Contrary to what most students are told, college isn’t for everyone—and that’s OK.
As an industry veteran and former high school football coach, Safety Manager Larry Spencer understands that better than anyone. For decades, he’s encouraged high school graduates who can’t fathom another four years sitting at a classroom desk—and after that, many more sitting at an office desk—to consider workforce development programs and apprenticeships.
“You finish the program without any student debt and often get paid to learn your craft,” he says. “It’s a great option to pursue instead of college.”
In late 2020, Project Director Ted Williams connected with Fortitude Careers, a Peninsula-based nonprofit just getting off the ground. Designed to introduce young adults from underserved communities to the construction trades, Fortitude equips their students with the basic certifications and skills (both technical and soft) needed to get started in construction.
The entire program is free of charge to participants.
About 72 percent of Fortitude graduates have landed industry jobs after completing their eight-week Summer Build program.
After speaking with Fortitude’s founder, Nicole Davis, about how Webcor could support, Ted decided to reach out to Larry about possibly leading Fortitude’s safety certification trainings. At the time, Larry and Ted were working together at Bay Meadows Stations 1 & 5 in San Mateo, just a few minutes from the San Mateo Event Center where Fortitude’s classroom sessions were held.
“Not everyone can coach high school football,” Ted says. “Motivating and training young adults require a certain skillset. The same goes for leading trainings as a safety manager—it requires the ability to connect with people and deliver messages that resonate.”
Without hesitation, Larry agreed to step in and support as a mentor and safety trainer. Over the last five years, he’s helped Fortitude students earn certifications in OSHA 10, flagger training, and the operation of essential construction equipment like forklifts, scissor lifts, and boom lifts. At Bay Meadows, he led the safety portion of Fortitude’s ECC workshop, a Fortitude initiative in which students tour an active project site and meet construction team members.
“Just because you have the technical skills doesn’t mean you can teach it, and just because you can teach it doesn’t mean you can inspire people to listen,” Ted says. “Larry’s a naturally inspiring teacher and mentor. The way he approaches the subject matter motivates students to pay attention, learn, and emulate his professionalism and dedication.”
Since Fortitude’s ECC at Bay Meadows, Fortitude has organized 13 ECCs at various active projects, including Isle House and the Biosolids Digester Facilities Project (BDFP). To date, Fortitude’s ECCs have served about 225 students interested in construction careers.
Today, Larry’s commitment to Fortitude’s students remains stronger than ever. Last month, he returned to Fortitude’s Summer Build Program to help their latest cohort get certified in the usual construction equipment essentials.
The severity of our industry’s labor shortage cannot be understated. As more construction professionals retire from the workforce, it’s increasingly vital that we come up with creative, effective strategies to recruit the next generation of builders—strategies like our Fortitude partnership.
“From an inclusion standpoint, we believe that’s important,” Ted says. “Fortitude offers students that crucial access to training and industry education. We need to continue finding and engaging with diverse recruitment avenues like Fortitude to find qualified construction talent.”
Our partnership is mutually beneficial. The more GCs and industry professionals get involved, the more others will be inspired to follow suit and invest their time/resources in workforce development programs like Fortitude—time/resources that are essential to their continued growth.
“Larry’s support directly benefits ‘opportunity youth’ by helping them build long-term careers in construction,” Nicole says. “He’s played a crucial role in sustaining Fortitude’s program and strengthening our partnership with Webcor. Thank you, Larry, for being a cornerstone of our mission, sustaining force in our program, and catalyst for industry partnerships that uplift opportunity youth and strengthen the construction workforce!”
