to a year-long co-op, thanks to Caitlin Plein, VP of Data Analytics.
TEPRIYA MCMULLEN CONTROL TECH AUTOMATION
ERIC LYTLE SM WILSON | PROJECT ENGINEER
Sending out a big congratulations to CCDI Senior student, Ava Harper, who was hired on at Paric Corporation as a self-perform intern on the Boeing expansion project. Ava is one of our star students this year and really impressed the Paric team when they hosted us for a Saturday Academy. Ava is a student in the Hazelwood School District and dual enrolled at St. Louis Community College, boasting a 3.9 GPA and earning 25 college credits before officially graduating high school this May.
HANNAH
MALIK SEDIQZAD
AVA HARPER
TRADE SCHOOL GRADUATES & CAREER PLACEMENT
Darrion Thomas completed the 14-month HVAC/R program at American Trade School in October. CCDI awarded him a $16,000 Build Our Future Trades Scholarship to assist with his program costs. Upon graduation, Darrion joined Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562 as a pre-apprentice and recently started working at Murphy Company. A big thank you to the Murphy team for supporting Darrion in this exciting new chapter of his career. Montrae Wade and Ojore Green graduated from Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562’s Champion’s Program this past August. Both were recipients of the Richard Boyd Jr. Trades Memorial Scholarship and completed their Plumbing Technology studies at Ranken Technical College in May. Montrae was recently hired full-time at icon Mechanical, where he will be working alongside our first CCDI student, Malik Johnson and Ojore Green was hired at Murphy Company where he will be working with Darrion Thomas!
HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER INTERSHIPS
At CCDI, we’re committed to helping high schoolers gain valuable hands-on experience through summer internships with local companies. These internships are crucial in preparing students for future careers in trade-related pathways. The CCDI team works closely with each student to ensure they are placed in an environment where they can thrive and make the most of their summer. Many of these internships open doors to full-time employment opportunities after graduation. Throughout the summer, we spotlight these talented students on our social media pages, sharing their individual stories and successes. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn to learn more about the amazing work they’re doing! We are always seeking more companies willing to provide high school students with internship opportunities, so if you’re interested in helping shape the future of these bright young minds, we’d love to connect.
2022 Alum | North Tech & Hazelwood East High School | American Trade School DARRION THOMAS
2023 Alum | North Tech & Innovation at Cool Valley High School | Ranken Technical College
MONTRAE WADE
2023 Alum | North Tech & Riverview Gardens High School | Ranken Technical College OJORE GREEN
DETONY MCDONALD Midwest Testing
DEZ’MON SANDERS Concrete Strategies
HARRISON PERINE Tsi Geotechnical
CHRISHON CROFT Villa Lighting
TRADES ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
MALIK JOHNSON – ICON MECHANICAL
Meet Malik Johnson, a 2016 CCDI alumni and our first CCDI student! Malik now works for Icon Mechanical as a fifth-term pipefitter apprentice and is active in Local 562 union meetings. He is happily married to the love of his life and looking forward to starting a family soon. Malik joined the CCDI team for a radio interview on Talk of the Town which aired on several local stations. For the full interview, CLICK HERE.
DE’MARCO POOLE – PAYNECREST ELECTRIC
Congratulations to De’Marco Poole, a 2019 CCDI alumni and McCluer High School graduate, on completing his apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1! De’Marco is now a Journeyman Electrician with Paynecrest Electric, where he is mentored by fellow McCluer graduate David Payne. As a dedicated CCDI alum, De’Marco gives back by volunteering and inspiring younger students. In addition to this career milestone, De’Marco also purchased his first home and got married this past year!
D’VON JOHNSON – D. JOHNSON PAINTING
Congratulations to D’Von Johnson, a 2019 CCDI alumni and graduate of McCluer High School who was awarded Construction Forum’s 2024 Building Tomorrow Emerging Leader Award in May. This year D’Von has accomplished several impressive milestones with his company D. Johnson Painting which became MBE certified and union signatory. His business is thriving and he we couldn’t be prouder of his success!
MIKE ATIKSON – FLOORING SYSTEMS
Shout out to Mike Atikson, a 2018 CCDI alumni, who completed his apprenticeship this year and is now a journeyman floorlayer with Flooring Systems. He has been working at Flooring Systems since graduating from North Tech. We are proud to share that Mike also became a homeowner this year and purchased his first house in North County. Way to go, Mike!
DE’HON MULL – CONCRETE STRATEGIES
Meet De’Hon Mull, a 2019 CCDI Build Our Future Scholar and Jennings High School graduate. De’Hon joined CCDI as a junior in 2018. After initially studying business at STLCC, De’Hon transitioned to auto mechanics. Recently, he reconnected with CCDI and was hired full-time at Concrete Strategies as a cement mason with Local 527! Thanks to Evan Humes for making this possible. CCDI awarded De’Hon a tool scholarship to ensure he’s ready for this next chapter.
JAVION HOWARD – CONCRETE STRATEGIES
Meet Javion Howard, 2023 Alum, who works for Concrete Strategies as an apprentice cement mason. CCDI recently awarded Javion a $400 tool scholarship to help him purchase upgraded tools for his job. We are also happy to report that Javion is officially a licensed driver and with the help of his dad, a new owner of his very first vehicle! Congrats on these accomplishments, Javion!
CONSTRUCTION ACADEMY
CLAYCO OFFICE EXPANSION
Our March Saturday Academy session was hosted at Clayco’s future office in Berkeley where students had the opportunity to meet Clayco’s Founder, Mr. Bob Clark, and learn about his personal and professional journey into the world of construction. This site tour was extra special because we have several CCDI Alumni in multiple skilled trade pathways who are working for subcontractors on this project.
ALUMNI TRADES DAY
CCDI hosted our annual “Alumni Trades Day” at North Technical and it was a big turnout. We had 40 high school students participate in trades related demo stations led by 22 of our program graduates, many who are are now journeymen or women at their craft. Thank you to Patrick Hanneken who helped design each station. It truly was an awesome site to see how engaged the students were in this weekends session.
EVENT CORNER
CPR TRAINING
For Construction Safety Week, Clayco’s Safety Team conducted a CPR & First Aid training session for 23 seniors in the construction cluster at North Technical High School. This Industry Recognized Credential (IRC) is important for the seniors as they prepare to graduate.
PARIC AND STLCC CAMPUS
Thank you to PARIC Corporation and the project team for inviting our students out to tour St. Louis Community College- Flo Valley’s new Nursing & Health Science building. The students had the opportunity to learn about Paric and John J. Smith Masonry Company. Next, we headed across campus to STLCC’s Center for Workforce Innovation building to learn about the training programs they offer.
WIES OFFSITE
Thank you to Dan Wies for hosting our students for a CCDI Saturday Academy session at Wies Offsite. The students had the opportunity to learn about steel studs, prefabrication, BIM modeling, blueprint reading and other technology used in construction. Then they headed into the shop and rolled up their sleeves to create their own mini wall by reading a blueprint plan, constructing a steel frame and hanging a small sheet of drywall.
ANNUAL ALUMNI NIGHT
We hosted our annual CCDI Alumni Night at Topgolf! It’s always a joy to spend time with our hardworking graduates thriving in various trades. Their journeys inspire us all. It’s truly an honor to have played a small part in their story and to witness their growth.
BUILDING TRADES ACADEMY
Thank you, Clayco, for helping us host students from various North County school districts in the first-ever Building Trades Summer Academy. These rising 8th, 9th, and 10th graders explored careers in construction through field trips and hands-on classroom learning.
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT
PAT HANNEKEN KEY TO CLASSROOM AWARD
We were thrilled to celebrate our favorite teacher, partner and friend, Mr. Patrick Hanneken, as he was recognized as a 2024 Special School District of St. Louis County “Key to the Classroom” award recipient!
The Key to the Clasroom Award celebrates the profound effect teachers have on the lives of their students and colleagues. 10 outstanding educators were selected for this prestigious award. After 20 years of service as an educator, mentor and role model for so many of his students, Pat is extremely deserving of this recognition.
Please join us in congratulating Pat. Thank you for all that you do for our students in the construction industry and in our community! We love Mr. Hanneken!
IN THE NEWS
HILTI TOOL DONATION
What an incredible day for CCDI! We’re thrilled to announce that Hilti GroupMidwest has generously donated $100,000 worth of refurbished tools to support multiple high school construction classrooms in North St. Louis County. This significant contribution will greatly enhance our students’ learning experiences and better prepare them for future careers in the construction industry! We are immensely grateful for Hilti’s continued support positively impacting hundreds of youth in our community.
BRIAN WILLIAMS JOINS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CCDI has named State Senator Brian Williams as executive director! CCDI is expanding its mission of bringing diversity to the design and construction industries. In his newly created role, Williams will lead the existing CCDI team, spearhead the expansion and modification of the executive committee, oversee fundraising efforts, manage CCDI operations, and strengthen existing relationships while forging new ones. For more information, CLICK HERE
FOX2 NEWS INTERVIEW
Thank you to Fox 2 News for spotlighting our program at our Saturday Academy session at Clayco’s future office in Berkeley. Shout out to CCDI Alumni Darnell Jamison, Journeyman Carpenter for Wies Drywall and Construction Corp. and 2019 Jennings Senior High graduate and DeAja Jackson, Clayco Assistant Superintendent Intern, University of Central Missouri student and 2021 McCluer North High School graduate, for the awesome interviews!
For the full interview, CLICK HERE.
CCDI ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
CCDI hosted our 8th Annual Golf Tournament and dinner reception at Glen Echo Country Club. Thank you to the 120 golfers that made it out to play and to the 37 companies who sponsored our program this year! Big thank you to our top sponsors: Steel Service, icon Mechanical, PayneCrest Electric and the Clayco Enterprise for your generous donations and commitment to CCDI’s mission.
Thank you to everyone who attended our dinner reception from community organizations to educational partners to the CCDI Alumni who we were honored to recognize and celebrate.
SPONSORSHIPS
$20,000 Event Sponsor
• One Foursome
• 12 extra cocktail hour tickets
• Four hole signs
• Featured spotlight on CCDI website & marketing materials
$10,000 Cocktail Hour Sponsor
• One Foursome
• 8 extra cocktail hour tickets
• Two hole signs
$5,000 Gold Sponsor
• One Foursome
• 4 extra cocktail hour tickets
• Hole signage
$2,500 Major Sponsor
• 4 cocktail hour tickets
• Hole signage
$1,000 Hole Sponsor
• 2 cocktail hour tickets
• Hole signage
SCAN THE QR CODE TO COMPLETE OUR 2024-2025 STUDENT SIGN UP FORM
Saturday Construction Academy classes are designed to expose students to career pathways in construction. Each monthly session focuses on: soft-skill and career development preparation, hands-on-learning projects or community service activities, professional option & trade option guest speakers, field trips and site visits to construction projects to learn about companies and career opportunities in the St. Louis area.
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Our CCDI community is vibrant and collaborative. Through the support of our partners and the efforts of our participants, CCDI has grown and proved that bringing positive change through workforce development is possible. If you are interested in joining our CCDI community, explore out the great opportunities we offer.
This program thrives thanks to our partnerships with local companies. If your company is interested in offering job shadowing opportunities, summer internships, or full-time positions to our students, please contact CCDI.
Our mentors provide their time, energy and resources to help our program and our participants. CCDI relies on industry leaders to mentor our students. CCDI is always recruiting those interested in becoming mentors.
Join one of the following CCDI Committees: Mentorship & Academy Committee | Education & Scholarship Committee | Trades & Retention Committee | Fundraising & Marketing Committee
Let’s empower communities — together. Your sponsorship makes a real, lasting impact in the lives of our future workforce. We thank you for your support. To make an online donation please click below.
CARMEN HERNANDEZ
