Join Solar-Fit President & CEO, Bill Gallagher as he interviews local and national leaders in the renewable energy & health industries to discuss their contributions to the clean energy community.
Hear Bill's interview with Brian Turmail, Vice President, Public Affairs & Workforce, Associated General Contractors of America. (AGC). Brian's role is to develop and oversee all public, member, and chapter communications activities for the 27,000 member construction trade association. He also helps oversee the implementation of the association's Centennial ”Future Focus” plan designed to position the association to help member firms thrive amid significant technological, process, and labor transformations taking place within the industry. Brian has been a guest on our show before and he does an excellent job of outlining the challenges America faces in regards to hiring and training a workforce to keep pace with the construction industry demands. As an example, according to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, 80% of construction companies in Florida say they are having a hard time finding workers. This poses a serious issue as our state is experiencing explosive growth and we need workers for every facet of the construction industry, including infrastructure improvements, roads, bridges, homes, condos, and office buildings, manufacturing plants, and more. Brian and Bill discuss the return of vocational education in our schools to further develop a ”home grown” workforce, as well as an H-2B program to help provide workers to meet employment demands. The construction industry offers amazing opportunities for individuals who wish to earn an earnest living…and perhaps one day, start and run their own business.