Construction Events Highlight Workforce Pathways

Young Contractors Forum and Executive Construction Summit connect students and industry employers

The Guided Pathways student success framework is thriving at Clark College. On Feb. 24, Clark College hosted the Young Contractors Forum in partnership with the SW Washington Contractors Association, which invited 122 high school students to learn about construction careers and to start thinking about future training and college options. 

The event was designed to articulate pathway options and engage students early. Students learned about a range of career possibilities in construction, including actual trade work and support roles. They met with professionals from local employers such as TriTech Heating & Cooling, GB Manchester Technology Systems, and JR Merit and heard firsthand about what it takes to succeed in these fields.  

One student who participated said, “This event helped me see the different options in construction and how to get there. It’s cool to see how many different jobs are available in the field — and how there are so many different ways to get there.” 

The forum also included hands-on activities tied directly to skills used on the job. These activities are a fundamental component of Clark’s career-connected learning initiative because they help students connect classroom concepts with real construction work. 

Stephanie Leeper (pictured right), Career Connected Curriculum Liaison, led the Clark planning for the event. Her coordination and participation in student activities helped make the event a rich learning experience for all participants. 

Industry partners spoke highly of the event. One employer said, “Students need to experience what it is like in these careers. If the people going into the field don’t know what it is like to work a day in construction, how do they know if they like it? Events like this are essential to preparing tomorrow’s workforce for success.” 

Regional labor market data shows construction remains a key opportunity sector. Construction jobs have been a major part of the growth in Clark County over the last decade. Between 2015 and 2025, the construction industry added roughly 8,400 jobs in Clark County, an increase of nearly 80 percent in a range of skilled trades and technical roles. While growth slowed in the last year with modest job fluctuations, construction remains a core part of the local economy and a high priority for future workforce planning. 

Clark College is also advancing plans to develop an associate degree focused on construction management to expand pathway options for students who want to enter this field or advance in their careers. 

Following the Forum was the Executive Construction Summit on March 2. This event was geared toward construction company leaders and workforce stakeholders and aimed to strengthen relationships with higher education and regional employers. 

Stephanie partnered with Lauren Wooten from Clark’s Community, Continuing Education, and Customized Training department to present labor market trends, regional workforce data, and opportunities to align education and training with employer needs.  

Their session highlighted why career-connected learning matters and how academic programs and training can be structured to prepare students for living wage jobs and sustainable careers. Attendees of the session left with an increased understanding of how they can best support the incoming workforce and train existing employees for retention and upskilling through CCE. 

Both events are part of Clark’s ongoing career-connected learning efforts, which help students make clear connections between instruction and careers. The four pillars of Guided Pathways — articulate pathways, get students on a pathway, keep them on the path, and ensure learning is happening — continue to drive planning, outreach, and student support across campus.  

We would like to sincerely thank the Event Services team for their support of and work on these events. We appreciate their time and effort in ensuring programming at Clark goes smoothly and efficiently. 

Photos: Clark College/Malena Goerl and Stephanie Leeper

Story by Rhianna Johnson, Director of Guided Pathways & Partnerships