Construction Career Pathways Conference Seeks to Close the Skills Gap

ALACHUA, Fla., Sept. 21, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Construction industry representatives and education leaders are once again joining forces to close the skills gap at NCCER's third annual Construction Career Pathways Conference this November. Attendees will participate in interactive activities and learn how to develop meaningful connections based on best practices from across the country.

The conference will take place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the Earnest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans prior to the Association for Career and Technical Education's (ACTE) VISION Conference. The cost to register is $50, which covers breakfast and lunch, along with resources to make collaboration more efficient. Space is limited and registration is required. To register, visit http://www.careertechvision.com/pathways.cfm. Construction Career Pathways Conference attendees are not required to sign up for the ACTE Conference. However, those who do will receive a discount to the full conference.

This year's Construction Career Pathways Conference will highlight what the initiative accomplished over the last year and how attendees can take their partnerships to the next level. Presentations will showcase fundamental elements of successful pathways and how to build better advisory councils, as well as input from young craft professionals on the impact career pathways had on their lives. Networking and team activities will take place throughout the day between presentations.

Guest speakers confirmed so far for this year's Construction Career Pathways Conference include LeAnn Wilson, executive director, ACTE; Don Whyte, president and CEO, NCCER; Dr. Philip Cleveland, director of the Office of Career and Technical Education/Workforce Development, Alabama State Department of Education; Dr. Oscar Carter, director of skilled technical sciences, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; Craig Pendergraft, education consultant, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction; Jeff Rodenberg, director of craft training, TIC – The Industrial Company; and Dr. Hans Meeder, president and founder, NC3T.

Construction Career Pathways Conference attendees are invited to a free networking reception prior to the conference from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 18 in the River Room at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Attire for the reception is business casual, and drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be provided.

Sponsoring the Construction Career Pathways Conference is an excellent way to maximize exposure among industry and education representatives. Conference sponsors have the opportunity to make a profound impact and be an integral part of the resources attendees receive. NCCER offers three sponsorship levels starting at $2,500. All sponsors receive complimentary registrations in addition to logo representation on event signage, presentations, conference website and inside attendees' workbooks. For complete sponsorship details, visit http://pathways.nccer.org/#sponsorship.

For more information on NCCER's Construction Career Pathways initiative, visit http://pathways.nccer.org/.

About NCCER — NCCER is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) education foundation created by the construction industry to develop standardized curriculum with portable credentials and to help address the skilled construction workforce shortage. NCCER is recognized by the industry as the training, assessment, certification and career development standard for the construction and maintenance craft professional. For more information, visit www.nccer.org or contact NCCER customer service at 888.622.3720.

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