Apprenticeship Success Stories

Across the United States, high schools have responded to the needs of high achieving high school students by offering numerous opportunities to earn college credits, from AP and IB courses to partnerships where students are taught entry-level college courses in the high school. For the most part, college credit is geared to students who plan […]

Do you ever wish you could go back in time and share with your 16-year-old self some advice based on what you know now as an adult? If you’re a teacher, guidance counselor or principal who is trying to help high school students navigate their choices after high school, stop by ConstructionCareers.org website or the […]

College is not the only path to success for Minnesota’s graduating high school seniors. Minnesota’s construction industry offers high-paying jobs with great benefits representing more than 30 different career paths. And it all starts with an apprenticeship for those who are new to the construction industry. Unlike four-year college students who pay for tuition and […]

Mahaila Houle’s first dream job was to be a ballerina. Granted this was when she was four years old. Since then, she’s changed a bit. Houle went from future ballerina, to a tomboy, to going to college for art, then psychology, and then on to motorcycle engineering. What connects Houle’s many interests is her curiosity […]

Suhani Dhawan envisioned her summer would be filled with fun new outdoor camps, playing with her friends in the park, producing videos for her YouTube channel and of course choreographing new dances. But when everything went virtual due to COVID-19 restrictions, Suhani realized her summer was likely going to be spent indoors and might not […]

Superb hand-eye coordination. Quick reflexes. A steady hand. Spatial awareness, problem solving, and determination are all qualities that describe video game lovers. Whether you prefer a console, PC, handheld or a VR system, it’s hard to beat the thrill of virtual action and the satisfaction of creating your own world or defeating the boss level. […]

One of Sean Robinson’s favorite past-times is playing with his five children. They read, play basketball, and are genuinely excited to spend time together. A resident of Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb in the Twin Cities, Robinson, 39, has found a career to provide for his five children. After Robinson graduated from high school, he […]

Carly Carey loves learning, and her enjoyment of gathering and sharing knowledge made teaching a natural career fit. As a middle school English and Social Studies teacher for more than 11 years, when the pandemic started Carey optimistically considered alternative career paths. “I’ve always loved HGTV – ‘This Old House’ specifically, it’s probably how they […]

Saint Paul, Minnesota — Toua Yang started his first day as an electrical apprentice unfamiliar with how to use a drill and with no previous experience working in construction. “It was intimidating at first – not knowing anything, just going up on a 6-foot ladder was scary, but now all of that is second nature […]

White Bear Lake, Minnesota — In his free time, White Bear Lake High School graduate Nick Berends plays a variety of video games. However, he never thought the gaming skills he develops every day would be relevant to his future career path in construction. “The first game I really enjoyed growing up was the first […]

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota — From steak and mac ‘n cheese to shrimp fried rice, Tyrrice Maybell cooks it all. Many of the 18-year-old’s favorite memories growing up have revolved around learning to cook. He practices regularly, serving his mother and younger brother their favorite foods. “Cooking is a passion of mine. I’m a laid-back guy […]

By Sophia Klein Minneapolis, Minnesota — 19-year-old Marcus McGinley has known he would go into ironworking since his sophomore year of high school. McGinley was inspired by how highly his family friend spoke of the job, and knew it fit with what he wanted out of a career. “That last year of high school everyone’s […]

By Sophia Klein Hastings, Minnesota — For a parent, every steppingstone a child takes toward independence is worth celebration, but the day that 35-year-old Erica Crosby’s youngest daughter could hop on the school bus without her mother’s help, Crosby celebrated in an unconventional way. That very day, Crosby quit her job and marched right over […]

White Bear Lake, Minn. — White Bear Lake Area Public School senior Abigail Lillo loves taking on a challenge. A naturally inquisitive personality, Lillo always welcomes the chance to learn something new. A standout student, Lillo enters her senior year with few classes left to take but a lot of ideas about what her future […]

By Sophia Klein Minneapolis, MN — Juan Davila, 22, has always had a knack for building, but he hasn’t always been sure how to turn this strength into a lucrative career. Juan Davila learned about opportunities in the construction trades from his older brother. In his free time, Davila enjoys being active through weight training. PC: […]

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota — Dr. Alexandra Holter, Brooklyn Center Community Schools STEAM Magnet Coordinator, wants her students to learn that science, technology, engineering, arts, and math are ever-present in the world around them. Brooklyn Center students participating in kit one. The students build birdhouses to take home. PC:Brooklyn Center “The idea is that no matter what […]

Michelle Chute carries the attitude that anything is possible, and she showcases that on the jobsite every day. Through a system of pulleys and levers, Chute, who stands at 4 ft.,11 inches, uses technology to her advantage and moves pipe, tools and metal weighing more than 600 lbs. as a plumbing apprentice with Local 34. […]

By Sophia Klein Elk River, Minnesota — Morgan Atkins, 22, is an avid muskie angler and daughter of the Training Director for the Minneapolis Electrical JATC.  When hemophobia (fear of blood) prevented her from becoming a nurse, and a distaste for student debt dissuaded her from pursuing an accounting degree, she enthusiastically followed in her […]

White Bear Lake, Minnesota — Jenny Moore is on a mission. Her goal? Filling a critical gap in construction career exposure and guidance for Minnesota high school students. As the Career Pathways Coordinator at White Bear Lake High School, Moore runs the high school’s Career Pathways program, an initiative that helps students explore a variety […]

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota– Amid the questioning of purpose and attempts to find community that are characteristic of adolescence, there comes a point in nearly everyone’s adolescence when you need somebody to look you in the eye, and tell you that the work that you do, and the person who you will become– matters. For many Twin […]

Celebrating Earth Day is more than just reducing, reusing, and recycling; it’s also about spreading awareness about the construction career opportunities that are found in Minnesota’s renewable energy sector. Construction jobs in the renewable energy sector are some of the fastest growing jobs in the U.S. According to Reuters, the number of jobs in renewable energy […]

Irondale High School Career Navigator and Work-Based Learning Coordinator Angela Zappa challenges her students to think about their future after high school. Zappa has conversations about careers with her students and has built a curriculum around helping students with an interest in construction connect with relevant work opportunities and programs that support their career exploration […]

By Sophia Klein Kinsey Neal, 24, graduated from college with a degree in geology and sustainable community development and secured her dream job working with an environmental nonprofit. Or, so she thought. While it seemed that Neal had accomplished everything she wanted, a bounty of student debt left her feeling like she was carrying a […]

T.J. Austin grew up on construction sites around his home state of Texas. His father worked for Malachi Construction, a large contractor based out of Dallas, Texas, for a number of years before starting his own construction business. “I watched him use all of the tools of the trade and I saw how he was […]

Minnesota Trades Academy (MTA) interns from St. Paul spend their summer getting paid to work on real construction projects and touring union apprenticeship training centers to prepare for a career in construction. Most of the interns have taken construction, welding or shop classes in high school and join the Minnesota Trades Academy to continue to […]

In her senior year of high school, Julia Theobald received some advice that most young adults have never heard. Julia was told there was an option other than college or the military after high school. In fact, her stepfather advised her to not even bother with college. “I thought, why would I go into debt […]

Gregg Adler, Skilled Trades Educator at St. Paul Harding High School Harding High School Career and Technical Education teacher Gregg Adler waits for his students to join a distance learning Google Meet session. As the mics turn on and class starts, Adler checks in with each student. He knows their favorite cars and what positions they […]

Master Plumber Trevor Ogilvie graduated as a journeyman from Local 15 in 2006. Ogilvie has since served the plumbing field in a multitude of roles, most recently coming full circle as the union training director, leading apprentices through the same skills he learned earlier in his career. Where others see obstacles, Trevor Ogilvie sees opportunities. […]

Birchwood, Wisconsin — In middle school, Annesa Loew thought some of her math and science classes were just not that interesting. It wasn’t until she attended a project-based charter high school that she realized how a teacher’s teaching style could affect how much she enjoyed a class. Today, 22-year-old Loew has found the perfect learning […]

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota — Some 16-year-olds daydream about what their futures look like; Joseph K. Tisdale tacks down those thoughts and tests them out. Entering his senior year at Brooklyn Center High School, Tisdale is spending his summer playing video games, watching anime and WWE wrestling and exploring careers in construction through his internship with […]

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota — From steak and mac ‘n cheese to shrimp fried rice, Tyrrice Maybell cooks it all. Many of the 18-year-old’s favorite memories growing up have revolved around learning to cook. He practices regularly, serving his mother and younger brother their favorite foods. “Cooking is a passion of mine. I’m a laid-back guy […]

A growing number of Minnesota teachers and guidance counselors are recognizing a frustration among their high school students – young people who know that college or the military isn’t right for them but are not sure what else they could do for a career. Seeing an opportunity to help these students, Julie Gloege took on […]

Highland Park High School Boys’ Head Basketball coach and self-proclaimed “basketball junkie,” Jesse McCann has been a student of the game since his early elementary years; he has enjoyed the game in all facets as a fan, player, and coach. He admired the play of point guards John Stockton, Steve Nash, and Jason Kidd growing […]

Carly Carey loves learning, and her enjoyment of gathering and sharing knowledge made teaching a natural career fit. As a middle school English and Social Studies teacher for more than 11 years, when the pandemic started Carey optimistically considered alternative career paths. “I’ve always loved HGTV – ‘This Old House’ specifically, it’s probably how they […]

White Bear Lake, Minnesota — In his free time, White Bear Lake High School graduate Nick Berends plays a variety of video games. However, he never thought the gaming skills he develops every day would be relevant to his future career path in construction. “The first game I really enjoyed growing up was the first […]

Saint Paul, Minnesota — Toua Yang started his first day as an electrical apprentice unfamiliar with how to use a drill and with no previous experience working in construction. “It was intimidating at first – not knowing anything, just going up on a 6-foot ladder was scary, but now all of that is second nature […]

By: Amanda Pedersen Originally from Minneapolis, Mariah Lenon graduated from Thomas Edison High School and felt that her immediate next step in life was to attend college. “I felt a lot of pressure from my family, coaches, and teachers to go straight into college right after high school because it was a way to become […]

By: Amanda Pedersen Megan Ringwelski’s three young daughters have a strong role model, their mother. “My girls think I’m a firefighter,” said Ringwelski, 37, “I’ll take it.” Although she does put out fires, she is technically not a firefighter. Instead, she is a sprinkler fitter apprentice through the Sprinkler Fitters Local 417 union. Ringwelski is […]

By: Amanda Pedersen One of Sean Robinson’s favorite past-times is playing with his five children. They read, play basketball, and are genuinely excited to spend time together. A resident of Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb in the Twin Cities, Robinson, 39, has found a career to provide for his five children. After Robinson graduated from […]

By: Amanda Pedersen St. Paul resident, Louis Rojas, 41, was not content with his desk job as a warehouse manager and was looking for a new career with better pay and benefits. One of his good friends, who is currently a carpenter, suggested that Rojas go to the local union center to learn about career […]

By: Amanda Pedersen Tile setters are skilled craft workers and a vital part in the construction of any building. They are in charge of the installation of hard tile, marble, wood tiles, walls, and a variety of different surfaces. Monticello resident, Sharlo Strickler, 38, has tile setting in her blood. “My mom and dad were […]

By: Amanda Pedersen Pennsylvania native, Zach Poulson, 29, has always had a passion for science and creativity. While in college, Poulson found himself working in the masonry trades to make ends meet while completing his degree in Earth Sciences. “Working construction was a natural fit for me because the work was interesting,” Poulson said. He […]

By: Amanda Pedersen Jesse Stonehouse, 29, enjoys working with his hands. Excelling in art in high school, he was even offered a scholarship for graphic design. Along with being artistically gifted, he is also fluent in American Sign Language. He credits his father, a woodworker, for his passion for hands-on learning. “Through growing up and […]

By: Amanda Pedersen Family, friends, and peers of Heather Rudiger would describe the 28-year-old as a hard worker. As a member of the Boilermakers Local #647 union, Rudiger, has worked her way up the ranks, with her sight set on becoming a journeyperson at the completion of her four year apprenticeship. Even though her brother […]

By: Amanda Pedersen Do you dream of having a career where everyday you actually wake up and look forward to going to work? Gabe Fanning, 39, is one of the few people who goes to work and does his dream job everyday. “For me, my job is pure enjoyment,” Fanning said. “It’s like being able […]

By: Amanda Pedersen Growing up in Bloomington, Indiana, Bryce Brahaum was a talented baseball pitcher and always enjoyed being a part of a team. During Brahaum’s junior year of high school, he received a full-ride athletic scholarship to Illinois University for baseball and decided to take it. After spending a year in Illinois, Brahaum transferred […]

By: Amanda Pedersen Getting his degree in education from St. Cloud State University, Dan Stanton, 32, did not initially imagine himself going into the construction trades. After all, as an elementary and middle school teacher for six years, Stanton thought he would be teaching for the rest of his life. But, during a break, Stanton […]

During his senior at Owatonna High School, and the year immediately following high school, while many of his friends went to college or entered military, Arturo Gonzalez felt stuck. A job working in an office didn’t feel quite right to him because he knew he liked being outside and working with his hands too much, […]

“No, it’s not for girls.” Those words never sat well for Grace Weik. Imagine you have an interest in trying something and you’re told that you shouldn’t pursue it because… …you’re female. Back at Fairfax High School in Fairfax, Virginia, Weik joined the theatre tech crew and noticed that she really enjoyed building the sets […]

By McKenna Manalli As a kid, Andre McHenry loved playing with Legos. Fast-forward 15 or so years and McHenry has found a career where he can knock down walls, build them back up on a larger scale and be a part of making buildings he dreamed about building as a kid. McHenry works as a […]

By McKenna Manalli In her senior year of high school, Julia Theobald received some advice that most young adults have never heard. Julia was told there was an option other than college or the military after high school. In fact, her stepfather advised her to not even bother with college. “I thought, why would I […]

Mahaila Houle’s Path to a Career in Minnesota’s Construction Industry By McKenna Manalli Mahaila Houle’s first dream job was to be a ballerina. Granted this was when she was four years old. Since then, she’s changed a bit. Houle, 23, went from future ballerina, to being a tomboy, to going to college for art, then […]

By Sonja Mischke In the summer, when the day was hot and school was a distant memory, when kids were racing to their local pools and playing until the sun went down, Ricky Garbow was dreaming about construction machines. Although his friends would ask him to accompany them to the beach or park, Garbow would […]

“I always loved playing in the dirt as a child. Now I’m getting paid to do it. It’s my dream job!” According to many career experts, the clue to finding a career that you will love rests in looking back to what you loved to do as a child. For Mike Masten lll, a 27-year-old […]

St. Anthony Village Woman Finds Her Purpose in Pipefitting For Amanda Gardas, college or the military weren’t the answers. And then she found pipefitting. In her senior year at St. Anthony Village High School, Amanda Gardas applied to attend the Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC). Not out of any particular desire to continue her […]

Learning a new trade is no walk in the park. And Helen Spindler knows that better than anybody. After leaving Tanzania for America, she took her career in a completely different direction. And, while taking care of her family and building a future in construction, Helen is challenging traditional expectations for women and breaking down […]

A job is never just a job. We get jobs to support families and pay bills. We learn new skills, and learn how to provide value to our employers and our customers. We meet new people – coworkers who become our friends or, maybe even become spouse. We contribute to our community and to our […]