Program creates a foundation for success by
providing job training and equal employment opportunities
ComEd, Nicor Gas, 25 construction industry companies, and 6
social service agencies held a special ceremony for 71 participants
who have successfully completed CONSTRUCT, an 11-week job training
program that offers participants the information and guidance
needed to compete for entry-level jobs in construction-related
fields.
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From left: ComEd President and CEO Anne
Pramaggiore, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Vice President of
Operations and Maintenance Lori Flores Rolfson, Nicor Gas Vice
President of Business Support Patrick Whiteside and 2016 CONSTRUCT
program graduate Ebonnie Jarrett. (Photo: Business Wire)
The 71 most recent participants were part of the third group of
participants to go through CONSTRUCT thus far. The program is
designed to address the construction industry’s overall need to
increase the pool of qualified minority candidates for construction
jobs in Illinois. Career guidance, life skills training, and
practical education about the construction industry are part of the
program, as well as increased knowledge of requirements for
entering construction-related fields successfully.
CONSTRUCT offers instruction and access to special sessions
where students can hear from and meet company representatives.
There is the opportunity to job shadow, and to attend a career
awareness fair to learn about a range of potential job
opportunities in the industry.
80 percent of previous participants have been offered
employment. The success of this program is due in great measure to
the construction industry companies that want to help, and are
looking for good people to join an industry that is growing.
ComEd, Nicor Gas, Aldridge, Asplundh, BarTech, Burling Builders,
David Mason & Associates, d’Escoto, Inc., F.H. Paschen, S.N.
Nielsen, Groundhog Utility Construction Inc., HBK Engineering,
Henkels & McCoy, Intren, Lindblad Construction Company of
Joliet, LiveWire, Meade, Millhouse Engineering & Construction,
Inc., MJ Electric, MZI Group, Nash Brothers Construction Company,
Osmose Utilities Services, Peoples’ Gas, PMI Energy Solutions, LLC,
Trice Construction Company, The Roderick Group, USIC, V3 Companies
and The Will Group are supporting this program.
Having electric utility ComEd, which serves nearly four million
customers across northern Illinois, join forces with Nicor Gas and
Peoples’ Gas, to continue this life-changing program is a testament
to their understanding of and diligence in fulfilling their
commitment to communities.
“As we focus on the next generation of the energy industry, we
must also build a workforce that is technologically skilled,
innovative and diverse,” said Anne Pramaggiore, president and CEO
of ComEd. “This program has been very successful in placing
graduates in career path jobs. Simply put, CONSTRUCT works.”
“CONSTRUCT allows participants the ability to build a strong
educational foundation and pursue a meaningful career, while
strengthening communities and contributing to the economic growth
of our state,” said Pat Whiteside, vice president of Business
Support, Nicor Gas.
“CONSTRUCT is a win-win for everyone,” said Lori Flores Rolfson,
vice president operations and maintenance for Peoples Gas and North
Shore Gas. “The program helps participants receive valuable and
practical training to expand their career opportunities. And it
helps the sponsoring companies by creating a pool of qualified job
applicants, which is especially important as a large portion of our
workforce becomes eligible for retirement.”
CONSTRUCT is run in parallel at six sites across the Chicagoland
area by ASPIRA of Illinois, Austin Peoples Action Center, Chicago
Urban League, National Latino Education Institute, Quad County
Urban League and YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago. These agencies will
help identify and train the program participants using various
common eligibility and completion requirements, and are committed
to working with each participant to provide job counseling and
placement services.
“I would recommend this program to anyone,” said Koran Ward,
CONSTRUCT program graduate. “It doesn’t matter what you know
because they teach you what you need to know to have a successful
career.”
“I really wanted to see and be hands on what for we were
expected to learn,” said Novelis Gonzales, another CONSTRUCT
program graduate. “I really believe that if you have a dream, you
have to go after it.”
Understanding the need to help knock down barriers to entry for
construction-related fields, CONSTRUCT launched in May 2013 out of
a partnership between ComEd, Intren and the labor unions. What
began with ComEd, 10 companies and three social service agencies
has grown to include Nicor Gas, Peoples’ Energy, 25 companies and
six social service agencies.
CONSTRUCT is part of CareerPower, ComEd’s set of jobs
initiatives. IBEW locals 9, 15, 134, 196, and the Laborers'
District Council of Chicago & Vicinity have voiced their
support, and have been critical in the ability to move the program
forward.
For some legislative leaders in Illinois, this special
collaboration is a significant step toward addressing a
long-standing need.
“CONSTRUCT is an example of the kind of corporate citizenship
that can have long-term impacts on communities for many years to
come,” said State Representative Elizabeth Hernandez. “I applaud
every company and agency involved for making these important
investments in people’s lives.”
“I commend ComEd and all the companies that have participated in
CONSTRUCT to bring early construction career training to men and
women in the Chicago area,” said 6th Ward Alderman Rod Sawyer. “The
participants are finding opportunities to work at utilities and
construction companies. These are jobs they may not have considered
or been qualified for without the training.”
To complete the program, participants must attend at least 95
percent of all full class days and have taken select tests, among
other things. Upon completion of the program, participants can
choose any number of career paths, from applying to work with the
participating companies and satisfying any applicable union
requirements, to applying to ComEd or employers in other
sectors.
While completion of the program does not guarantee a job,
individuals who complete the program successfully are expected to
be qualified, knowledgeable, and ready to compete for construction
jobs in Illinois.
Anyone interested in applying should contact the agencies
directly. The agency contact numbers are:
ASPIRA of Illinois773-252-0970
Austin Peoples Action Center773-378-8760
Chicago Urban League773-285-5800
National Latino Education Institute773-247-0707, ext. 223
Quad County Urban League630-851-2203, ext. 222
YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago773-955-3100
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based
Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive
energy provider, with approximately 10 million customers. ComEd
provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across
northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For
more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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ComEd Media Relations312-394-3500
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