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Build California Ambassadors Making a Difference In the Spotlight: Christopher Tiamzon BY CAROL EATON


I


n addition to the growing and well-qualified staff who run the program, Build California relies


heavily on the army of over 80 industry ambassadors to help execute the pro- gram’s mission to build a strong future construction workforce. These dedicat- ed and engaged construction industry professionals work hands-on attending student and community outreach events and interacting directly with young peo- ple to bring them into the industry. Christopher Tiamzon, Turner Con-


struction Company community & citi- zenship program specialist, serves as the Build California Ambassador Forum Chair for 2024. He has been happy and empowered to share his experience and advice with students across the state since joining Build California in early 2023. “I find joy in sharing my knowl-


edge with students about construction careers,” he commented. “It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the moment when students grasp the potential within con- struction, opening doors to a world of creativity, problem-solving and tangible contributions to our built environment.”


Path into Construction Tiamzon’s own journey in the industry took a somewhat circuitous route. He spent nearly 15 years and a sizeable in- vestment obtaining his bachelor’s degree in geography/urban development. While he is happy to have the degree, he said it is a route he probably wouldn’t have taken had an organization like Build Cal- ifornia been around when he first started his college journey. The program could


8


CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024


Christopher Tiamzon (left)


have informed him of the advantage of directly going from high school into a well-paying trade. “I probably would have put a lot more


years out in the field rather than spend- ing so much time and money going to college just to get a degree,” he noted. While attending college, he also


began nearly a dozen years of work in construction safety, logging several years at Skanska USA Building/Civil and then joining Turner Construction in a safety role before moving into his current role at Turner about a year and a half ago. Joining Build California as an Am-


bassador has served to fuel his passion for making an impact and giving back as he works to help build and develop a future construction workforce. Since becoming Ambassador he has attend- ed nearly a dozen career fairs, class- room presentations and other events where he has advocated for careers in construction, shared his journey with countless young people and promoted the importance of getting involved in


building a strong workforce pipeline with his own peers in the industry. “I’m passionate about supporting


the next generation of construction workers because I believe in the trans- formative power of mentorship and knowledge-sharing. Sharing my own experiences and insights can empow- er the next generation to overcome obstacles, embrace diverse career paths and contribute to the industry’s growth,” Tiamzon commented.


Why Should Companies Support Their Employees as Ambassadors? As Ambassador Forum Chair, Tiamzon leads the quarterly forum meetings, motivates and supports the other Ambassadors, and actively works with his colleagues to find opportunities for internships, externships, job site tours and other engagements for students and young people who are interested in getting into the industry. He noted the importance of contrac-


tor involvement in the Build California program by supporting their profession- als who devote time and effort to serve as Ambassadors. “It benefits companies a lot, as we’re


working with Build California to find workers they need to build their projects,” he said. “The attitude is let’s work togeth- er as a construction industry and build those relationships. Let’s unite to make the industry better for everyone.” For more about the Build California


Ambassador program, please contact Abigail Palomares at PalomaresA@ agc-ca.org, or visit www.buildcalifornia. com/ambassadors/.


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