Developing Workforce through Mortenson’s 1st Apprenticeship Program

Mortenson Phoenix has completed the company’s first ever NCCER Apprenticeship Class, focused on developing its carpenter workforce in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area. This marks the culmination of two years of research, analysis, approvals, planning and ultimately execution, held in its Phoenix Equipment Facility. This platform, and the foundational work put into this program to date, could lead to even bigger growth opportunities in the future, as the general contractor continues to solve for workforce development and engagement.

The cohort consisted of four skilled craft team members including Sergio Pacheco, Daniel Rodriguez, Zachary Shockey and Alonso Sarinana Villa. The program was instructed by a handful of certified trainers in its Phoenix office, including Ryan Poropat, field operations manager; Dave Schoen, safety manager; Andy Aguero, senior superintendent; Woody Glass, superintendent; Eric Johnson, superintendent and Mitch Transtrum, director of safety. Integral to the successful execution of this program was Jeanna Boddicker, field operations administrator, with support from Derek Sams, safety manager and NCCER Master Trainer out of Denver, Colorado.

Core Curriculum is the first level for the Industrial Carpenter Apprenticeship and included:

• Build Your Future in Construction
• Basic Safety
• Introduction to Construction Math
• Introduction to Hand Tools
• Introduction to Power Tools
• Introduction to Construction Drawings
• Introduction to Basic Rigging
• Basic Communication Skills
• Basic Employability Skills
• Introduction to Materials Handling

Participants went through 60 hours of classroom and field training, completed the Core Curriculum and OSHA 10. The team of instructors facilitated a class every other Friday for eight hours a day. The participants had to pass 10 knowledge-based tests and eight practical tests prior to completion. Through this effort, Mortenson Phoenix became an Accredited Training and Testing Center.