TEMPE, Ariz. (March 12, 2020) – Sundt Construction, Inc. and Central Arizona College (CAC) have received a 2020 Bellwether Award for their workforce development partnership.
“Being recognized industry-wide for this partnership goes to show how much our program was needed,” said Sean Ray, Director of Craft Workforce Development for Sundt Construction. “What made it successful was the teamwork.”
In 2016, Sundt approached the college about forming a partnership in the form of a heavy equipment operations apprenticeship to address the growing needs in commercial construction. The goal was to create a construction technology program to provide the necessary training and to prepare students for a job in the field. The structure of the program includes four craft trade pathways— structural welding, heavy equipment operating, pipefitting and industrial construction technology.
The pathways align with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) credentials and the American Welding Society requirements. The pathways meet OSHA 30 standards and consist of stackable credentials equaling 30 college credit hours. Students also gain workplace employability skills, level one and two credentials in the trade and a CAC certificate following completion.
Since the partnership began, the pathway program has become one of CAC’s fastest-growing programs. It began with 104 students in 2017 and 328 enrolled this past fall. The program exceeded its goal of 95% in NCCER pass rates, boasting a 97.4% following the 2019 academic year
Sundt is committed to developing the construction workforce through training and development. The company’s partnership with CAC is one way it invests in its skilled craft professionals.
“A project’s safety, quality and productivity are in our workforces’ hands,” Ray said. “Equipping them with tools necessary to grow their skills drives our ability to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.”
To learn more about the program visit the Central Arizona College website here. More information about Sundt’s commitment to training and development can be found here.
About Sundt
Sundt Construction, Inc. (www.sundt.com) is one of the country’s largest and most respected general contractors. The 130-year-old firm specializes in building, transportation, industrial and concrete work and is owned entirely by its 2,000-plus employees. Sundt is distinguished by its diverse capabilities and experience, unique employee-ownership culture and depth of self-perform expertise in nine major trades. Half of Sundt’s workforce is comprised of skilled craft professionals who, together with the company’s administrative employees, enable Sundt to fulfill its mission to be the most skilled builder in America. Sundt has 11 offices throughout Texas, Arizona, California and Utah and is currently ranked the country’s 54th largest construction company by ENR, the industry’s principal trade magazine.
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Media Contact:
Kimberley Hoidal
Sundt Construction, Inc.
520.750.4623 (office)
520.282.3018 (mobile)
kahoidal@sundt.com