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Steve Hudson

CEFGA CareerExpo Promotes Construction Careers
April 23, 2008

If you’ve ever worried about our industry’s future workforce, then you’ve never seen the excitement at the annual CareerExpo put on near Atlanta by the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia.

Want to check it out yourself? You’re getting your chance is this very week – April 24 and 25, Thursday and Friday – as the 2008 CareerExpo and the SkillsUSA Championships take place at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds.

More than 150 construction-related companies will be welcoming students from all over Georgia to the event, which is widely acclaimed as the Southeast's largest interactive career fair. The two-day event is expected to draw more than 4,000 attendees, including more than 3,000 high school and technical college students; more than 500 construction teachers, counselors, graduation coaches and parents; and more than 500 industry representatives.

Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle is even serving as honorary chair for the event, welcoming SkillsUSA Georgia Champions and leaders from business and industry at a private breakfast Friday, April 25.

The event is organized by CEFGA and presented by companies and organizations from the throughout the industry.

Judging from what I’ve seen there in years past, it’s a huge hit with the students.

This year, as students and guests register, they'll receive free hard hat and safety glasses – safety equipment which they will wear as they move through the 11 different interactive “Worlds” that make up this year’s Expo. These “Worlds” present different sides of the industry in ways designed to capture the students’ interest and fire their imaginations. For example, “The World of Construction Management” will feature the latest in Building Information Modeling (BIM), sustainability and site layout. “The World of Masonry & Concrete” will showcase live concrete pours and finishing demonstrations, as well as a fastest-trowel competition. The “World of Utility Contracting” will give students a chance to operate equipment simulators and real heavy equipment, including a Komatsu 200 excavator. The “World of Energy and Industrial Construction” will feature the Georgia Power Storm Trailer, as well as pole-climbing demonstrations.

Besides participating in hands-on activities and observing demonstrations, students will get to talk to industry professionals about construction industry careers. They’ll also learn about apprenticeship programs, colleges and universities and other post-secondary opportunities.

And then, on Friday, April 25, the state’s top construction and engineering, drawing and design students will compete in the SkillsUSA Georgia State Championships. The event will feature 170 of Georgia’s best students in 16 different contests, including carpentry, masonry, plumbing, electrical, and TeamWorks. The winner of each of these contests advances to Kansas City, MO to represent Georgia at the SkillsUSA National Championships in June.

You don’t want to miss this one! For info, call Carolyn Harvey at 678-889-4445 ext. 305, or visit CEFGA’s website at www.cefga.org.

Posted by Steve Hudson on April 23, 2008 | Comments (0)