Lowe’s Is BuildingHot Careers

Electrical instructor John Gaddis recently helpedfour of his Golconda Job Corps graduates secureHBI/Lowe’s Building Careers Scholarships and relo-cate to waiting jobs in Nevada. Patrick McCarthy,Jonathan Ramirez, Antwaan Thompson andJacuna White used their $1,000 scholarship awardsto help pay for rent, food, a used car and gas.Fittingly, their first project with Helix Electric isbuilding a new Lowe’s lumber store.

Patrick McCarthy,one of four

Electrical graduatesworking on theLowe’s lumber

store with HelixElectric.

(Continued on Page 9)

2 Teamwork in Training 3Home Builders Institute

The RISE presentation was not a standard panel andmicrophone event, but a carefully crafted skit titled“Building Better Together.” Narrated by Carpentryinstructor Gretchen Cantali, the action focused on agroup of five coverall–clad workmen building a wall. Inthis case, each building block was a critical componentof a successful HBI Job Corps program and its instruc-tor, the group worked diligently to “git ‘er done.”

Sprinkled with humorand a gallery of props,the skit concludedwhen the wall wascomplete and all –blocks were in place.The ultimate achieve-ment is running such a

program consistently, and selection as HBI Instructor ofthe Year, played by 2005 winner John Gallagher,Plumbing instructor at the Fred G. Acosta JCC.

From the Director of Job Corps

Last year, Job Corps celebrated its 40th Anniversarymarking years of excellence as the nation’s leading res-idential youth job training program. Along that road,many lessons have been learned about preparing ourstudents for a demand-driven environment. As aleader in employment, training and education, my roleas the National Director is to advance the competencyand employability of Job Corps’ students, with theintent to continue Job Corps’ high-growth/high-demand program evolution.

Today, Job Corps moves toward a more integrated andagile education and career training system, and hasadopted the President’s High Growth Job TrainingInitiative as a roadmap for taking the program into the21st Century. Job Corps focus areas such as rigor andrelevance in its education and training activities, careerclusters, industry-sponsored certifications, CareerSuccess Standards, the STARS Initiative (Speakers,Tutors, Achievement, Retention and Success), and reg-istered apprenticeships, support career pathways forhigh-growth jobs.

As you know, more work is required to make thistransformation happen. We have developed ninestrategic goals for Job Corps, which include strength-ening partnerships with businesses and industries thatare driving economic growth in our regions. They are:

1. Increase students’ exposure to industry sectors viahigh-demand occupational clustering on centers andhighly trained certified instructors utilizing appliedskills training techniques.

2. Deliver student training based on a rigorous andrelevant academic and career technical curriculum thatleads to personal and professional growth. Trainingwill be certification-based and aligned with academic,industry, and career success standards, registeredapprenticeship, state licensure, and high school diplo-ma attainment.

3. Establish a comprehensive admissions process thatprepares students for life on center, ensures that stu-dents are ready and committed to the program, andoptimizes opportunities for positive training, place-ment, self-sufficiency and lifelong learning.

4. Ensure student career technical training and aca-demic programming is supported by integratedresource management and accountability systems.

5. Enhance on-center supports, to include after-hoursand/or weekend instruction, basic health care, socialsupports, youth development, safe and secure trainingand residential environments, eLearning, ESL pro-grams, strategies to improve low-achieving/learning-disabled students achievement, and a highly structuredprogram of study for 16-year-old students.

(Continued on Page 10)

HBI BIN(Building Industry Networks)Treasure Lake Plumbs with HabitatPlumbing students from the Treasure Lake JCC and theirinstructor Chloveta Caudill got some real field experiencethis spring and summer working with Habitat forHumanity volunteers.

Among the projects they worked on was the Lawton/Ft.Sill Habitat for Humanity Blitz Build sponsored by theLawton Board of Realtors.

(More HBI BIN on Page 15)

The Excitement Builds as

Scottsdale Sizzles!In early July, HBI staff and instructors from across thecountry gathered in Scottsdale for the annual HBIInstructor Conference. The four-day event reaffirmedsome traditions and unveiled some surprises as nearly 300participants and their families spent the Fourth of July insunny Arizona. In addition to the hotel’s well-known fire-works display, conference “highlights” included:

Rising WelcomeA rousing welcome by HBI President and CEO FredHumphreys included a surprise letter from new JobCorps National Director Esther Johnson who wished thegroup a successful gathering and commended their effortson behalf of Job Corps youth.

The RISE Committee was first… RISE or RegionalInstructors Supporting Everyone, is a group of instructors,one from each region, plus the Instructor of the Year whocollaborate year-round to improve HBI’s vocational pro-grams, serve as a support group, and build communicationamong instructors across all regions. The committee alsoshares instructors’ concerns with the program managersand helps plan HBI’s annual instructor conference.

Pictured are members ofthe 2005-2006 RISECommittee:

2003 Instructor of theYear Gretchen Cantali –Cassadaga JCC; JohnWorsley – Loring JCC;Jason Talbot – WeberBasin JCC; Paul Drake

– Red Rock JCC; Michael Meyer – Brunswick JCC; JamesFoster – Excelsior Springs JCC; Gerardo Ortiz – Fred G.Acosta JCC; 2005 Instructor of the Year John Gallagher –Fred G. Acosta JCC; and Gregg Romano – RegionalProgram Manager.

Teamwork in Training

HBITeamwork in Training is published by Home Builders Institute, the workforce development arm of the National Association of HomeBuilders (NAHB). It is designed to provide Job Corps training professionals, members of the building industry and others, with information on HBI’s Job Corps programs.

Michael Sivage, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Frederick N. Humphreys, President and CEO

Zach Eder was ahappy Habitat volun-teer this summer.Today, he has hisOklahoma PlumbingApprenticeship Cardand works forHorizon Plumbing inMcCalester, OK. Heis still smiling accord-ing to Caudill, whosays he loves his joband the people heworks for.

Fall 2006_r2 11/20/06 3:40 PM Page 2

RISE in 2006-2007Members of the 2006-2007 RISE Committee wereselected by the instructors during the conference’sregional breakout sessions.

Members are l-r –Gretchen Cantali –Cassadaga JCC;John Worsley –Loring JCC; 2006Instructor of theYear Jason Talbot–Weber Basin JCC;Aleta Haynes–Woodland JCC;

Michael Meyer – Brunswick JCC; James Foster -Excelsior Springs JCC; John Gallagher – Fred G.Acosta JCC; Gregg Romano – Regional ProgramManager and Daryl Martinez – Talking Leaves JCC(not pictured).

Harassment/Discrimination andOhio State PresentationsThe Ohio State University’s prestigious continuingeducation department headed by Dr. Chris Zirklereturned to deliver a series of workshops designed tomake an instructor a better teacher and mentor. Thesesessions were preceded by a candid presentation titled“Respect and Dignity, Preventing WorkplaceDiscrimination and Harassment,” a key tenet at HBIpresented by David Rosenberg, a partner at the D.C.firm of Ford & Harrison.

Service RecognitionAs has been tra-dition, HBI rec-ognized its staffand theirlongevity at theorgan i za t ionfor five, ten andfifteen years. Aspecial timewas set aside

during the awardsbanquet on thefinal evening torecognize two JobCorps team mem-bers celebrating 25years at HBI –Keith Albright,

Vice President for Job Corps Operations and DaveHenn, Regional Program Manager – pictured herewith Vice President for Human Resources, FayeNock. Both honorees began their careers at HBI ascarpentry instructors – Albright at Keystone JCC,Henn at Woodland JCC.

The first surprise ofthe evening came earlyas HBI’s 35-year veteran Al Kamikawawas recognized in ahumorous and upbeatpresentation narratedby HBI Vice Presidentfor Human Resources,

Faye Nock. Kamikawa made his way to the stage tothe sounds of Diana Ross’ “Ain’t No Mountain HighEnough” wherehe spoke mov-ingly on histhree decades atHBI and workwith Job Corps.

5Home Builders Institute4 Teamwork in Training

Achievement AwardsThe conference culminated with an awards ceremonyhonoring the achievements of 19 outstanding instruc-tors, including the Instructor of the Year. Twelve ofthose awards were announced in the regional break-out sessions held on the final day.

Regional Placement AwardsPresented by the regional placement coordinator thisaward recognizes one instructor in each region whoachieves outstanding student placement. Left to righton the front row are this year’s winners with theirregional placement coordinator. Region 1 – EddieHakim, Edison JCC with Phil Iannazzo; Region 2 -Ray Coston, Potomac JCC with Apryl Simmons;Region 3 - Mike Meyer, Brunswick JCC with ChipMoser; Region 4 – Michael Kissell, Roswell JCC withFrank Kawalec; Region 5 – Rodney Gaugh, St. Louis

JCC withF r e dD i P a l m a ;and Region6 – RandallMann, SanDiego JCCwith AlexNavarrete.

Extra Mile AwardsThe Extra Mile Award is presented by region pro-gram manager to one instructor in each who consis-tently goes beyond the call of duty to help their stu-dents, foster a positive work environment, maintainindustry connections and participate in communityservice. Extra Mile winners are on the front row;back row their regional program manager. Region 1 –Herb Jones, Grafton JCC and Gregg Romano;Region 2 –Stephen Bish,H a r p e r sFerry JCCand DaveH e n n ;Region 3 –Jeffrey Potts,MontgomeryJCC and Don

Bouska; Region 4 – David Montano, AlbuquerqueJCC and Frank Kawalec; Region 5 – Holly Baker,Flint Hills JCC and Bill Bumgarner; Region 6 – JohnGallagher, Fred G. Acosta JCC and Jesse Constancio.

Manager’s Choice AwardsSeven awards for Manager’s Choice and Instructor ofthe Year were not presented until later that evening,adding an even greater element of suspense to thefinal day’s activities. The Instructor of the Year isselected from among one of the six regionalManager’s Choice Award winners. Instructors whoreceive this award have worked tirelessly to furtherHBI’s goals and have proved outstanding in carryingout their responsibilities.

Pictured are thisyear’s Manager’sChoice winnerswith their region-al program man-agers at the cere-mony. Region 5 –John Gaddis,Golconda JCC

with Bill Bumgarner; Region 4 – Jason Talbot, WeberBasin JCC with Frank Kawalec; Region 3 – RandallJones, Jacksonville JCC with Don Bouska; AllanWalker, Woodstock JCC with Dave Henn represent-ing Region 2; Region 1 – Daniel Nalepa, CassadagaJCC and Gregg Romano; and Region 6 – MichaelKohlbaker, Sacramento JCC and Jesse Constancio.

Instructor of the YearIn another traditional moment, a distinguished groupof instructors was asked to come on stage by HBIPresident and CEO, Fred Humphreys, past HBIInstructors of the Year – John Gaddis (2001), GeneManguso (2002), Gretchen Cantali (2003), MarkMartin (2000), John Gallagher (2005) and RandallMann (1999).Garry George(2004) passedaway suddenlythis year.

S c o t t s d a l e S i z z l e s

The RISE com-mittee met in

Washington, DC,in October and

will return inFebruary to begin

work on the2007 conference.

Fall 2006_r2 11/20/06 3:40 PM Page 4

Cassadaga Students Help Raise$10K for KidsThe Heritage Group’s Karl Sisson commendedGretchen Cantali, carpentry instructor at theCassadaga JCC and her students for their contribu-tion to their fundraising auction. The studentsdesigned and built ten benches for the HeritageHouse Charity Auction, to support the HeritageHouse Childcare and Learning Center in Jamestown,NY. The benches were then painted by local artistsand were the “highlight of the event” according toSisson.

Pictured are theCassadaga studentsloading the benches inthe snow and the benchthey painted now usedin the front lobby ofthe Heritage HouseChildcare Center.

Rough (In) Start for Construction inTucsonThe HBI Plumbing class and the Fred G. Acosta JCCStudent Chapter worked side by side with membersof the Southern Arizona Builders Association(SAHBA) in the demolition of a concrete slab to makeway for new plumbing at the Tucson Unified SchoolDistrict’s Catalina Magnet High School. The schoolstarted a construction course this fall and SAHBA isdonating time and material to get the new programoff the ground.

Two jackhammers and help from Greg Miedema,owner of Dakota Builders and current SAHBAChairman, and Alex Jacome, SAHBA’s Government

Liaison, got the first phase of the project completedon October 12. The HBI crew installed the rough-inplumbing for two commercial restrooms with all castiron pipe and fittings donated by Tucson Plumbingand Catalina Mechanical.

The effort was coordinated by another volunteer, ArtFlagg, Senior Vice President of KB Home andSAHBA’s First Vice Chair. The students spent 360hours of community service time and gained valuableexperience working in the field with industry profes-sionals.

Students and Builders Team Up toHelp Elderly in BangorMark Martin’s carpentry class, in conjunction withThe Eastern Agency on Aging, and builders DanTrembly of ubuildit and Keith Trembly of TremblyBuilders, installed a handicap ramp for Mr. and Mrs.Frank Gallant of Bangor, ME. The ramp and railingwere largely built with the 36 components put togeth-er piece bypiece byM a r t i n ’ sc a r p e n t r ystudents.

Butterfly Garden Takes Flight inGouldsInstructor Manny Reyes and his Homestead JCC stu-dents teamed up with Miami-Dade County’s TeamMetro to build a butterfly garden at Arthur and PollyMay’s Middle School in nearby Goulds. The projectwas part of Team Metro’s annual PRIDE event.PRIDE is a local organization that focuses on revivingthe soul and appearance of Dade County’s neighbor-hoods.

6 Teamwork in Training 7Home Builders Institute

Talbot Takes Instructor of the YearAfter the six Manager’s Choice winners wereannounced, the suspense began to mount. Whowould be awarded the coveted Instructor of the Yearaward?

Jason Talbot, a brick masonry instructor at the WeberBasin Job Corps Center in Ogden, Utah, emerged asthe winner after demonstrating excellence in allaspects of his job and bringing a great work ethic andinfectious personality to Weber Basin JCC.

When he walked up on stage to accept his award,Talbot was given his third major surprise of the nightas his wife Karen and five-year old son Dillonappeared from a side door to greet him and share inthe moment. Karen and Dillon had flown to the eventin secret to be there with him.

“It was overwhelming when they announced myname,” said Talbot. “I washonored that my programmanager Nick Bitner felt Ideserved it. This was defi-nitely one of the highlightsof my life. Having my fami-ly there, to share the

moment withme made it par-ticularly special.It really is ablessing.”

C o m m u n i t y T i e sS c o t t s d a l e S i z z l e s

Scottsdale HOT SHOTS

Fall 2006_r2 11/20/06 3:41 PM Page 6

9Home Builders Institute8 Teamwork in Training

Students Get “Fire Wise” In response to the severe lack of rainfall inOklahoma, instructor Chloveta Caudill and HBIPlumbing students at the Treasure Lake JCC teamedup with a crew of firefighters at the WichitaMountain Wildlife Refuge to clear away potentialfire enhancing vegetation and other combustiblematerials. This initiative is part of a statewide proj-ect to reduce the risk of fires.

Woodstock Carpentry HelpsBaltimore O/A EffortsIf an Outreach/Admissions counselor in CareerDevelopment Services’ Baltimore office ever needs toshow a prospective HBI student an example of thelife-long trade skills they can learn in Job Corps, allthey have to do is walk into the conference room.There they will see some of the craftsmanship andskill that went into building the table that serves asthe room’s beautiful centerpiece thanks to GeorgeFurtado and his students.

Painters Go to Town!No matter where youlooked this summer andfall, the Cassadagapainting crew was outand about, making adifference somewhere inthe Dunkirk area.Indoors or outdoors,they went where they

were needed and practiced their skills serving thelocal community.

Dan Nalepa and hisstudents visited theAdams Art Gallery –Access to the ArtsBuilding, to do a bit ofpainting of their own asthey primed and painted the site’s new office space.Then it was time to go outdoors as baseball seasonwas fast approaching and Dunkirk’s Babe RuthBaseball Field had to be spruced up. The group pres-sure washed and primed all the surfaces, then

applied the badly needed paint on the concessionstand, restrooms, and field dugout. June 19-20,Nalepa and his crew participated in the UnitedWay’s CommunityCaring Week, put-ting a fresh coatof paint at theBoys and GirlsClub of NorthernC h a u t a u q u aCounty on BentonStreet.

San Diego Programs ShineAn orphanage in Mexico has $125 in new donations.A local church in Chula Vista has a newly remodeledrest room. North Island Naval Station’s fire depart-ment in Coronado has new underground lines forfuture bathrooms installed by the students using aspecial cam-era to locateundergroundsewer lines.These areamong themany learn-ing and vol-unteer com-munity activi-ties by Paul Chilson’s Plumbing students and RandallMann’s Electrical crews this summer.

Red Rock Builds MemoriesRed Rock Job Corps students in the FacilitiesMaintenance class with Instructor Jim Rafter builtthree picnic tables and benches for the Lopez CivicAssociation. The benches and tables serve as smallmemorials to several heroes of the civic associationand each is marked with a commemorative plaque.

Burrowing Owl Relocated at ConoaRanchFred G. Acosta JCC students donated time to help theSouthern Arizona Home Builders Association(SAHBA) work with Wild at Heart to dig and buildartificial burrows for owls being displaced by devel-opment in the Phoenix area. The project took placeover five weekends in July and August on the ConoaRanch. Arizona Game and Fish and Pima County

P a r k sD e p a r t m e n talso participat-ed in the relo-cation project.

Recycle Baler Project Gets Helpfrom Talking LeavesFourteen students from Jerry Caviness’ FacilitiesMaintenance and Daryl Martinez’s Electrical pro-gram at Talking Leaves JCC teamed up with KellyGrant, a local electrical contractor to set up the cityof Tahlequah’s new baler.

In the past, cardboard had to be disposed into a 40-yard dumpster that needed to be continually packedand repacked using a backhoe. When the dumpsterwas full, it would be transported to National Waste inTulsa and the city of Tahlequah would be paid $25 to$30 per ton. With the new baler in place, the card-board can be compacted on site, relieving the amountof cardboard in the area, and the bales are picked up,saving the city the trip to Tulsa. The price for baledcardboard is $70.00 a ton and the first load returnedweighed in at a hefty 14,610 pounds, or 7.30 tons.

The city of Tahlequah was grateful to Kelly Grant andJerry Caviness, along with the members of the TalkingLeaves Job Corps Center who provided the labor andexpertise for the installation of the new baler. Grantprovides Work-based Learning sites and job shadowopportunities for HBI students and currently has twograduates on its employee roster, one of whomobtained his Oklahoma Electrical Journeymanlicense.

Joliet Service RecognizedJoliet JCC received theaward for the most com-munity service hoursdone for the Will CountyForestry Preserve in2005-2006. HBI instruc-tors Michael Smith andRonnie Garner, andSamuel Cotton, JolietJCC’s vocational manag-er, accepted the award onbehalf of the center. Theaward recognized thework done by the stu-

dents, including construction of 30 picnic tables builtfor the Forestry Preserve.

C o m m u n i t y T i e s c o n t .

Lowe’s (Continued from page 3)

Hot CareersThe Building CareersScholarship was estab-lished to help JobCorps graduatesdefray job-related costs that can overwhelm stu-dents with limited financial resources as they arejust beginning their careers. The funds are alsoused for school tuition and books by studentswho choose to further their education and train-ing. When making the transition to jobs in theconstruction industry, transportation is oftenthe most pressing need for the young graduatesbecause their work sites can be located a con-siderable distance from their homes.

“These four young men had meaningful jobswith prime contractors lined up,” said Gaddis.“They just need a little help to get them there.That’s where the Lowe’s scholarships are indis-pensable.” “I cannot thank these two greatorganizations enough,” wrote Ramirez. “Thedoors unlocked by HBI and Lowe’s have helpedme move my life forward.” In a similar letter ofthanks, McCarthy noted that the “generoussupport” had helped “me start my new life.”

Since 2004, Lowe’s has contributed $150,000 tothe scholarship program, which has providedassistance to nearly 100 students entering theconstruction workforce.

Fall 2006_r2 11/20/06 3:41 PM Page 8

11Home Builders Institute10 Teamwork in Training

FROM THE DIRECTOR (Continued from

page 2)

6. Increase industry and employer involvement;employers will assist youth in learning about JobCorps, participate in training development, assist instudent training, and integrate projects that simulateworkplace experience and learning.

7. Strengthen linkages with education and workforcetraining partners, including local school districts, highschool diploma-granting schools, services and sup-ports available through One-stops, vocational reha-bilitation agencies, and social service supportproviders to enhance student service delivery.

8. Establish and refine clear, measurable benchmarksof program success by monitoring participantoutcomes in areas such as academic achievement,placement and retention in employment andfurther education after program completion.

9. Strengthen post-center support and placement serv-ices. Increase industry and employer involvement toassist program graduates in obtaining and retainingemployment, enrolling in advanced educationalprograms, or joining the military.

Home Builders Institute (HBI) is a prime example ofsuch a partnership. HBI’s commitment to Job Corpsand its students is evident through its progressive andinnovative programs. HBI has aligned its residentialconstruction program with industry standards andintroduced new performance-demonstration criteriato advance the skills and employability of our stu-dents. I would encourage HBI to utilize its nationalconference as a platform to discuss and support regis-tered apprenticeships as a viable gateway to high-demand student employment.

Together, Job Corps and its workforce training part-ners like HBI, will equip our young people with real-world skill sets that will result in real-world success.By raising the achievement bar system-wide, we canpromote vast educational and work opportunities forour graduates to meet the increasing demands ofhigh-growth industries like construction.

Job Corps will be focusing on these topics at itsupcoming National Leadership Summit inWashington, DC, November 6-8, 2006, and we lookforward to your involvement in the conference and

working with us to advance Job Corps’ goals forrealignment to the 21st Century workplace.

Sincerely,

Dr. Esther JohnsonDr. Esther JohnsonNational Director of Job Corps

Home Energy ConservationInteractive Display Shines on Earth Day at Francis PerkinsOn April 22, in observance of Earth Day, studentsenrolled in Gary Shavlik’s program at the Departmentof Labor’s (DOL) Francis Perkins building inWashington, DC, created a large informational dis-play outlining effective methods of energy conserva-tion in home building. The event was sponsored byDOL and held in the large lobby area of the building.

The Francis Perkins programserves as on site learningexperience for studentspreparing to graduate fromWilliam Leake’s FacilitiesMaintenance class at thePotomac JCC in Washington,

DC. The students work with contractors on a varietyof different jobs that help them gain valuable real lifeexperience as the massive structure provides a steadyand varied collection of maintenance projects. Frombuilding build-outs to the current project to rid thedaycare center playground of a vermin infestation, thestudents continue to learn and expand their work-place know how daily.

On Earth Day, however, the students used their cre-ativity and developed an interactive energy conserva-tion display they showcased at DOL. They gavedemonstrations, handed out pamphlets and answeredquestions about energy saving devices and the latesttechnological advances in the home building industry.

Dr. Esther Johnson, Job Corps’ National Director,stopped by the exhibit where she spent a few minuteswith the students and Shavlik. She was so impressedby them, she wrote to Shavlik afterwards commend-ing his students for their efforts as representatives ofthe Job Corps program.

National Youth Service DayObserved from Coast to CoastNational Youth Service Day (NYSD) is an annual,nationwide youth community service initiative. Theprojects are organized by youth, along with commu-nities, schools, and local organizations and cover abroad range of issues including literacy, the environ-ment, healthcare, nutrition, and poverty. NYSD 2006was held April 21-23, 2006 and several HBI JobCorps programs from New York to California servedtheir local communities.

Cassadaga Gives Building a Face LiftFifteen Cassadaga carpentry students and theirinstructor, Gretchen Cantali, performed much neededmaintenance on the Russell Joy Park’s Ed EaganBuilding in Pomfret, NY. During the week-long proj-ect, students removed shingles and installed roofingmaterials, siding, fascia, and soffit.

Convent Renovation Kicks OffFred G. Acosta’s John Gallagher and his studentsjoined Copeland Construction for a two-day effort tolaunch the renovation of an old convent at St.Ambrose School. Students participated in the demoli-tion and helped tear out all interior walls and bath-rooms to make way for a total remodel. Overall, stu-dents removed about 40 doors and frames, nine bath-rooms, a commercial kitchen and shelves. Allreusable materials were provided to The Re-Store, aconstruction material store that donates to Habitatfor Humanity.

Royalton Cleans UpJohn Gaddis, instruc-tor from GolcondaJCC, and his studentsused NYSD as anopportunity to cleanup a city park andbaseball field.

Inland Empire JCC Gets ElementaryElectrical students and their instructor, WaltRidgway, volunteered at Childcare ProvisionalAccelerated Learning (PAL) to paint their playgroundequipment and picnic tables. Students also cleaned upa storage shed, built a sandbox, cleaned the grounds,washed the walls of the main building, and sanitizedthe preschool cots and toys. Busy day!

Treasure Lake Students HelpPreserve Wildlife

Students and instructorChloveta Caudill vol-unteered at the WichitaMountains WildlifeRefuge in Oklahoma tohelp clean up the parkso it could maintain itsnatural wildlife habitat.

Red Rock Raises TentsPlumbing and brick masonry students and theirinstructors at the Red Rock JCC helped out at theLouise Briar Girl Scout Camp in Berwick. The stu-dents were invited by camp supervisor JosephTravelpiece to help erect and repair the canvas tentsused by the scouts.

Divided into groupsby trade, the RedRock students wereable to assist in twoother projects. Thepainting studentswent to the IremTemple Shrine Circus office in Kingston to spackle,prime and paint peeling walls and doors, and the car-pentry class replaced two dugout roofs at BentonHigh School.

Fall 2006_r2 11/20/06 3:41 PM Page 10

As the weather becomes "frightful" during wintermonths, workers who must brave the outdoor condi-tions face the occupational hazard of exposure to thecold. Prolonged exposure to freezing temperaturescan result in health problems as serious as trenchfoot, frostbite, and hypothermia.

Workers in such industries as construction need to beespecially mindful of the weather, its effects on thebody, proper prevention techniques, and treatment ofcold-related disorders.

Harmful Effects of the ColdFrostbite occurs when the skin tissue actually freezes,causing ice crystals to form between cells and drawwater from them. • Symptoms: Initial effects of frostbite includeuncomfortable sensations of coldness; tingling, sting-ing or aching feeling of the exposed area followed bynumbness. Ears, fingers, toes, cheeks, and noses areprimarily affected. Deeper frostbite involves freezingof deeper tissues (muscles, tendons, etc.) causingexposed areas to become numb, painless, hard to thetouch. • Treatment: If you suspect frostbite, you shouldseek medical assistance immediately.

General Hypothermia occurs when body temperaturefalls to a level where normal muscular and cerebralfunctions are impaired. It may occur in any climatewhere a person's body temperature falls below nor-mal.• Symptoms: Shivering, an inability to do complexmotor functions, lethargy, and mild confusion occuras the core body temperature decreases to around95°F. As body temperature continues to fall,hypothermia becomes more severe. Unconsciousnessand full heart failure can occur in the severelyhypothermic state. • Treatment: Treatment of hypothermia involvesconserving the victim's remaining body heat and pro-viding additional heat sources. Handle hypothermicpeople very carefully because of the increased irri-tability of the cold heart. Seek medical assistance forpersons suspected of being moderately or severelyhypothermic.

Preventing cold-related disorders:• Wear at least three layers of clothing• Pay special attention to protecting feet, hands, face and head • Up to 40 percent of body heat can be lost when the head is exposed • Footgear should be insulated to protect againstcold and dampness

Engineering controls in the workplace through a vari-ety of practices help reduce the risk of cold-relatedinjuries. Safe work practices, such as changes in workschedules are necessary to combat the effects ofexceedingly cold weather.

To read this article, “Protecting Workers in ColdEnvironments” in its entirety go to “Fact Sheets” onhttp://www.osha.gov

A new educational resource from HBI will help homebuilders improve their communications with Spanish-speaking workers. Sed de Saber™ (“Thirst forKnowledge”) — Construction Edition is being devel-oped in partnership with Retention Education, LLC,as an English as a Second Language (ESL) learningtool for the residential construction industry.

Seven self-paced, interactive books use Leap FrogEnterprise, Inc.™ technology to teach workers 500vocabulary words and more than 340 phrases com-monly used in home building. The kit includes aQuantum Pad™, microphone learning system, datacartridges, headset, power adapter and carrying case.The final products will be available from HBI inMarch 2007.

Who Built This? The area on the Old Dominion JCC campus was notvery attractive, offering no seating, limited lighting,poor drainage and a 200-ft. narrow, uneven walk-way. The plan was to give the students an attractivearea to congregate, relax and enjoy some quiet time.A contractor trimmed the trees and then the HBIcrews got to work, all six of them!

David Baker, Plumbing, Monroe Baldwin, Carpentry,Mark Campbell, Landscaping, William Coble,Electrical, Stephen Eckart, Painting and EugeneTruslow, FM andtheir students beganwith the removal ofthe old walk. A jack-hammer, tractor andother light construc-tion equipment wereneeded to preparethe site.

Baldwin and his crew built a 16x46 deck from theback door of the building, formerly an exit door andset of concrete steps. Then the students staked off thearea, laid the forms and poured the concrete and putup an 80 ft. retaining wall. The finishing toucheswere new plantings, mulch, decorative lighting, andof course, the benches.

By the time the proj-ect was finished, visi-tors to the campuswould not be able totell if the work wasdone by students orprofessional contrac-tors. It is that good.

Job Corps Legislative Day HBI plumbing students Michelle Lee and Joshua Salerepresented Talking Leaves JCC at the State Capitolon May 9, designated as Job Corps Day in the stateof Oklahoma. Lee and Sale were part of a Job Corpsdemonstration at the Oklahoma State Capitol wherethey fielded technical and personal questions frommembers and staff before witnessing the passing ofstate legislation.

Oklahoma Builds Spirit ofCompetitionJob Corps centers across Oklahoma convened at theTreasure Lake JCC to participate in the first annualOklahoma Job Corps Carpentry Competition.Treasure Lake JCC sponsored the event, which testedstudents’ skills and proficiency in the carpentry trade.Their task was to build a four-wall portable structurethat included doors and windows.

Teams were given competition rules, blueprints, toolsand materials. The team from Jack Butler’s HBI classat the Tulsa JCC took an early lead and never lookedback, winning the competition for a $75 gift cardfrom Lowe’s Home Improvement, a stereo entertain-ment center, a plaque and a tool belt.

Wayne Thee, center director of Tulsa JCC stated, “Iknew our students received excellent training at ourfacility, yet, I was surprised at the speed they dis-played!”

Red Rock and Keystone: Meetingof the MindsSpearheaded by instructors Joe Entiero and DennisLong, brick masonry students from the Red RockJCC traveled to Keystone JCC to exchange ideas andaccomplishments on their respective centers.Keystone was immediately invited to visit Red Rock,and the centers look forward to working together onfuture projects.

Students in theRed Rock brickclass withKeystone JCC’sVST Supervisor,Matt Waltmannand CaseManager GerryMcGroarty dur-

ing their visit to Keystone. Pictured are DanDenschak, Kyle Sidner, William Jones, JoshuaHayhard, McGroarty, Laron Kemp, Waltmann,Ismael Serrano and Mike Martini.

12 Teamwork in Training 13Home Builders Institute

C e n t e r N e w s T i p s a n d To o l s o f t h e Tr a d e

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14 Teamwork in Training 15Home Builders Institute

Nick Bitner RememberedWhen news got around the Albuquerque JCC aboutHBI’s new electrical instructor, word was “theMarlboro Man” was coming. An easy swagger, quietconfident manner and a twinkle in his eye combinedwith a strong chin and tall, chiseled form were enoughto earn him the nickname recalled by friends and col-leagues at his memorial service 23 years later.

Nick died at the age of 55 on Tuesday, July 18, fol-lowing complications due to a respiratory illness. Thechapel where the service was held four days later wasfilled to capacity as friends and family came to saygood-bye to the “Marlboro Man.”

He walked onto the Albuquerque JCC in 1983 andnever looked back. HBI also offered Plumbing at thecenter and this is where Nick would meet his longtimefriend, fellow instructor Frank Kawalec. Not onlywere they different in physical appearance, Kawalecnot quite six feet, they were opposites in work stylesand their approach to life – the “Odd Couple” was acommon reference.

In 1988, Kawalec was promoted to NationalPlacement Coordinator and left the center, but bothmen continued to work closely and their friendshipgrew over time. Then in 2002, Bitner was promotedto Program Manager and effectively becameKawalec’s boss. “Never in our wildest dreams did wethink of that possibility” he recalls.

Bitner’s wife Cricket, a familiar face to many in HBI,frequently accompanied her husband to the annualJob Corps Instructor conference. Bitner remainedwith HBI, committed to Job Corps youth until hisdeath.

Manguso Joins Management TeamHBI 2002 Instructor of the Year Gene Manguso,Electrical instructor at the Delaware Valley JCC inCallicoon, NY, was named new Regional CareerDevelopment Coordinator for Region 1 in October.He will work hand-in-hand with the other membersof the team, Program Manager Gregg Romano andPlacement Coordinator, Phil Iannazzo.

A few short weeks before receiving news of his pro-motion, one of Manguso’s students Chinese-bornZong Jie Dai or Jimmy Dai was inducted into the cen-ter’s National Technical Honor Society.

According to his instructor, he is currently on a work-based learning site where is doing a great job. Highlymotivated and a class leader, Dai shows great promisefor a lucrative future in his trade and Manguso con-tinues to work to find a good employer match in timefor Dai’s graduation in January.

Members of Delaware Valley JCC’s NationalTechnical Honor Society pledge to maintain the high-est standard of personal and professional conduct;strive for excellence, respect of others and upholdobligations as “a citizen of my community and mycountry.”

Manguso withJimmy Dai at theDVJCC NationalTechnical HonorSociety induction.

Welcome Home Adam!Adam Escudero, plumbing Instructor at theAlbuquerque JCC, spent the past year serving in Iraqwith his Army Reserve unit. Just a week beforeThanksgiving, he was back at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, intime to spend the Holidays with his family. All of usat HBI are grateful for Adam’s service and safe return.

SAHBA Home Show Hosts Hands-on CompetitionsOn October 6, HBI students at the Fred G. AcostaJCC Student Chapter and Tucson Unified Santa RitaHigh School went head to head in the first play housebuild off hosted by the Southern Arizona HomeBuilders Association (SAHBA) at its annual Homeand Garden Show.

The students built thehouses from a set ofblue prints using ply-wood and 2x2s.Judging the event wasSteve Washburn ofWashburn CustomBuilders whose decisionsaw two HBI FM stu-dents Robert Spezialyand William Andersontie for third. Santa RitaHigh School started

another SAHBA-spon-sored NAHB StudentChapter and the con-test will likely becomea regular feature atfuture shows.

HBI BIN (Continued from page 2)

Excelsior Springs Students Install Glass at NewMcDonald’sLast February, for GroundhogJob Shadow Day, students BillyRoberts and Martez Andersonof the Excelsior Springs JCCworked with local glass com-pany H&H Glass Co. to installthe glass and doors at the newMcDonald’s. Pictured isRoberts at work.

Graduate Notes

Eugene Thompson at Archstone SmithEugene Thompson graduated from HBI’s FacilitiesMaintenance program at the Potomac JCC inWashington, DC. A partnership with Archstone-Smith, one the nation’s leading residential manage-ment companies made it possible for Thompson tostart a work-based learning program at theAlbemarle building on Connecticut Avenue, inWashington, DC. Archstone-Smith’s June newsletter,this is what one of the apartment residents had to say:

“I wanted you to know what a good job EugeneThompson did replacing the dining room light fixturein my apartment. I had to leave before the job wasfinished, and when I returned Eugene had finishedthe installation, it looked nice, the fixture workedand he even put the table decorations I’d moved backon the dining room table!”

Golconda JCC Grad Earns Masters DegreeJob Corps graduate Gilberto Negron earned hisMaster of Arts degree from Southern IllinoisU n i v e r s i t yC a r b o n d a l e .Negron hasremained closewith his plumb-ing instructor,John Gaddis, andGaddis was hon-ored to attend thecommencementceremony.

Perfect Score on Work Keys for Cascades Grad James Stover, a Cascades Job Corps graduate, earneda perfect score on both the Reading for Informationand Applied Mathematics portions of the Work KeysAssessment Tests, and was hired as a part of theElectrical Journeymen Candidate Program underNorthrop Grumman Ship Systems. Stover completedthe HBI Electrical trade under instructor AlexPasillas.

Have information on a former student you want toshare? Send it to Teamwork!

P e o p l e

Bitner and Kawalecjointly present theManager’s ChoiceAward to Rick Oberlin,Plumbing Instructor atthe North Texas JCC, atthe 2004 Job CorpsInstructor Conference inNashville, Tenn.

NAHB Student Chapters

Mario Ibarra, an FM student in Michael Flores’class at Fred G. AcostaJCC.

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HOME BUILDERS INSTITUTE

1201 15th Street, N.W.Sixth FloorWashington, DC 20005www.hbi.org

Members of HBI’s Board of Trustees traveled to Tucson,Arizona this April for their annual planning meeting.Included on their itinerary was a visit to HBI’s trainingprograms at the top-rated Fred G. Acosta Job CorpsCenter, where HBI provides training in facilities mainte-nance, plumbing and electrical wiring.

The center is also an active partner in the Departmentof Labor’s “Building Today’s Workforce forTomorrow” grant to HBI, and home to one of nine JobCorps NAHB Student Chapters.

On their tour, the trustees got a first-hand look at thepositive influence of dedicated HBI instructors, centerstaff and other local grant partners such as the SouthernArizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA), PimaCounty Schools and Pima Community College.

“The involvement by industry, educators and countyleaders offers graduates a seamless transition to schoolor a career” said Michael Sivage, HBI chairman and abuilder/developer from Albuquerque, N.M. “While inJob Corps, the students see what we are seeing today, avivid image of an industry that needs them and a com-munity that cares.”

Tr u s t e e s V i s i t A c o s t a J C C

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