Lonnie Lively wasn\u2019t quite sure what she wanted her career to look like, but she knew that she could grow into the role as a construction project manager if given the opportunity. When she graduated from Portland Community College\u2019s Building Construction Technology program, she took an internship with Skanska and then moved into a management position with O\u2019Neill Construction Group.<\/p>\n
Now, after several years of on-the-job experience, Lively is a job superintendent with O\u2019Neill. She also has returned to PCC to guest lecture in its Construction Project Management class.<\/p>\n
\u201cI learn new things on the job every day. The BCT Construction Management program at PCC made that possible,\u201d she said in an interview posted on PCC\u2019s website. \u201cIt took me a few years to find what I wanted to do in life, and I am so fortunate to have found it. I love what I do. I love building things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through the BCT program, PCC has been training men and women for more than 40 years for a range of careers in the construction industry. It is the only program of its kind in the Portland area offered by an accredited institution with three unique areas of study and three degree options.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/djcoregon.com\/skilledmag\/files\/2025\/08\/dionne-kelly.png\")
PCC BCT alums Dionne Kelly. Photo courtesy of PCC.<\/p><\/div>\n
Those who earn degrees in building construction technology, construction management or design\/build remodeling could earn an annual salary ranging from $28,000 to $80,000, depending on certificates, licenses, experience and area of employment. PCC says graduates armed with just a few years of experience can potentially command annual salaries ranging from $55,000 to $90,000.<\/p>\n
Every BCT instructor has been or is still a practicing professional in the construction industry. BCT faculty and staff strive to keep the program current and introduce students to the latest technologies and methodologies. Sustainable construction practices are integrated into every course, and the curriculum is continually updated. PCC\u2019s diverse student body reflects the dynamics of its surrounding community.<\/p>\n
Matt Williams, a BCT alumni who is now a design\/build remodeler and owns his own company, said in a PCC website story that he appreciated the hands-on instruction. He noted that if the courses were like lectures, he would have had a harder time understanding the material.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis program is hands-on for sure,\u201d he said. \u201cThey not only show you how things are done, but the instructors make it interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Williams graduated several years ago with degrees from all three BCT programs. While in school, he worked at Home Depot to pay the bills and to learn materials in the process. After graduation, he worked as a lead carpenter for five years in the design\/build remodeling industry before setting out on his own. He is now the owner of Straight Line Design and Remodeling in Portland.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/djcoregon.com\/skilledmag\/files\/2025\/08\/Erin-Beaty_4392-scaled-1.jpg\")
PCC BCT alum Erin Beaty. Photo courtesy of PCC.<\/p><\/div>\n
Two other successful BCT alums are Dionne Kelly and Erin Beaty, Kelly has her own business \u2013 Dielle Studios. In a 2023 interview posted on the PCC website, she said she was interested in improving communities through the remodeling of homes and believed her greatest strength was creativity. She completed a design\/build remodeling degree and is a licensed residential contractor, and credited PCC\u2019s BCT program with helping her on the journey. Beaty, a graduate of Oregon State University with a Bioengineering degree, said in a PCC website story that she wanted to use her hands and math and geometry skills. She joined the BCT program, graduated, and now is CEO of Consolidated Living. She\u2019s also a part-time instructor for PCC BCT.<\/p>\n
Degrees and certificates offered at the PCC Rock Creek Campus include Associate Degree\/Building Construction Technology, Associate Degree\/Construction Management, Associate Degree\/Design and Build Remodeling, and a Building Construction Technology Certificate. The Design\/Build Remodeling degree prepares students for designing, managing and constructing kitchen and bathroom renovations. The program has strong affiliations with local contractors and national associations, including the Associated General Contractors and the National Kitchen and Bath Association.<\/p>\n
To learn more, go to https:\/\/www.pcc.edu\/programs\/building-construction\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PCC Building Construction Technology program opens doors to careers Lonnie Lively wasn\u2019t quite sure what she wanted her career to look like, but she knew that she could grow into the role as a construction project manager if given the opportunity. When she graduated from Portland Community College\u2019s Building Construction Technology program, she took an …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":1406,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18615,19354],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-headlines","category-latest-issue"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/djcoregon.com\/skilledmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1397"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/djcoregon.com\/skilledmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/djcoregon.com\/skilledmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/djcoregon.com\/skilledmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/djcoregon.com\/skilledmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1397"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/djcoregon.com\/skilledmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1397\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/djcoregon.com\/skilledmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/djcoregon.com\/skilledmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/djcoregon.com\/skilledmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/djcoregon.com\/skilledmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}