Training high schoolers about careers in construction is a hot topic because of the lack of skilled labor in both the on-site and off-site construction industries. Now, one of the biggest names in construction equipment is joining that effort.
CASE Construction Equipment is teaming up with the nonprofit Crew Collaborative to sponsor and help build from the ground-up an-all new career counseling and mentoring program for high school students interested in the construction industry trades: FrameWork.
“At CASE, we are customer-led in all we do,” says Terry Dolan, vice president, CASE Construction Equipment, North America. “It’s no secret that our industry has faced labor shortage issues over the past several years, and we can’t think of a better way to support our customers than to help identify enthusiastic students who will make incredible contributions to the construction industry.”
Crew Collaborative will join CASE in their CONEXPO/CON-AGG booth (#W40800 in West Hall at Las Vegas Convention Center) to solicit stories of how mentors have changed the lives of those in the construction industry and what paths industry veterans would recommend to best begin a career in the trades. They will also gather names of those interested in potentially serving as mentors to interested high school students.
“A couple of months ago, FrameWork was merely an idea on a sheet of paper,” says Kristina McMillan, Crew Collaborative Founder and Board Member. “When we brought the initial concept to CASE leadership and asked about their potential partnership on it, they replied ‘We’re all in.'”
Post CONEXPO/CON-AGG, Crew Collaborative will host an in-person retreat with CASE employees and other industry insiders to build out the program and begin beta testing. A full FrameWork program launch is slated for first quarter of 2024.
“Although CASE has 180 years of experience in the earthmoving business, we are making moves with the speed and agility of a startup,” says Dolan. “Partnering with Crew Collaborative to bring the cutting-edge concept of FrameWork to life will have a true impact on the construction industry here in North America and beyond for years to come.”
Those interested in potentially mentoring high schoolers about the construction industry can find more information and sign up for updates at https://crewcollab.org/framework/.
About CASE Construction Equipment
CASE Construction Equipment is a global full-line manufacturer of construction equipment that combines generations of manufacturing expertise with practical innovation.
About Crew Collaborative
Crew Collaborative is a 501(c)3 nonprofit with an eye towards shaking up workforce development practices within the construction, skilled trade and engineering spaces. The mission to “Empower Construction’s Next Generation” speaks to the energy and passion being poured into gaining traction within schools and communities with a message of opportunity within industry. Membership is free and all operating funds are raised through partnerships with industry businesses.
Founded in 2020, Crew Collaborative was originally formed as a women in construction initiative. The founding team quickly agreed that they the problems facing our industry did not just apply to women and in order to have a true impact, they would need to focus on recruiting everyone into our industry.
Gary Fleisher, the Modcoach
