Photo credit: OTI website

In advance of her October exhibition at Toolbox Gallery, where she will become the first craft trade professional to be featured, Liz Nichols sat down with Amaha Million, Toolbox’s Editorial and Storytelling lead, for a conversation about her path from cement mason to exhibiting artist, and the many layers of labor, creativity, and life in between.

Q: What was it like growing up in Massachusetts? Why did you move to Portland?
A: Liz was one of five siblings in a lively household. She and her husband share a deep love for the outdoors – whether it was biking, hiking to beautiful views, or anything active and nature-oriented. They had both lived in Massachusetts their entire lives and agreed that it was time for a change. In 2011, after researching places that aligned with their lifestyle and interests, the couple landed on Portland – a perfect fit for their shared passions.

Q: Where did you go to school, and what was that experience like?
A: “I was never into school, but at the time, it felt like the only route for me to take,” Liz shared. She went to Hampshire College, a small school near home, where she majored in English. Her love for reading was the main aspect leading to that decision, but ultimately, the traditional academic environment never quite felt like the right fit.

Q: When did you discover your passion for art? Was it through your work in construction or the other way around?
A: Liz always considered herself a writer, but never an artist – at least not at first. Her passion for art began as a hobby, and it wasn’t until she started working as a cement mason that her artistic curiosity really took shape. That tactile, hands-on nature of working with concrete sparked questions about what else she could create with the material, eventually leading her down the path to becoming the artist she is today.

Q: How are you feeling going into this upcoming exhibition, knowing you will be the grand opener here at Toolbox?
A: With a big smile, Liz stated, “I’m definitely anxious, but super excited at the same time. It also sort of triggers my imposter syndrome, but it’s extremely validating and I’m looking forward to it.” Though she’s sold pieces in small shops and street markets, this marks her first formal exhibition.

Q: What are some examples of art you’ve created? Do you only work with cement, or do you use other mediums?
A: Liz’s work primarily consists of ceramics and pottery-inspired pieces, often incorporating botanical castings from plants she grows herself. During her early years here in Portland, she worked as a landscaper and developed a love for gardening – an influence that continues to appear in her artistic work.

Q: What made you choose to be a cement mason over other construction roles?
A: Like many recent college graduates, Liz was carrying student debt and looking for steady, well-paying work with benefits. “I wish my answer was more exciting, but I needed a job fast,” she said. She found a pre-apprenticeship program that set her on the path to becoming a cement mason and she joined right away. “It just felt like a right time right place moment.” Today, Liz works as a business agent for her union – a full circle moment she’s proud of.

Q: Have you noticed a change in the number of women in the workforce since you started?
A: “When I started, I was just one of only five women in my union. Now we’re up to around 20. It still may not be much, but that’s four times the amount and it is clear we are moving in the right direction.”

Q: Outside of art, what are some of your other passions?
A: “I’ve always been really sporty,” she states. Liz is a dedicated ultimate frisbee player, which is where she got her nickname “Knuckles” – a play on her last name Nichols – and it stuck. She also enjoys working out, running, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Gardening remains a major passion. Reading continues to be a grounding force for her as well. But above all, Liz consistently returned to one subject throughout our conversation: her kids..

Q: What does a typical creative day look like for you?
A: “It usually starts with me just messing around, and seeing what comes of it,” said Liz. Rather than planning out exactly what she wants to make that day, she prefers to let the work unfold naturally. But before that can happen, she has to carve out the time. “I need to make the time, since I’m with my kids so much. The other day, I put my daughter down for a nap and since she sleeps for so long, I was able to work on a project for some hours.”

Q: You were on the CBS show Tough as Nails. How did it feel to be selected, and what was the experience like?
A: “The feeling was crazy! It was one of those moments that just didn’t feel real.” Liz had first heard about the opportunity through other women that were in her apprenticeship program, and decided to apply just to see what may happen. “I didn’t think I’d actually get picked,” she admitted. But after getting called back for a second and third interview, it became clear that she had a real shot. “It was just for fun – I’m not into reality TV. I don’t watch much TV at all. But once I found out I’d been accepted, I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’d regret passing up on it.” CBS gave her just 24 hours’ notice to get on a flight to California and prepare for the show. This was during 2021, so the participants were required to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks. Filming lasted about six weeks, and during that time, everyone’s phones were confiscated, meaning Liz couldn’t talk to her family at all. That was the hardest part. Aside from that, Liz was grateful for the opportunity, enjoyed the challenges and all the people she met during her time on the show.

Q: Is there anyone you credit as a role model or inspiration?
A: Without hesitation, Liz named her friend Kathy. “She was the first person to call me an artist.” Before that, Liz saw her art as a hobby, but Kathy helped her see it for what it truly was: art. “She empowers me and makes me feel validated. She pushes me out of my comfort zone.” Everyone needs someone like that, she added – especially artists.

Q: What advice would you give your younger self – or another young woman – entering a male-dominated field like construction?
A: “Find your support network. The people you can vent to after a hard day. Don’t bottle anything up inside and don’t listen to the people that say ‘women can’t do this or that.’ People will always try to move the bar, but believe that you belong. Hone your skills and tune out the outside noise.”

Liz Nichols’ Toolbox Gallery exhibition marks a powerful first: the debut of a craft trade professional as the featured artist. Her work bridges the worlds of labor and art, reminding us that creativity lives in the heads of makers, builders, and everyday workers.

For more information, contact Amaha Million, editorial & storytelling, Toolbox Gallery, amaha@toolboxart.org

The post Q&A with artist Liz Nichols first appeared on Skilled Magazine.

Job title: Journeyman carpenter
Years of work experience: 4-7
School/training program attended: Northwest College of Construction

Khris Gaxiola

I’m a carpenter with a passion for building from the ground up. My career began in a fast-paced production environment, where I quickly learned the importance of thinking on my feet and keeping safety a top priority. There’s no task that can’t be done both safely and efficiently, and I take pride in tackling everything from small details to large-scale projects.

Early in my apprenticeship, I was told that “carpentry is the mother of construction,” and that quote has stayed with me ever since. It’s a truth I see proven every day. In the field, we jokingly call ourselves vatos locos (“crazy dudes”) because precision is everything and there’s little room for error. We build not just for today, but for our families and a better future.

Working in the Pacific Northwest means taking on the rain, the cold and, every so often, days that are hot as hell. Carpentry is one of the most mentally and physically demanding careers out there, but if you enjoy math, love creating architectural masterpieces and don’t mind breaking a sweat – whether it’s from a downpour or the sun beating down – there’s nothing more rewarding.

Job title: Lead CIPP installer
Years of work experience: 4
School/training program attended: Northwest College of Construction

Treanna Sims

I originally started at POIC (Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center) in 2020 in a three-month program at the college. After completing my program, I got enrolled in the laborers’ program at NWCOC in 2021 and started working as a laborer with an excavation company.

Fast forward to 2022, I got pregnant with my second child and took maternity leave for about six months. At the time I thought I loved my job considering it was the only introduction I had to construction. While trying to return back to work after maternity leave, my company had no work at the time so I ended up working for a different company that specializes in pipe lining.

A day in Tre’s life typically starts at 5 a.m. during the week. Once my kiddos are dropped off to school, I’m heading to work. Of course, we start our day with our JHA (Job Hazard Analysis) and Stretch & Flex. On a normal day my responsibilities are to drive the box van with a trailer attached to the jobsite. I am in charge of prepping the line, prepping the liner, wetting the bag out and getting it loaded onto the launcher for installation.

Another one of my responsibilities is to also run the air cart, which gives the launcher air to keep the pressure set at a specific PSI. I absolutely love my position and my job as well. I have a little more than four years of experience in the field of construction, and without all the support that I have rooting for me none of this would be possible. My parents, my kids, my coworkers and, of course, the best coordinate to ever push me oh so hard, Amy Lund (apprenticeship manager at NWCOC)!

The post A Day in Construction first appeared on Skilled Magazine.

Students working on a multifamily project for Habitat for Humanity Metro East in outer southeast Portland.

Nonprofit offers construction pathway for Portland-area youth

By Hilary Dorsey
For 30 years, Portland YouthBuilders has helped young people change their lives through education, vocational training, counseling, career development and long-term support.

The mission of Portland YouthBuilders (PYB) is to support young people who are committed to changing their lives to become contributing members of the workforce and community. The organization offers a second chance at success for young people whose experiences with poverty, violence, drugs, hunger and loss have impacted their route to success, according to their website.

PYB’s YouthBuild program offers services to low-income youth ages 17-24 working toward high school completion, while getting exposure to construction or technology. The program is 8-10 months long. YouthBuild students attend classes every day for up to a year while earning a GED or high school diploma and getting hands-on experience in construction or technology.

Rana Uzzaman, executive director of Portland YouthBuilders, said all of the students at Portland YouthBuilders are AmeriCorps members and their time on job sites is counted as volunteer hours. These hours go toward an award that pays for any kind of secondary education classes.

“We have a two-week rotation [in a month] where students are doing academics in their classes,” Uzzaman said.

The other two weeks of the month, the students are on a work site, such as building low-income housing with Habitat for Humanity or working with other partner organizations, Uzzaman said. If a student is within the technology program, they are learning cybersecurity, coding and working with partner organizations like OMSI. The YouthBuild program has 80-100 students annually.

A project Portland YouthBuilders built for Portland Fire and Rescue as a training exercise for their staff to burn down. All photos courtesy of Portland YouthBuilders.

PYB’s Bridge to construction program serves high school graduates between the ages of 18-26 and is dedicated to those who want to go into the skills labor field, Uzzaman said. The program takes eight weeks and helps graduates find their first construction job. The program has about 150 students per year.
Both programs offer case management for students. Each student is assigned a career advocate who helps students map out a career path and provide any support they need. These advocates help the students for at least two years after they complete the program, but often even longer.

“I still speak to students when I was working with them 13 years ago,” Uzzaman said.

Both programs are free and offer a stipend to students. In the YouthBuild program, students can earn up to $500 per month. In the Bridge program, the stipend equates to roughly $15 per hour.

Uzzaman said the number one way youth get involved with Portland YouthBuilders is by word of mouth from students. The nonprofit also does traditional outreach through social media and partners with school districts such as Portland Public Schools, David Douglas School District, Gresham-Barlow School District and Centennial School District.

Sebastian Galvez, a 19-year-old student at Portland YouthBuilders, heard about Portland YouthBuilders from his father, went on the website and emailed one of the advocates about interest in joining. Galvez has been in the YouthBuild program for about six months now. He has worked on projects such as framing walls, building a fence for an apartment project, working with excavators, and taking field trips to different apprenticeships.

Galvez said his experience with Portland YouthBuilders has been amazing. In his traditional high school, he felt the counselors and teachers were not as attentive about him passing his classes or not.

“When I came to PYB, it felt more like a community,” Galvez said. “I felt more involved.”

At PYB, Galvez receives tutoring and one-on-one conversations with teachers.

Galvez said the YouthBuild program is a great program for anyone in his position. He was experiencing homelessness before joining and had to work to provide for his family. With the stipend, he was able to do that.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for anybody in the age range that is able to attend to try to further their knowledge in the career they would like to go in, as well as build a community and feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves,” Galvez said.

After the program, Galvez is considering joining different apprenticeships, possibly with a laborer’s union or an apprenticeship in the carpentry field.

Portland YouthBuilders has weekly information sessions at 3 p.m. on Wednesday at its campus at 4816 S.E. 92nd Ave. in Portland. They also offer phone and virtual sessions, as well as tours. For more information, call 503-286-9350 or email info@pybpdx.org.

The post Opening the doors to careers first appeared on Skilled Magazine.

Trade association chapters hone youth outreach strategies to address workforce shortage

By Scott Huish
The construction industry’s workforce shortage already was a critical concern even before the pandemic, when the industry lost more than 1 million jobs and was set back from the previous eight years of growth. Though the industry quickly bounced back and a record-breaking 11.8 million people were employed in construction in April 2022, more than a half million new workers are needed this year, according to Associated Builders and Contractors.

ABC estimates the industry will need to bring in nearly 454,000 new workers on top of normal hiring to meet industry demand in 2025, and that is presuming that construction spending growth slows significantly next year. The most recent workforce survey conducted by Associated General Contractors of America shows that 88 percent of construction firms are having a hard time finding workers to hire.

AGC works with students and teachers
to introduce the trades.
(Photos courtesy of
AGC Oregon-Columbia chapter)

Both industry associations confirm that the shortage is caused by a retiring workforce, rising labor demand and a lack of skilled workers. AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson says the “biggest takeaway from this year’s workforce survey is how much the nation is failing to prepare future workers for high-paying careers in fields like construction. It is time to rethink how the nation educates and prepares workers.”

To that end, the AGC Oregon-Columbia chapter has several strategies underway to attract young people and job seekers to the industry. In addition to partnering with members to attend job fairs, career days and other events hosted by schools and businesses, the chapter convenes a statewide workforce coalition that met virtually during the pandemic and is now being restructured to fit into a post-pandemic society.

Amber Klingner, the chapter’s workforce and professional development manager, and Asha Aiello, member development and engagement director, are excited about recent upgrades to Build-Oregon.com, a hub for resources and information about construction trades that launched in 2021.

“One feature we’re really proud of is the training map. We know that location of training programs can be important to a lot of people, so we set off on a mission to show where these trainings actually take place,” Klingner said.

“It may be that somebody needs to stay close to home because they care for their parents, or it could be the opposite and somebody who wants to get as far away from their hometown as possible. It’s the only one of its kind that exists and we think that’s a pretty cool feature for job seekers and young people,” she said.

Aiello noted that the update was done with Millennials and Gen Z in mind, which means that the site is designed as mobile-first.

The AGC Oregon-Columbia chapter updated its small grant program to focus on project-based learning, and each grant requires a site visit that allows the organization to be a thought partner on how to make improvements and be more successful.

“We’ve really leaned into where we see a return on investment in terms of making an impact, and we’re thinking holistically around those instead of just providing financial support,” Klingner said, adding the program has expanded geographically as well.

The chapter’s professional development for teachers, known as the educator externship, has expanded geographically and now has more than 100 participants in nine different regions of the state. Launched in 2016, the program provides an immersive experience for educators to see jobsites and learn about careers across the construction spectrum.

“It’s not just Career Technical Education (CTE) teachers. We want counselors, math teachers, art teachers and all who are interested. Future construction people don’t just come from CTE classes,” Aiello said.

Klingner added that there also is an emphasis on how to transfer experience gained during high school to the jobsite so there is more industry alignment with classes and students are building more than birdhouses in shop classes.

Mark Pavlov of Direct Mechanical won the sheet metal competition at the Craft Championships hosted by Associated Builders and Contractors’ Pacific Northwest chapter last October. He went on to win bronze in the ABC National competition in the Sheet Metal category. This year’s local ABC Craft Championships will be held Oct. 11 at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas. (91��Ƶ file photo)

“It can be really intimidating if you’re a newer construction teacher, and this is a way that we can bring project-based learning back into the classroom,” she said. “The thinking is, ‘Let’s do this with the teachers and show them how it’s done so they can show the students.’”

Alison Davis, executive director of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Oregon, said engineers also are in high demand and chapters across the country look forward to workforce development programs currently being developed by the national organization.

ACEC National recently co-founded an Engineering Workforce Consortium with the goals of attracting new talent, retaining it and growing young people as professionals. Its Workforce Development Committee is creating a toolkit for state chapters to achieve those goals as well as address public policy issues that impact hiring and recruitment.

Davis said the local chapter will continue to partner with its member firms, many of which have successful internship programs, to promote the industry to young people.

The ABC Pacific Northwest chapter’s Workforce Committee continues its campaign to provide students, parents and educators with information and resources about career opportunities within the industry. Each year, the chapter hosts hundreds of high school students to attend the Craft Championships, where they can witness live skills competitions in various trades. They also can talk with trades professionals about what a career in the field could be like.

In addition, ABC is a sponsor of numerous high schools across the state that teach the NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) curriculum, which is an introduction for high school students to construction careers. Most schools focus on the core curriculum – safety, hand tools and carpentry. At the end of the course, students take an exam to earn NCCER credentials. Nationally recognized, these credentials give graduates a leg up in the job market and can be used to continue post-high school education.

The post Framing your future first appeared on Skilled Magazine.

What do you know about real estate development? If your answer is “not a lot,” you’re in the right place! Learn about this powerful industry, how it started, and how it can evolve in the future. Anyone can become a real estate developer, and everyone can be involved in how building projects impact their community. Anyeley Hallová volunteering with nonprofit
“Your Street Your Voice.”

By Chuck Slothower

Anyeley Hallová

It wasn’t until graduate school that Portland developer Anyeley Hallová was exposed to real estate development as a career field. She wants to make sure that doesn’t happen to another generation of kids.

Hallová, founder of the Portland development firm Adre, has published “A Kids Book About Real Estate Development.” The book explores what real estate developers do, and how they can change cities in a positive way.

“Part of the mission of my company is about getting more youth of color, more girls, more people from traditionally underrepresented groups to think about real estate development as a field,” Hallová said.

The book comes from small Portland publisher A Kids Book About, Inc., founded in 2020 by Jelani Memory. The company, which also produces podcasts, was recently acquired by British publisher Dorling Kindersley Ltd., commonly known as DK.

The book series tackles often-sensitive topics at a level children can understand. The first book was Memory’s “A Kids Book About Racism.” Other topics range from empathy and equality to school shootings and incarceration. Authors such as LeVar Burton and Billie Jean King have contributed volumes.

Hallová said her motivation for writing the book came in part from real estate development’s historically exclusionary nature.

“For a long time, land ownership was reserved for specific people. Namely those who were white, male and wealthy,” Hallová wrote in the book. As a result, she wrote, “people outside of this exclusive group don’t typically know about real estate development. … If they do know about it, they don’t feel welcome to participate.”

Hallová said she was first exposed to real estate development at the first Urban Land Institute/Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition in 2003.

“That was my first exposure to development in a positive light,” she said. “Prior to that, I had always heard of developers in terms of the bad things that they had done.”

Hallová went on to earn master’s degrees in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and landscape architecture from Harvard University. After a stint with an Atlanta developer, she came to Portland in 2007 as development manager for Gerding Edlen. She then worked as a partner for developer Project^ for 12 years before founding Adre in 2020.

Real estate development has long been a field where relationships matter more than credentials. That’s beginning to change, Hallová said.

“It’s been a kind of father-passing-down-to-the-son profession,” Hallová said. “It’s getting better, but historically there were not clear pathways into the profession. So you’d have to know about it, and you’d have to know someone to get hired. Now there’s real estate development programs coming up in school. I think it’s getting better in that way, where you can get an education.”

Hallová may not be done as an author. She said she’s considering a second book that would be part life story, part “Development 101.”

The post Developer’s book introduces kids to real estate development first appeared on Skilled Magazine.

Construction is an incredible thing that shapes the world around us. Because of construction, we have amazing spaces – schools, stadiums, houses and MORE – which we use every day. Construction can get loud and messy, and projects may take a long time. But the magic of construction creates things which last forever!

By Melody Finnemore

Andrew Colas

Andrew Colas, author of “A Kids Book About Construction” in partnership with Portland’s Colas Construction Inc., said he was inspired to write the book so that children and their parents could see the industry as he experienced it when he was growing up.“It comes from my love for the industry and wanting to make sure more youth and parents see all the really exciting aspects and elements that exist in the industry and exposing youth and their parents to the industry in a different way,” he said.

Colas Construction was founded by Hermann Colas Jr., who was born in Haiti in 1948 and was the eldest son of eight children. His father, a Haitian entrepreneur, owned and operated a successful distillery until the country’s unstable political climate made it difficult to remain productive.

After relocating to Brooklyn, New York, and serving a stint in the U.S. Army, Hermann Colas moved to Portland in 1974. He and his wife, Roberta, raised their three children here while Colas earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science at Portland State University.

In the early 1980s, he began purchasing, renovating and managing rental properties, bringing Andrew with him as his little apprentice. Hermann encouraged his daughter, Aneshka, to pursue a degree in accounting and, in addition to son Alexander, the trio of siblings serve as executive members of Colas Construction.

“I got to see how it all comes together, from the estimators who put together budgets to the tradespeople building forms and steel craftspeople who erect buildings to the project managers running the projects,” Andrew Colas said.

While he has written a few small op-eds in the past, Colas said writing the children’s book offered a different kind of perspective. “I really enjoyed it because it gave me an opportunity to reflect on the industry and how buildings take shape and how to speak to youth and their parents.”

Colas noted that the experience helped to reinvigorate his passion about the industry, especially when he considers how technology is leading to some “very exciting” advances over the coming decade.

“This is a way to create a legacy and I think the more people are exposed to it, the more people will have pride in wanting to be part of the industry,” he said, adding the response to the book since it was published last October has been overwhelmingly positive.

“What has been most interesting has been hearing about parents reading it to their kids and realizing some of the misnomers they had about the industry, and parents getting excited about their kids growing up and being part of the industry,” Colas said.

The post Colas Construction authors kids book on industry first appeared on Skilled Magazine.

High school students get a chance to examine heavy equipment during a visit to the Knife River Training Center in Albany, Oregon. (Photo courtesy of Knife River Corp.)

By Chuck Slothower
For Knife River Corp., exposing students to construction means an experiential visit to the training center.

Every year, dozens of students visit the construction giant’s 23-acre training center east of Albany, getting up close and personal with construction equipment such as skid steers and commercial trucks.

“I don’t believe sitting across a table from a kid pushing a brochure at them is going to change their mind about a career in construction,” said Kris Latimer, senior director for training and development at Knife River Training Center. “Our goal is really to expose these youths to our company, our people and our values. If we can elevate careers in construction as a career of choice, then we’re winning the game.”

Knife River hosts several career experiences for high school students throughout the school year. Instead of a Knife River employee attending a career fair, the company has students visit the 23-acre Training Center campus.

There, students can – depending on available staffing – run an excavator or skid steer with trainers’ help. Kids can also get inside commercial trucks and ride as a passenger on Knife River’s 2-mile haul road or backing range.

Latimer has relationships with high school educators throughout the Willamette Valley and relies on them to bring students to Knife River. “Schools are constantly reaching back out, contacting us about youth,” she said.

Knife River’s career events for high schoolers – typically, the company hosts at least six each year – are scheduled during the school year. The company has to schedule the visits around its own training, because that’s also when professional construction workers learn, away from the busy summer season.
Latimer also brings in educators for career “externships” from organizations such as Linn Benton Community College and the Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia chapter.

Unions are also reaching out to youths in a variety of innovative ways. Operating Engineers Local 701, based in Gladstone, sponsors bull riders and visits rodeos throughout the state. The engineers union has appeared at rodeos in Sisters and Canby, and at 8 Seconds Rodeo, an event for Black rodeo athletes held in Portland.

“These are smart kids, tough kids,” said James “Jimbo” Anderson, business manager for Local 701. “They don’t want to go to college.”
The union also visits high schools and even middle schools. Anderson said it’s important to reach kids in Central and Eastern Oregon, where there’s work on wind farms and other infrastructure projects.

“If you go to Prineville, our logo is on their wrestling mats,” Anderson said. “We’re marketing ourselves all over the place. We’re having a lot of fun and a lot of success with it.”

Local 701 visits schools with a $300,000 simulator that students can run in modes including crane operation, bulldozer and loader. The union has visited more than 100 high schools in the past two years, Anderson said.

“It starts getting the kids thinking, and a conversation starts,” he said.

The efforts appear to working: Local 701 has more than 135 apprentices, up from 25 apprentices in 2016.

“We’re not having a problem recruiting,” Anderson said.

The post Industry, labor reaching out to students first appeared on Skilled Magazine.

Welding graduate Keyonna Williams used her torch to cut the ceremonial chain at the unveiling of the Mobile Welding Outreach & Skills Training Center.

Last fall, Portland Community College, the PCC Foundation and Union Pacific cut the chain on a new future for the college’s welding training.

The mobile center was made possible due to an initial investment of $375,000 over three years by Union Pacific to outfit the trailer and launch the program. Funding from a Future Ready Oregon grant covered the cost of the tractor, and longtime welding partner Vigor Industrial is providing a storage and staging area, along with equipment and materials, for the trailer and its tractor.

More than 20 institutions across the country have similar welding trailers for their training outreach, including Pueblo Community College, Northwood Technical, Colorado Mesa, Red River College, and others.

The mobile center brings PCC’s skilled trades training programs to the student by visiting communities across the region, while building a more robust workforce pipeline for Oregon’s leading industries and companies, including Union Pacific. PCC faculty can provide training on-site across the region at community-based organizations, schools, Tribal lands, and correctional facilities. The first round of visits were to the Hillsboro School District.

With six booths, the mobile center can serve up to six students at a time. However, staff can stagger groups where they can serve up to 15-20 students. This training allows them to focus on passing a specific weld test, or they can focus on earning a Career Pathway Certificate. The training the students receive will provide a solid foundation for them to transition into an associate degree path.

Why welding? In the manufacturing industry, there is a lack of qualified workers from which companies like Union Pacific can recruit from. With an aging workforce, there is an overwhelming shortage of welders and employment prospects in the Portland area are strong as a result. The Oregon Employment Department forecasts more than 250 welding job openings per year through 2027.

One of the key benefits of welding training is that students can position themselves for lucrative career opportunities and job security in a diverse array of industries that depend on welding for their operations. Many trades use welding skills like sheet metal workers, ironworkers, boilermakers, carpenters, steamfitters, glaziers and repair and maintenance personnel in applications ranging from the home hobbyist to heavy fabrication of bridges, ships and many other projects.

The PCC Welding Program offers flexible scheduling with an open-entry/open-exit, self-paced format that fits the needs of the students. This allows students to register for full or part-time instruction by using the college weld shop. PCC offers welding classes at the Rock Creek Campus in Washington County, OMIC Training Center in Scappoose and the 4,000-square-foot Swan Island Maritime Welding Center in North Portland.

Story and photos courtesy of Portland Community College.

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By Melody Finnemore

“The help that I received from Future Ready Oregon was just like, best timing, best everything … because of everything they helped me out with, I was just more than grateful. I was helped a lot. It’s just been positive. I’m still in shock how much help I received for me to continue learning.” – Clackamas Community College student who asked to remain anonymous.

Education Northwest conducted an evaluation for Clackamas Community College about the impacts of its Career Pathways certificates and programs and the Future Ready Oregon grant funding it received. The grant funding is part of a comprehensive $200 million investment package approved during the 2022 legislative session that supports the education and training Oregonians need for family-wage careers.

The package includes strategic and targeted investments focused on advancing opportunities for historically underserved communities. It originated in the Racial Justice Council’s Workforce Workgroup, and is intended to bolster recruitment, retention and career advancement opportunities for priority populations.

Many of the funds will be administered through the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, working with local workforce development boards, employers and communities. Future Ready Oregon enables Oregon’s community colleges to build on the established success of the Career Pathways program, a statewide initiative with a nearly two-decade track record of successfully fast-tracking people into family-wage careers.

Future Ready Oregon enables community colleges to build on the established success of the Career Pathways program. Photo courtesy of CCC.

Career Pathways supports historically underserved communities through its Integrated Education and Training options. These allow non-native English speakers, high-school equivalency graduates and students who need extra support in reading, writing and math to integrate their basic studies with workforce training. The program boasts a statewide graduation rate of 89 percent.

Future Ready Oregon’s Workforce Ready Grant program investment of $95 million is the largest component of the $200 million package, providing direct financial support and wraparound services to jobseekers in the healthcare, manufacturing and technology industries.

Of the $200 million, $15 million in grants is allocated for Oregon’s 17 community colleges for the development and support of postsecondary career pathway training programs. CCC received a $980,919 Postsecondary Career Pathway Training Program grant, which in part will help with tuition and fees for low-income students as well as wraparound services.

Britany Ellerbrook, CCC’s Career Pathways director, said about 120 students received support for tuition, with an average award of about $900. CCC has welding and manufacturing apprenticeship programs, and the funding supported apprentices for those career technical education fields.
Although students rated tuition and fees as the most important areas for financial support, several students also shared how important funding has been for expenses like laptops, books, welding helmets and other equipment.

CCC received a $980,919 Postsecondary Career Pathway Training Program grant. Photo courtesy of CCC.

Ellerbrook said the grant was broad enough to cover other expenses such as rent, car repairs, gas, child care, eye exams and glasses, and other support during unexpected emergencies. These are daily needs that can prevent someone from furthering their education if they can’t get to class and focus on their education, she noted.

“I think we’re all feeling the pinch of inflation. The cost of living is increasing and the cost of housing is increasing, so all of these are things that support students in finding and staying on that path,” Ellerbrook said. “The funding has been beneficial for the college, the community and, above all, for the students.”

Portland Community College received just over $2.84 million to support its low-income students as well as those who are women, veterans and members of LGBTQ+ communities. Its Future Ready Oregon funding is primarily being used for advanced manufacturing training, with $300,000 dedicated to machine manufacturing.

Another $2.8 million will support PCC’s pilot program for the reinstatement of Pell Grants for academically eligible, incarcerated students at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility.

Mt. Hood Community College received nearly $1.1 million to develop new certificates in welding and construction along with equipment upgrades.
Other recipients of Career Pathways grant funding included Blue Mountain CC; Columbia Gorge CC; Central Oregon CC; Chemeketa CC; Clatsop CC; Klamath CC; Linn Benton CC; Lane CC; Oregon Coast CC; Rogue CC; Southwestern Oregon CC; Tillamook Bay CC; Treasure Valley CC; and Umpqua CC.

Melody Finnemore is a Portland-area freelance writer.

Apprenticeship programs at Clackamas Community College received a boost from Future Ready Oregon grants. Photo courtesy of CCC.

The post Future Ready Oregon first appeared on Skilled Magazine.