assertive communication, mentoring, psychological safety, and stress manage- ment—equipping them with essential tools for success and long-term retention in the industry.


Partnership with Laborers is Key “Our partnership with the Laborers Train- ing Centers is the backbone of this work,” said Peter Tateishi, Chief Executive Officer of AGC of California. “By aligning Build California’s outreach with the Labor- ers’ exemplary training infrastructure, we can welcome far more women and underrepresented Californians into ap- prenticeships and make sure they thrive once they’re on the job. Together, we’re building an industry culture where every apprentice is supported and set up to succeed.” “We’re incredibly grateful to be se- lected for this ERiCA Round 2 funding, which will deepen our existing collabo- ration with the Laborers, and together we will lead the industry toward real, lasting change,” said Erin Volk, Senior Vice President, Workforce & Community Development at AGC of California, and Executive Director of the AGC CEF. “Too often, women and underrepresented individuals start down a path into con- struction only to exit when basic needs like childcare support or a respectful jobsite culture are unmet. Tis investment


Grant Funding Supports Otto Jobsite Tour


Build California students from Rosemont High School toured Otto Construction’s Folsom Lake College Science Building project jobsite in early 2025. The tour was part of a series of student jobsite tours that took place across the state as a result of the first round of ERiCA grant funding to the AGC CEF. Otto Construction President Allison Otto, who is President-Elect of AGC of


California in 2026, commented on the visit: “Bringing young people, especially young women, onto construction jobsites and letting them see and experience the work firsthand is one of the most effective ways to challenge outdated perceptions and spark real interest in this field. By creating these early exposure opportuni- ties through our partnership with AGC CEF, we’re opening doors to rewarding, high-demand careers that many students might never have considered.”


allows us to take on those challenges head-on and build a more supportive and resilient pipeline into construction careers.” “Tis grant is about practical solutions


that change real lives,” said Daniel R. Dumke, Chair of the AGC Construction Education Foundation and Senior Direc- tor at Shawmut Design and Construction, “When a job seeker, especially a mom,


can count on childcare support and clear navigation into apprenticeship, everything shifts. Families gain stability, contractors gain dedicated talent, and communities see lasting economic mobility. By co- ordinating across employers, training providers, and community partners, we’re opening doors and helping people stay in the careers they worked so hard to enter.”


CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025


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