High school students visited Hillsborough County Fairgrounds by the busloads last week to learn about opportunities available in the construction industry at Tampa Bay Construction Career Day, hosted by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). They were treated to a hands-on, interactive glimpse into the field, operating heavy machinery and learning about bridge construction, paving, concrete, traffic control and engineering. Students were introduced to a large number of career paths available in the transportation, structural, engineering and building industries.
As more people visit or relocate to the area, the need for qualified construction workers grows. Everything from roadways to home and shopping centers are necessary to support the increasing population.
“Tampa Bay has billions of dollars of construction activity lined up for the next decade, and FDOT is committed to creating a pipeline of workforce and long-term economic opportunities,” said Rasheia Freeman, program manager for FDOT’s Statewide Workforce Development Program. “We’re introducing high school students to careers in great demand with entry level positions available coming right out of high school, with good pay and substantial benefits.”
FDOT employee Mark Brown attended the event and enjoyed connecting students to job opportunities. “I think it’s good to get these young ones out and let them see what their options are and let them try out the equipment,” he said. “We’re always going to need someone to operate this equipment, there’s always something that’s going to need to be built.”
Brown helped students try out large ride-on construction equipment. “They think it’s easy but after they use it they tell me it isn’t as easy as they thought it was,” he joked. “I tell them seat time is what gets you the experience.”
Dylan Kirby, an eleventh grade student at Simmons Career Center, attended the event and was in awe of all the equipment. “I think this is some of the coolest stuff they got to offer here in Hillsborough County,” he said. “If you like heavy equipment, this is some interesting stuff to learn and they’ve got job opportunities here.”
Kirby helped an uncle using some heavy equipment a couple of years ago and ever since has wanted to be a heavy equipment operator. “I operated a front end loader and a mini excavator and I knew it was something I wanted to do the rest of my life,” he said.
He waited patiently in line to ride on a skid-steer loader. While he moved dirt with its arm, a smile spread across his face. When he graduates in December, he wants to get certified as a heavy equipment operator and hopes to work for Wetherington Tractor Company. “I think my Nanna’s husband used to work there,” he said.
For Plant City High student Zach Floyd, he was just happy to get out of the classroom. The tenth grader said his father is a crane operator and he hopes to follow in his footsteps one day. “I’m thinking about heavy machinery school or diesel school,” he said. “Being able to work with them and work on them is fairly cool and one day maybe I’ll be a diesel engineer.”
Plant City High automotive technology teacher Joe Mondola brought 33 students to the event. Most of them are taking automotive, electrical or agriculture classes.
“In Plant City we really believe in showing these guys different career opportunities, and doing anything we can to help better their lives before and after they graduate,” he said. “When they come out of Plant City High School they’re going to be intelligent, highly sought-after workers.”