The event took place at the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 262 Training Center, with burgers and hot dogs cooking throughout the day. (Photo credit Jasz Garrett/KINY)
Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – The Southeast Apprenticeship Expo took place over this weekend. The event took place at the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 262 Training Center.
Friday’s events were reserved for students and involved Thunder Mountain High School, Juneau Douglas High School, and members of the CHOICE Program.
Youth from Juneau, Haines, Skagway, and Ketchikan participated. They met construction industry professionals and learned about local career paths.
Saturday was open to the public, and lunch was provided.
The Alaska Works Partnership, Alaska DOT&PF Civil Rights Office, and the AK Building and Construction Trades Apprenticeships all helped make it happen.
Nicole Pennie does outreach for Alaska Works Partnership. She shared what inspired the weekend.
“There used to be some construction career event many years ago and that hasn’t happened for a long time. We do this in Anchorage and Fairbanks every year for National Apprenticeship Week. So, this year, the Department of Transportation Civil Rights Office wanted to sponsor an event like this,” she said. “So, we thought why not do it in Juneau? There hasn’t been one in a long time. There’s a lot of work that is needed here.”
Carpenters, electricians, heavy equipment operators, heat and frost insulators, ironworkers, laborers, plumbers and pipefitters, sheet metal workers, and seafarers outreached to youth.
Pennie said she hopes students will take home a little spark.
“To think, hey, I could do this. I could build my community. I could build my state. I could be part of the construction industry that basically builds everything that we drive on, we live in, everything,” she stated. “They could be part of this. They could be making good money, not having any debt.”
She added that if students aren’t sure what they want to do after high school, they can try out Alaska Works. They have free introductory training for the trades. She also encouraged youth to come out to career fairs similar to these to find out about job opportunities.
“This is the time to get into the trades,” Pennie said.
Keith Coruna is the Training Coordinator for UA Local 262 Plumbers & Pipefitters in Juneau. He explained why it’s especially important right now for youth to be aware of local apprenticeship opportunities in Southeast Alaska.
“There’s $4.9 billion allocated from the infrastructure bill per the Economic Trends magazine published by DOL,” he said. “Over the next five to seven years the demand for skilled workers is increased due to the high retirement rate of baby boomers.”
The expo aimed to introduce youth to the trades through interactive activities. Coruna said this is how the plumbers and pipefitters engaged the public.
“We’ve had a couple of our local apprentices volunteer to help out. As they’re giving demonstrations at the expo they’re able to explain how their apprenticeship experience has gone and what to look forward to,” he said.
Below: Wages and benefits for Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 262. (Photo credit Jasz Garrett/KINY)
Coruna’s daughter, Bessa, also had a great time at the Southeast Apprenticeship Expo. She liked the hands-on activities.
“I built a sawhorse this weekend. It was really fun,” she said. “But I’ve already been on an excavator because my grandpa owns one. But this one was a little bigger.”
She took that mini sawhorse home to show it off to her friends.
Below: Families nail wood together on Saturday. Participants could build a mini sawhorse or a metal toolbox. (Photo credit Jasz Garrett/KINY)
Below: Sean Harrelson lays pipe at the expo. (Photo credit Jasz Garrett/KINY)
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