Emiliano Sanchez (in foreground) and the Build California booth at an OUSD/Cypress Mandela Skilled Trades Fair this March.


have many of the same goals.” Durrell is herself a latecomer to the


construction industry. She became aware of the many opportunities, great pay and benefits associated with the construction industry in her mid-30s when she was taking a construction class as part of a career retraining program. She applied to and was accepted into the Carpenters Local 152 apprentice training program in 2016 and later, into IUEC Local 8. “It was literally one of the best deci-


sions that I’ve ever made,” she said. “I got into construction in my 30s, but had I known about it at 18, I would have made that choice a long time ago.” Durrell joined Tradeswomen Inc. in


2019, covering the Fresno, Sacramento and Stockton areas for the grassroots support organization whose mission is “outreach, recruitment, retention and


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CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR JULY/AUGUST 2023


leadership development for women in blue-collar skilled craft.” In her current role she has collaborated with Build California on several outreach events, including a recent Rosie the Riveter “Rosie Reimagined” event at Delta College in Stockton this spring, among many others. Her favorite part of being a Build


California Ambassador? “Connecting with the youth” to share the value she has found working in and representing the trades, and the ability to leverage Build California resources to showcase the in- dustry in her own presentations, Durrell said. Her “go-to” statement, adopted from Build California messaging: “Construc- tion doesn’t have to be a fallback career; it can be a first-choice career.” Durrell estimates she has personally connected with “well over 1000” youth at outreach events during her time as Ambassador.


Brad Simmons, Royal Electric Company Currently a general superintendent with Royal Electric Company in Sacramento, Brad Simmons began his construction career 24 years ago when he began a five-year ABC electrical apprenticeship program in Northern California. He joined Royal Electric in 2003, moving up through the ranks over the years while working on and overseeing numerous commercial, industrial, multi-family and airport projects. His company’s long and active par-


ticipation in AGC of California (includ- ing CEO Dina Kimble’s current two-year stint as president) led Simmons to become more aware of the benefits of active membership in the association and in Build California. Simmons chan- neled his passion for helping develop


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