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By Melody Finnemore

Marcus Ball, job developer with Constructing Hope. Photo courtesy of NAMC-Oregon.

Giovanni Beccaria had served nearly three decades in prison and was taking transition classes in finance, renter’s law and tenant’s rights when he met Marcus Ball, job developer for Constructing Hope. Ball’s explanation about Constructing Hope’s mission of rebuilding people’s lives by encouraging self-sufficiency through skills training and education in the construction industry resonated.

When Beccaria was released last December, Ball was there waiting for him. He helped enroll Beccaria in Constructing Hope’s pre-apprenticeship program and introduced him to the National Association of Minority Contractors Oregon chapter. Specifically, Beccaria became a part of NAMC-Oregon’s Native Construction Circle, a community for Native members of the construction industry.

The most recent step in Beccaria rebuilding his life is a scholarship from NAMC-OR to attend commercial driver’s license (CDL) training at the Knife River Training Center in Albany. He said the CDL license will allow him to drive trucks and, ultimately, he would like to work with heavy equipment. Once he completes the CDL training, he will begin working for Ryan McDonald, owner of McDonald Excavating, who he met through the Native Construction Circle.

Giovanni Beccaria (back row, second from the right) and Ryan McDonald (back row, third from the left) with NAMC-Oregon members. Photo courtesy of NAMC-Oregon.

“For people who are ex-felons and are currently incarcerated, I want them to understand that there is success as long as you are willing to put in the effort and network. It can pay off,” Beccaria said. “If I can do it, they can do it.”

Beccaria is among those benefitting from a partnership between NAMC-Oregon and Knife River to provide $250,000 in training scholarships for historically underrepresented groups. In addition to CDL and heavy equipment training, classes include leadership development and other courses designed to help people build a career in the construction industry.

“Knife River is a people-first construction company, and we are thrilled to partner with our friends at NAMC to provide these opportunities for people who might not otherwise have them,” said President Brain Gray. “The construction industry is better off when we have more voices and viewpoints working together. NAMC is an exceptional advocate for minorities and for construction, and we welcome the diversity their outreach will bring.”

NAMC-Oregon will help identify prospective scholarship recipients through its member companies, affiliates and outreach efforts to Oregon youth. Nate McCoy, president and CEO, said the partnership further galvanizes his organization’s mission of “building bridges and breaking barriers.”
“We fundamentally believe that businesses owned by people of color in the construction industry will never reach parity of opportunity and equity of outcome through a check-the-box approach,” McCoy said. “With extensive support throughout the industry, we are taking on these barriers and breaking them down consistently and, as a result, maximizing the ability of NAMC’s members to increase workforce development and win contracts.”

Willie Davis, president of Just Bucket Excavating Inc. and Fleet Fuels. Photo courtesy of NAMC-Oregon.

NAMC-Oregon member Willie Davis, president of the companies Just Bucket Excavating Inc. and Fleet Fuels, has sent five employees through the CDL course at Knife River’s training center and has seen firsthand how the scholarship program makes his companies stronger.

Of the five employees, three received their license and began driving for Just Bucket. One of them is now the lead driver for Fleet Fuels, a Black-owned company that delivers fuel for municipalities, public transportation, contractors and other private companies.
“Knife River has been a very good partner for NAMC. The support they provide to the students is strong and it seems like if a student has trouble, they give them one-on-one support,” Davis said, adding he has a new employee who started CDL training in mid-August.

“They offer other courses we are eligible for like heavy equipment operators and safety training that I hope to take advantage of in the future,” he said.

Airell Wuffy Clark III, one of Davis’ employees, said he chose to work in the trades because he has always had a passion for hands-on work. He likes to fix, design, build and improve different machines, and works on small engines and cars in his spare time.

He wanted to learn more about driving trucks, but struggled with the pre-trip and backing portions of the CDL test. “Knife River taught me how to properly pre-trip/inspect a semi-truck and gave me the know-how to pass the CDL test, setting me up for a more successful career and life,” Clark said.

His income has grown as he has advanced – one of Clark’s favorite rewards from his efforts – as well as his ongoing ability to fix things that are broken and make them work again. “My boss, Willie Davis, is also in the top three things I like about my work. He is very understanding and easy to work with,” he said.

Melody Finnemore is a Portland-area freelance writer.