EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Where Are They Now?


Two Former AGC CEF Scholarship Recipients Share their Current Career Path


By Porcha Chambers, Workforce Development Coordinator


CEF scholarship recipients who were very active as AGC Student Chapter members. Tey updated AGC CEF on what they are up to and how life has been now that they have transitioned from students of industry to industry professionals.


T


Ezekiel Wright Follows Passion Ezekiel


Wright’s passion for construction began as a young boy while working with his father, who was a general contractor and worked in residential roofing.


In Wright’s words, “I grew up in the field swinging a hammer and learning from the ground up.”


“AGC CEF provided me with the tools, resources and opportunities to enter the workforce more prepared, ready to take on the day-to-day challenges I face in today’s ever-changing construction industry.” – Ezekiel Wright


All grown up and following his


passion, Wright graduated from Chico State with a bachelor’s degree in construction management in 2014. While at Chico State, he was intro- duced to AGC by his construction management classmates. He ultimately became a member of the AGC CSU


www.AGC-CA.org


he AGC Construction Education Foundation (AGC CEF) recently caught up with two former AGC


Chico Student Chapter. During his tenure he took on leadership roles and earned scholarships from AGC CEF to support his ambition for construction. “Being an active member of AGC


while in school provided me oppor- tunities to interact with industry professionals as well as take on leadership roles in various chapter functions,” Wright said. “Tools and resources were available to me to learn and grow as well as enter the workforce better prepared.” He is now working as a senior


project engineer for AGC member- company Balfour Beatty Construction, currently finishing up a 23-classroom, two-story building project at Las Positas College in Livermore, CA.


Evan Albright: From Military Service to Construction


Evan Albright is a United States


Navy veteran who recently begun his career in construction as a project engineer. He entered the Navy at age 19 and remained active for 6 years, a decision he says “allowed [me] time to realize what [I] wanted to do for a career.” Once his enlistment was completed, he enrolled in the Sacramento State construction management program. During his time at Sacramento


State, Evan joined the AGC Sac State Student Chapter. As a chapter member, he enjoyed leadership respon- sibilities and took advantage of all the resources AGC could offer him. Albright says, “I received multiple scholarships [from AGC CEF] during my time in school that were extremely


helpful. Tese allowed me to focus on schoolwork and not worry about any financial burden.” After he graduated in 2017,


Albright became a member of the


“I think the main thing that excites me is building things. I take pride that, at the end of the day, I can take a step back and say that I had a hand in building that school, apartment complex, or whatever project I am involved in.” -- Evan Albright


Construction Leadership Council, a young professionals group within AGC. Involvement in CLC “allows me the ability to continue to learn as the industry continues to evolve as well as [helps me] grow my network,” he commented. Albright also credits his time in the Navy with giving him an advantage in the industry today. “While in the Navy, I was put in some situations that were very high pressure, and I had to make accurate decisions quickly. Tis translates pretty well in the construction industry, as things tend to happen very quickly and you must be able to think on your feet.” Now, employed by AGC member-


company Royal Electric Company as a project engineer, Albright looks forward to a bright future ahead. He is currently on a team starting construction on the Academic III building at CSU Monterey Bay, involving new construction of a building that will house classrooms, lecture halls, as well as offices for staff. Albright said he hopes to remain at Royal Electric for the foreseeable future and become a project manager. 


Associated General Contractors of California 15


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