Abdias Calixte grew up in Haiti and began to learn the trades by working alongside his father, a preacher who also worked on houses. Calixte held a job as a security guard before moving to the United States in 2003. While earning an associate’s degree in welding at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington, he heard a presentation in which the students, especially minorities, were encouraged to explore careers in the trades.

“He told me that I could make $30 an hour within four years. I had never dreamed of making that kind of money in a lifetime and I wanted to investigate,” Calixte said. “He said it was all possible if I was willing to learn.”

The presenter assured Calixte that his English-speaking skills were strong enough to be successful, and encouraged him to do an apprenticeship with the local union.

“As an immigrant black male, I was lost. I wasn’t sure what to do or what to say, but I was welcomed and they helped me get started, true to their word,” he said.

Calixte launched his new career in 2006 and in 2012 started his company, Complete Fusion Welding LLC, which provides full-service structural steel and miscellaneous steel welding services. “The quality of my work represents who I am, and I wanted to be able to express myself through the quality of my work,” he said.

He has experienced his share of bumps along the way. He started his company with no bonding, a partial inventory of equipment and some administrative challenges. At one point, his truck – and all of his equipment – was stolen.

Calixte, who is a member of the Professional Business Development Group, credits mentors such as fellow Building Diversity award recipient Faye Burch and Bruce Reid at Turner Construction Co. with providing the knowledge, guidance and support that has helped him grow his company. He noted his gratitude for the 91��Ƶ’s recognition as well.

“I’ve never been more humbled to see the whole world is trying to help me out,” he said.

While he is firmly established in the Portland metro area, Calixte’s home country is never far from his mind. He used his own money to establish a small orphanage there.

“I’m not looking for funds and I’m not looking for help. I just wanted to do this because it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

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