FEATURES
Construction Trade Students are Our Future
H
BA of Berks County is committed to work with two trade schools which are Berks Career & Technology Center and Reading Muhlenberg Career & Technology. HBA works closely with the Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA) Endorsed Trade Program. The program is designed to work with the schools and provide students with industry-recognized certification to help strengthen their skills and qualifications. It is important that we all work together to support workforce development as some have a misconceptions of these schools. However, these students who are dedicated to the trades and want to continue with being educated and following a career path in the trades are just as important to our workforce as a student who chooses to be educated in another industry. NAHB has a membership program called the Student Chapter which was created to allow students to become members. The program is dedicated to enriching students’ educational experience and offers firsthand exposure to the real world of the building industry through membership, educational programming, and networking opportunities. Both our CTCs are part of the Student Chapter program. The HBA does an annual event with both CTCs where members have the opportunity to speak with the students on the importance of them being educated in the trades. Members also evaluate the CTCs, assist in re-aligning curriculum, work with the Student Chapters, and mentor the youth workers of our industry. During some of these events members are able to speak to the students and possibly recruit them to their company and in some cases that employer will provide further education. 26
AT HOME IN BERKs Spring/Summer 2022
