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Habitat for Humanity Breaks Ground on Home Build in St. Louis’ Gate District

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Partners with Concrete Strategies, Clayco and the Construction Career Development Initiative with the support of Geotechnology, Inc. and the St. Louis Job Corps Center.

Habitat for Humanity’s breaks ground on a new home build today, bringing together a collaborative team led by Concrete Strategies, part of the Clayco enterprise, and workforce diversity nonprofit Construction Career Development Initiative (CCDI). The four-day build will take place at 3429 and 3427 Park Avenue, and each day the site will be staffed with twelve skilled Clayco and CCDI volunteers. The volunteers will be pouring foundations for two homes in St. Louis’s Gate District neighborhood and helping to support minority representation in construction.

While Concrete Strategies and CCDI are providing volunteers and donations, the project is also fueled by a partnership with the St. Louis Job Corps Center’s construction program, Geotechnology, Inc., and other local subcontractors who partner with CCDI to hire program graduates into full-time employment. Three CCDI graduates who are now employed full-time with Concrete Strategies are participating in the build: Chris Conners (class of 2016), Keshawn Outlaw (class of 2018) and Shutaun Williams (class of 2020 and a St. Louis Job Corps graduate).

“Habitat for Humanity appreciates the tremendous planning, skills and time that each of the partners in this build have dedicated,” said Kimberly McKinney, Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis CEO. “It’s especially meaningful knowing we are bringing together a changemaking group of individuals to participate. Our team of community partners are driving equitable opportunities for the underserved in our community.”

Volunteer Shutaun Williams, a 2020 CCDI graduate and Concrete Strategies carpenter, joins fellow graduates and four of his former St. Louis Job Corps instructors on the project. “The build is bringing together a group of people who want to do good for our community,” said Shutaun. “I am happy to be part of this project, and even more so, I am proud to be a part of the CCDI family. To have a support system of impactful leaders who want to see you succeed and want to create solutions that give more people an opportunity to overcome systematic barriers—this support is unmatchable.”

CCDI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Clayco in 2015 in response to the unrest in Ferguson to provide career development opportunities to young minority adults who are underrepresented within the construction industry. The organization works to bridge the workforce diversity gap by partnering with various school districts in North St. Louis County and St. Louis City, community leaders and organizations such as St. Louis Job Corps and North Technical High School to cultivate a renewed interest in apprenticeships and career technical education programs. For example, once students graduate from St. Louis Job Corps Center, CCDI helps to place program graduates into full-time employment and assists with any barriers students may face from transportation to tools to help ensure retention in the construction industry. Since CCDI’s establishment in 2015, 80 of the program’s students have been placed in full-time careers.

“All of us involved are thrilled by the opportunity to serve our St. Louis neighbors,” said Tom Sieckhaus, President of CCDI and Executive Vice President of Clayco’s Corporate Business Unit. “This build signifies our shared commitment to placing underserved young people into full-time employment and expanding our joint reach to ensure as many people as possible have access to career development in the construction field is critically important.”

Longtime CCDI partner Dr. Dave Baker was in attendance at the groundbreaking. Dr. Baker retired last year from his role as Assistant Superintendent of College and Career Readiness of Special School District and is now the Business and Community Liaison for St. Louis Job Corps. About CCDI and its impact, Dr. Baker said, “CCDI has become integral in the northern portion of the St. Louis region in regard to ensuring a diverse and competent workforce for the construction industry. CCDI has taken on the task of connecting young men and women interested in the field of construction to the companies who will mentor and eventually hire them. Young people need validation of their hard work and good decisions; CCDI and its partners are providing that validation.”

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About Clayco
Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $3.8 billion in revenue for 2020, Clayco specializes in the “art and science of building,” providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional and residential related building projects. For more information visit www.claycorp.com.

About Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis

Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis (HFHSL) is a not-for-profit, ecumenical housing ministry working in partnership with individuals and communities to improve housing conditions and provide safe, decent and affordable housing in St. Louis City and County. With more than 400 homes already built or rehabbed, HFHSL is one of the leading housing developers in St. Louis. HFHSL regularly ranks among the top Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the country. HFHSL donors, volunteers, and partner families work side-by-side to build or rehab homes ensuring that every deserving family in St. Louis has a decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis:  Building Homes, Building Hope, Building St. Louis.  For more information, visit: www.habitatstl.org.

About the Construction Career Development Initiative

The Construction Career Development Initiative (CCDI) was founded by Clayco in 2015 in response to the aftermath in Ferguson, Missouri to provide a program for selected young adults in North County to help them overcome barriers to success, pair them in long-term one-on-one mentorship, offer financial support, and create opportunities for job placement. Clayco’s vision and ultimate goal with CCDI is to support workforce diversity and bridge the gap in workforce development. Clayco realized this task could not be completed alone and that is what this initiative has grown over the past three years to include many partnerships in the St. Louis community with school districts, local leaders and contractors and subcontractors. Together, we can build the foundation to change. For more information, please visit https://ccdi.org/.

About St. Louis Job Corps

St. Louis Job Corps Center supports the Job Corps program’s mission to teach eligible young people the skills they need to become employable and independent and place them in meaningful jobs or further education. St. Louis Job Corps has 15 Career Technical Training Programs and six (6) are in the Construction Trades. The program also draws students from St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County; the majority of Job Corps participants hail from St. Louis City and north St. Louis County, the areas of CCDI’s focus. Job Corps is a U.S. Department of Labor Equal Opportunity Employer Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

SIUE Construction Leadership Institute Celebrates 2018 Graduates

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The Construction Leadership Institute (CLI) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville celebrated 29 graduates of its program Friday, March 9 as a part of the CLI Alumni Day and Graduation celebration. Developed by the SIUE Schools of Business and Engineering, the CLI provides the knowledge, skills and strategies that individuals and companies need in today’s challenging construction industry.

Program Co-Directors Chris Gordon, associate dean of the SIUE School of Engineering, and Kristine Jarden, director of executive education in the SIUE School of Business, oversaw the ceremony.

“The CLI program is designed to align with leadership development needs of the rapidly changing construction industry,” said Gordon. “The CLI Advisory Board takes an active role in helping us continuously update this unique and innovative leadership development program to develop future building industry leaders.”

“CLI’s mission is to produce accomplished leaders who will improve the processes and outcomes in the construction industry,” Jarden said. “We thank the employers for their vision in supporting the education of future business leaders in the industry.”

CLI alumni representing 15 years of the program and the Class of 2018 participated in the festivities. The Class of 2018 graduates are:

The Class of 2018 graduates are:

  • Christopher Ballard – Simms Building Group
  • Katy Beckerle – Alberici Constructors
  • Kerry Brown – Stevens Industries, Inc.
  • Bobby Christopher – Wright Construction Services, Inc.
  • Jake Clancy – Alberici Constructors
  • Christopher Darr – Federal Steel & Erection Co.
  • Brian Dayton – Holland Construction Services
  • Tim Doran – S. M. Wilson & Company
  • Dan Ems – Icon Mechanical
  • Craig Gonet – Alberici Constructors
  • Walker Gusewelle – Poettker Construction
  • Nathan Haas – Kaiser Electric
  • Anne Hoffmann – Raineri Construction
  • Eric Hoffman – McCarthy Building Company
  • Patrick Horan – Drury Development Corporation
  • Eric Kues – Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc.
  • Nathan Munie – L. Keeley Construction
  • Cory Parker – Contegra Construction Company
  • Kyle Pfundt – Alberici Constructors
  • Ben Pratt – McCarthy Building Companies
  • Cody Ryan – The Korte Company
  • Matt Schmid – Guarantee Electric
  • Amy Schmidt – The Korte Company
  • Miranda Stevens – Holland Construction Services
  • Dan Sullivan – O’Shea Builders
  • Joe Tucker – Raineri Construction
  • Chris Walker – Guarantee Electrical
  • Matthew Walters – Alberici Constructors
  • Landon Williams – Stevens Industries, Inc.

CLI is an executive education program jointly developed by SIUE’s School of Business and the School of Engineering’s Department of Construction. It brings together professionals from many sectors of the building industry.

Since CLI’s creation, approximately 370 emerging leaders and executives have benefitted from the nine-week program that strengthens leadership, strategic thinking, communications and key management skills.

For more information on the Construction Leadership Institute, visit siue.edu/cli or call 618-650-5440.

Photo Above:

(Front Row L-R) Nathan Haas, Joe Tucker, Matthew Walters, Chris Darr, Patrick Horan, Kerry Brown.

(Row 2 L-R) Tim Doran, Anne Hoffmann, Dan Sullivan, Chris Ballard, Miranda Stevens, Amy Schmidt, Cory Parker, Kyle Pfundt , Katy Beckerle

(Row 3 L-R) Bobby Christopher, Chris Walker, Dan Ems, Jake Clancy, Eric Kues, Walker Gusewelle, Cody Ryan, Matt Schmid, Landon Williams, Craig Gonet, Brian Dayton, Ben Pratt.

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Development Timeline Extended For Lake District As Developers Request Infrastructure Commitments From City Prior To Development Commitments

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The development timeline for the Lake District Development Area has been extended by several months so the City of Maryland Heights can respond to developers’ requests for the City to commit to providing the site’s infrastructure systems prior to the developers making final development commitments.

“The developers told us they need the City to take the lead in having a comprehensive infrastructure and storm water management plan finalized, financed and ready for construction before they can commit to building any developments,” said Jim Krischke, City Administrator.  “So instead of one master developer managing the site infrastructure construction along with other construction, we now have six developers interested in different parts of our 1800-acre site.  We must now develop an integrated infrastructure plan that can meet the needs of all potential developers.  This is complex and will take time, but it does give us the opportunity to incorporate the many ‘green’ water management features that we have envisioned.”

The Howard Bend Levee District built the 500-year levee protecting the development area from the Missouri River, and the City now plans to partner with the Levee District in the storm water management system implementation.  Preliminary engineering plans have been developed by the Levee District to address all storm water management needs of the area.

“We need to refine these plans with the Levee District to meet the potential needs of each development proposal individually and collectively, and then provide the assurance that it will be built,” Krischke added.

A revised development timeline, along with a revised schedule of decision points and public hearings, will soon be posted on the Lake District Development Area website, at www.mplakedistrict.com.

Electrical Connection Partners with Saint Louis FC to Energize “Shop with a Cop” Fundraiser

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Event Raises More Than $2,000 to Support St. Francois County

Elec Con OrnamentOne of the most successful law enforcement community trust-building programs received a big boost and is expanding thanks to a partnership between the Electrical Connection and Saint Louis FC.   The Electrical Connection sponsored Saint Louis FC’s “Christmas in July” fundraiser at its July 30, 2016 soccer game to raise money for the Saint Francois County “Shop with a Cop” program.  In addition, proceeds will be used to launch a “Shop with a Cop” program for the Ferguson, Mo. police department.  The event raised more than $2,000 and included a special Saint Louis FC holiday ornament for the game at World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo.

The pre-game ceremonies spotlighted “Shop with a Cop” and the Electrical Connection’s support in a video.  The St. Francois County “Shop with a Cop” program was launched more than 23 years ago and has gradually grown to become one of the largest in the nation, serving up to 500 children annually. The program raises money so law enforcement can take disadvantaged children December holiday shopping to get gifts they would not otherwise receive.

In 1993, Danny Miller, owner of Farmington, Mo.-based Total Electric, introduced the Electrical Connection to the St. Francois County “Shop with a Cop” program.  Since then, the Electrical Connection has donated a total of more than $54,000 to support the program.  The Electrical Connection is a labor-management partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

“The Electrical Connection and IBEW/NECA have been steadfast supporters of ‘Shop with a Cop,’” said St. Francois County Sheriff Dan Bullock.  “We are delighted they are expanding that support through their partnership with Saint Louis FC.”

The fundraiser also support plans for a Ferguson “Shop with a Cop” program.  “’Shop with a Cop’ has been extraordinarily successful in building trust in the communities that police serve,” said Jim Curran, executive vice president, Electrical Connection.  “We strongly support law enforcement and wanted to leverage our Saint Louis FC partnership to help efforts to build stronger communities.  ‘Shop with a Cop’ is just a natural fit for building trust with police in Ferguson, Mo.”

“Ferguson had some success with building a bond with the community in its ‘Cops and Kids’ program in 2014,” said Ferguson Police Chief Delrish Moss.  “We strongly appreciate the Electrical Connection’s partnerhship with St. Louis FC to help us energize our community engagement with ‘Shop with a Cop’ this December.”

In 2015, the Electrical Connection helped sponsor the return of outdoor professional soccer to St. Louis with Saint Louis FC.  “We have been impressed from the very beginning by the level of commitment that the Electrical Connection demonstrates to our community and their support of the ‘shop with a cop’ program is just one example of their generosity,” said Kevin Wygant, Saint Louis FC director of corporate partnerships.  “Saint Louis FC appreciates the opportunity to leverage our loyal fan base to help expand the program to the city of Ferguson in 2016.”

Donations to “Shop with a Cop” at the gate earned Saint Louis FC fans the special holiday ornament.  Donations are also possible online at www.saintlouisfc.com.

Members of the Electrical Connection provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  For more information visit www.electricalconnection.org.