Skilled Trades Centers

If you read this column regularly, you know that one of the repeating topics is our manpower issue, apprenticeships and getting new blood into the trades. About two years ago one of my readers, Dr. Douglas Greene, contacted me regarding a program he was developing that he called “New Collar Jobs.”

Unlike most of us (yours truly included) in the trades who wring our hands and decry the woeful state of the manpower/apprenticeship issues, and do nothing but complain about it, Douglas Greene is actually putting his time, effort and money where his mouth is and is getting things done.

Dr. Greene had a personal mission (as well as the ability, drive, and dedication) to promote Skilled Trades Center facilities and apprenticeship programs, at the high school and junior/community college level, to attract young people into trade careers. He took his idea for “Skilled Trades Centers” to the educators in his area (Washington State) and was, for the most part, did not receive much traction. He did not waiver. He kept on with his plan, knocking on doors, talking to community and college leaders, and generally making a nuisance of himself (to the education establishment at least) at every opportunity.

Corresponding with Dr. Greene over the past two years, and his efforts at getting the education establishment on board with skilled trades centers and apprenticeships, has been an interesting look into how, and why, the current mind set regarding the trades has evolved.

This is an excerpt from our correspondence highlighting the problem Douglas has had getting “educators” to take his program seriously:

I presented a collaboration proposal; to share the training and facility equipment between the local Clark Community College and the Hudson’s Bay High School (across the street from each other), to build a skilled trades center, offering up to $500,000 in matching funds. The new college president said that trades are seasonal and do not provide long term job opportunities and rejected the proposal. Even the matching grant proposal idea did not get much attention at the college.

It doesn’t take much imagination to see the uphill struggle he has been waging. Even to the point of offering 2 to 1 matching funds (donating $1 for every $2 of state funding)!  Here is part of his proposal for Skilled Trade Centers (STC):

“14. COMMUNITY & BUILDING INDUSTRY SUPPORT

The college will need to develop a public relations outreach program discussing the need for additional courses of study that would be needed to support an STC. The STC needs not only to gain local supporters of the college but also, the building industry needs to understand that the mission of the STC is to promote more JOB READY opportunities for students in the building industry, to fill the ever-growing shortage of skilled trades craftsman in the area.

Collaboration with trade associations and trade unions would be a place to start, soliciting their input into how the STC facilities would be constructed as well and how it is equipped with the tools that are normally found on a job site.

Within the trade associations, one would think that builders and developers would be enthusiastic about volunteering their help as well as supporting the STC facility through their associations. Below are listed three associations in just the Vancouver area alone, and I’m sure there are some that can be reached across the river to Portland, as well as looking north of Vancouver to some of the faster-growing communities in Clark County.”

Dr. Greene has championed his idea across every level of the education system in his state since he first published his idea (his 30 page proposal and synopsis can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/STC3-0G--2021 ) and has begun to make a little forward progress.

Upon hearing of Dr. Greene’s vision on promoting skilled trades, he was invited to present his ideas to the Evergreen High School District in Vancouver, Washington. He proposed a modest 3,200 square foot building, including his offer of matching funds as described previously. The educators he spoke to suddenly, if belatedly, saw the potential of his plan and opted to fund a 7,500 square foot building instead, agreeing to cover the additional costs for the larger facility with bond funding!   

With up to 40% of graduating high school students not going on to higher education venues, what better family-wage earning opportunity could be offered than learning a trade? Talk about progress!

The upshot of Douglas’ efforts is that, at least in Washington State, the education establishment has seen the light about the trades, apprenticeships, and a trade education. It’s only been staring us in the face for almost two decades, but a win is a win, no matter how late in coming.

It has taken Dr. Greene less than a year just to get the Evergreen School District to move on his proposal, and construction of the new STC facility on the Evergreen campus is under roof with a planned opening in January/February 2023. Here is a time lapse video of the construction of the new STC:

https://app.truelook.cloud/video?code=7ouxvthpsw0qwqh0aclbnpidq

It also may have helped that more and more celebrities are recognizing that someone needs to do the “heavy lifting” as regards construction careers and have been using their notoriety and media platforms in saying so, loudly and clearly.

On October 4, 2022, Harbor Freight and their Tools for Schools foundation awarded William Culver a $100,000 grant for the Evergreen High School to support skilled trades training. It is one of only five such awards given, nationwide, to an individual/high school. William is the geometry and math teacher, with over 40 years of teaching experience at Evergreen, who applied for the grant. It speaks to his commitment and dedication to the trades that Bill endorsed his 50% portion of the grant award to the STC project. That means 100% of the $100,000 grant going to support the new STC when it opens in 2023.

Douglas recently sent me the following link to a short video regarding apprenticeships:

https://youtube.com/watch? v=gOGo_97KNl4&feature=share&utm_source=EKLEiJECCKjOmKnC5IiRIQ

The first comment, listed below the video, is by an 18-year-old. It is quite telling, and should be viewed by everyone who calls themselves an educator.

So, kudos to Dr. Douglas Greene for all of his efforts on behalf of the skilled trades. Your efforts have quite possibly broken the logjam we have been experiencing between the education establishment and the real word issues the trades face. Good on ya, Douglas!

To get more information regarding the development of Skilled Trades Centers in your area, and involving your local construction industry associations, you can contact Douglas at:

Dr. Douglas C. Greene

SKILLED TRADES CENTERS
2425 NW 69th Street
Vancouver, WA 98665

Cell: 360/909-6110

E-Mail: [email protected]

The Brooklyn, N.Y.-born author is a retired third generation master plumber. He founded Sunflower Plumbing & Heating in Shirley, N.Y., in 1975 and A Professional Commercial Plumbing Inc. in Phoenix in 1980. He holds residential, commercial, industrial and solar plumbing licenses and is certified in welding, clean rooms, polypropylene gas fusion and medical gas piping. He can be reached at [email protected].