by Barbara White
Last week we introduced the Gilbane Company, the construction firm I-Witness worked with for this series. Gilbane Building Company-Gilbane Inc. is one of the largest privately held, family-owned companies in the construction and estate industry.
We also talked of the diversity in the trades and identified a few problems in employment within the trades. Tracy Carson, who is the Potawatomi project engineer, was very candid in our conversation regarding the issue of diversity not only for Black people interested in the trades, but women as well.
While most companies simply say that they support diversity in their workforce, Gilbane has not only issued a mandate to that effect, they have taken an active roll in trying to assure that it happens.
Tracy has witnessed how Black people and women are now included at Gilbane Building Company Inc. signaling that they are not just about talk.
However, the real proof is in the pudding. Under the direction of Gary Grunau, the regional lead executive for Gilbane, a public/private partnership was formed with the City of Milwauke--as well as other corporations like Manpower, Private Industry Council and Potawatomi Bingo Casino--to create the Urban Trades Partnership Initiative. (UTPI).
The mission of UTPI is to train and qualify Milwaukee residents from under-represented ethnic groups in the building and construction trades to enter apprenticeship programs. The program is also its way to begin to answer the high unemployment in the city of Milwaukee.
Each of the partners have invested heavily in this partnership. The City of Milwaukee has contributed $250,000 in tax incremental financing to support job training as part of the development of the future home of Manpower's global headquarters.
The Private Industry Council (PIC) supports UTPI with the Workforce Investment Act, which provides resources in training and job readiness. With the resources of the $250,000 from UTPI, PIC also assists in case management support for participants engaged in soft and other skills.
Potawatomi committed $250,000 to support UTPI which is helping the casino with its two year, $240 million expansion project. The funds will be used to provide employment opportunities.
Gilbane made a three-year commitment of $250,000 by providing leadership and management support as well as technical assistance and developing a UTPI model.
Participants are recruited through over 200 community organizations. The entry level training is done through the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership (WRTP) and BIG STEP. (Building Industry Group).
There have been two graduating classes in the trades thus far with the third class graduating last week.
With over $105,000 of the $250,000 already used for job training and one more year of the committed partnership under the UTPI remaining, the question is what will happen in the area of job training and job creation once that expires.
After completing the OSHA Safety program--where you are taught safety practices using a forklift, scaffolding, and power-actuated tools, as well as first aid and CPR--I was ready to go on the job site.
Linda Sowell, the director of Strategic Programs for Gilbane Inc., Becky Severson, regional safety manager and I headed toward the unity bridge where there is going to be an exit connected directly from the bridge to the parking lot.
Both women take great pride in their jobs. Linda chatted about the trades being a vehicle in which she can use her skills to create opportunities for other people to impact the serious conditions in our community.
"You get to watch them build and see Milwaukee grow and prosper," Linda said. "Nowhere in Milwaukee is there a project like this one; it is booming. Over 500 construction jobs. That is what the industry is doing now and we are running two shifts," Linda stated.
The Potawatomi expansion is expected to be completed in two-years at a cost of $240 million. The expansion includes a new underground valet parking facility, direct exits from the Unity Bridge to the parking structure and the casino hall will be tripled in size, bringing in new restaurants and stores. The new Potawatomi project will turn the casino into a mini city.
We talked about other projects in progress around the city. We also talked about how Gilbane Inc. subcontracts with minorities and women, the percentage of which is around 18%.
They also work with the "ma and pa" operations that help construct the strip malls, daycares and other buildings. Though the money earned by these small firms (in the range of $20,000 for their work) may like peanuts, when you're talking about $500,000, people who are good in the trades may not necessarily be good business people for project of that magnitude.
I arrive at the top of the parking structure where they are building new roads. You really have to be in shape because you do a lot of walking and taking stairs.
Here, construction worker Benito Tajardo was working on the wall of the new road that will lead into the parking structure.
Tajardo showed me what he was doing and showed me how to do it. It is amazing to think that where there was once nothing but air and sky there is now an entrance to a parking structure. We continued walking through the project and looking at other parts of the expanding parking structure.
We headed next towards where the underground valet parking was being constructed, as well as the casino expansion.
The roofers are there, as well as the machinist and other laborers supplying manpower.
Laborers are hired through the unions' apprentice programs. Some companies that are subcontracted have their own labor crews. Looking at all the people working, one would think happy days are here in the Brew city again.
It's lunchtime and Linda and I head to the Ponderosa Steak House, located at Martin Luther King Drive.
I had to sit down; I needed some fuel. Being a construction worker, it's essential that you eat a good breakfast because your body will need that energy.
I now understand why I see so many men in restaurants eating breakfast now. If you're going to work in the trades, you're going to need that fuel.
Stella Love, owner of Ponderosa Steakhouse, greeted Linda and I. During lunch, we continued our early conversation about the Potawatomi expansion, which when completed, will add over 1,000 new casino jobs.
We then talked about the job I would be doing at the new Manpower world headquarters. At Potawatomi, most of the work was being done outside.
At Manpower most of the work is being done inside, so I will get a chance to see a completely different set of trade skills being used.
While at Ponderosa, we ran into a number of people like Narcarci Feaster of local 113 of the laborers union and Freida Webb. Both work in the trades.
After lunch, we headed south down King Drive to Manpower's new headquarters. It's there that we were again joined by Becky. While at the Manpower site, I observed trade skills that were different from what they do at the Potawatomi site. The workers were doing drywall. I also saw architects, plumbers, electricians, elevator installers, welders and window installers.
The $40 million Manpower project is a four-story building that will also have a 1,280 parking structure. It will house over 900 employees.
Here is where I really learned why one must have some training and skills to work in the trades. The building is being constructed with fabricated and pre-manufactured panels, the parts of which are brought in as needed, eliminating the need for a lot of storage.
The panels are 30% brick, 20% bond panel, 20% pre-cut art. Then there is the 60% glazing, which is your direct lighting like the windows that go from one floor to the next. Most of the building is earthquake proof.
We went into the administration trailers where I met Aaron, the project manager, and many others who make it happen. On each job site, they have a different group of project mangers who run that particular project.
Nevertheless, folks like Becky have clearance on all project sites. Aaron shared with me that the buildings are built to last at least 100 years.
I was introduced to Delbert White, an African American apprentice. "I'm learning a lot of things; I love it here," Delbert said. "I always wanted to be in the trades." Delbert was so proud of himself and we were as well. In talking with many of the young guys, they say they became interested in the trades after attending Bradley Tech High School.
I learned a lot as well, such as about how the heating systems are now placed under the floor, raising it two feet, with the heating vents and other equipment placed under it.
Being a "construction worker," I must stress again the importance of a good night's rest and a healthy breakfast. One would think that being inside the building you could use the elevator to get to the next floor. Wrong!
If the construction project has 12 stories, you have to walk it or use a scaffold even though the elevators have been installed. They're not up and running. I found it out the hard way, Holla!
Next week: A home make over.
